Students Tell Why
They Chose
Gartliier-\^'ebb
SPECIAL EDITION
(Ulf? pilot
MARCH 10. 1055
Family Ties Are
Strong At
Gardner-\Si'ebb
CHARITY AND CHILDREN
liJluf. 9 GluUe QaAxH4teA,-'U/eU): . .
I ALLEN SAYS
B]i Joycn Stfivennon, Raleiyh
Freghmnn, Religiout Ed. Major
Through a former student, J was
first introduced to Gardner-Webb. I
was told of the friendly Christian at
mosphere, the understanding profes
sors, and the many activities in which
one might participate.
When first thinking about the fu
ture I decided U) go to a college in my
home town. After considering what
I planned for my life’.s work, I decided
It would help me to go away to col
lege for at least two year.s. The back
ground in studies as well as the dor
mitory life would give me experiences
I wouldn’t get without attending col
lege away from home. I then began
searching for a college and somehow
everything pointed to Gardner-Webb.
It was only 200 miles from home,' at
the foot of the mountains, which I
love so much, and such a highly recom
mended college.
Since I have been at Gardner-Webb
I have had many experiences that
shall always be remembered. All I
heard has been absolutely true. I
made friends and soon found out that
college isn’t all play but lots of hard
work and studying. Through the Bap
tist Student Union I have gained much
by the three services it sponsors daily.
1 plan to go into some type of
Christian work. This has been brought
out more strongly as I have become
more aware of the need for religious
leaders. Going out on a revival team
I saw how God could u.se me in such
a direct w'ay. I have been able to
witness in many ways for God while
being in Gardner-Webb; by teaching
Sunday School at our clinic, being in
charge of Sunday night vespers, And
tr>dng to magnify the Lord in my
everyday activities.
In the future I plan to further my
education and where God leads me I
am ready to go. As for now I am
planning my life’s work around social
service or religious education. I know
that where He leads me I will try to
follow and do His wdll, and that I am
receiving an excellent foundation lor
either type of work at Gardner-Webb.
{Migg Stevgvson ig ghown tcilh ch'ger^
leaderg, gecovd from left.)
stories for newipapert. In my chosen
work as a sports writer, Gardner-
Webb has offered me many opportuni
ties both inside the classroom and out
side.
1 If I were back in high school again
I wondering which college to attend, I
would choose Gardner-Webb without
! a moment’s hesitation.
! By Gay Fisher, Washington, D. C.
I Sophomore, Primary Education Ma.jor
I In order to relate accurately my
I reason for coming to Gardner-Webb
! I must begin my story in the summer
' of 1949 only six months after my con-
I version. It was at this time, high in
I “The Land of the Sky” of western
North Carolina, that I realized God
I was calling me into his service. This,
in itself, would have been satisfactory
1 to me if He had not been so definite in
i His call, pointing straight to Africa.
[ I continued to turn away from such
a decision until a consecrated child of
! God pointed out to me that there
j would be no peace outside of His will.
] That night I walked down that long
i aisle at Ridgecrest, announcing pub- |
I licly that God was calling me to serve !
j Him in a heathen land. Ihis step was |
College Exists
For Those ^Clio
Need It Most
By W. Lawson Allen,
Acting Presidsni
i?i/ Mae Hill, Woodruff, S. C.
Sophomore, Journalism Major
1 chose Gardner-Webb for several
reasons. When I ■was in high school I
spent quite some time trying to decide
what college I would attend. Examin
ing the colleges one by one, I found
Gardner-Webb had more of what I
wanted than any of the others.
First, I chose
Gardner -Webb
because it is ac
credited. I know
that acceptable
work done here is
transfer rable
inywhere, and
that the quality
sf teaching here
is comparable to
that of any school I could have chosen.
Second, I am an athlete. I’m not
the best, or the worst, but I enjoy
playing the game. I am on the start
ing basketball line-up here, and at
many a larger college I might not
have made the -grade. Gardner-Webb
offers a full sports program and is a
member of the fast-moving Western
Carolinas Junior College Conference.
Third, Gardner-Webb has given me
many opportunities and experiences
outside the claqsrooni. The campus has
a friendly, cooperative atmosphere
such as I have never seen elsewhere.
I have learned, by doing, how to pre
pare a football program for printing,
how to edit the sports page of the
school paper, how to participate in
a radio program, and how to prepare
I merely to get l
i God to leave me
j alone and at that
j moment began
I» 0 u 1 - torturing
j conflict which
! lasted for five :
: years—five years ;
during which I
sought constant- *■
ly to find other ^
ways to serve Him, here. In my home
land, where I might be near my
friends and loved ones, where I might
have the luxuries of civilization. But
at every turn in the road I was
brought face to face with the needs,
and to me the horrors, of the Hark
Continent.
During my senior year in high
school I began to seek earnestly for
God’s leading in choosing a college.
Again, when the answer came, there
was no room for doubt for He was
clearly leading me to Gardner-Webb.
In this matter I determined to follow
Him, feeling that if I went such a
great disance to school, because it
was His will. He would forget about
Africa. But our Lord doesn’t forget,
nor does He change His will to be in
accordance with ours.
At Gardner-Webb the conflict with
in my soul grew more intense. I be
came aware that the peace which I
sought could be obtained only from
Jesus, and I was not yet willing to
pay the price. During my sophomore
year I was allowed to go with a group
to conduct the evening, worship ser-1
vice in a nearby Negro church. It-*
[ was here that God used a ten-year-old
girl, with kinkey black hair and warm ,
brown eyes, to speak to me and to
make His will my will. For the first
time, in sincerity, I said yes to Jesus
and He became Master of ray life.
No more do the needs of Africa
haunt me as horrors but shine as a
beacon toward which I am yearning.
There is no longer the dread, the fear,
and the loneliness which before filled
my soul, for by grace, I have “the
peace that passeth understanding.”
This has been the most direct in
fluence of Gardner-Wdbb on my life.,
The contributing factors of conse
crated Christian professors and
friends have helped me to know my
Master better.
Next year I plan to attend Carson-
Newman College in Jefferson City,
Tennessee, and major in primary edu
cation. From here on the Lord is my
■ guide. I have learned that faith is
I obedience and that Jesus is sufficient,
i Has He not said: “Lo, I am with you
^ always” and “I will never leave thee
! nor forsake thee”?
Gardner-Webb College exists for no
other reason than to serve those who
need her services. The college offers
several distinctive services, but in the
final analysis, Gardner-Webb exists
for the expressed purpose of preparing
young men and women for meeting the
realities of life.
The dormitories, the classrooms, the
cafeteria, the library, the admini
stration building—all are to enable
the young people who choose to begin
here the quest to achieve the desires
of their hearts. The student and his
need must remain the center of
Gardner - Webb’s
educational en-
deavor. The
teachers, al
though they are
the finest in spir
it and prepara
tion, are here
only that the pu
pil may become
better able to
meet life with all W. Lawson Alien
Its varied facets. 1
Education in its ultimate sense can :
do nothing better than open the eyes
of the soul to the needs of the world.!
By the world, I mean the world of i
people. Every student who comes to!
our campus comes with desires, am-;
bitions and ideas. These concepts
may be changed. They may be streng
thened. Every toucher has his in
dividual concepts. The student and the
teacher share with each other in the
process of learning so that neither is
ever the same because of that sharing, j
Problems arise. Difficulties, misun-
-iK
-y.'k
■ -4^
I THREE CHEERS FOR GARDNER-WEBK—Thi.s attractive group of students provides inspira-
I tion for the “rooters” attending Gardner-Webb’s athletic contests. Left to right, the school's
cheerleaders Pat Stout, Joyce Stephenson, Beverly Ward, Charle.s Starne.s, Phyllis Henderson, Lib
Moore, Marlene Steele, and Betty Joan Staton. Kneeling is Shirley Reavi.s.
CAMPUS BRIEFS . . .
Pres. Elliott’s
Influence Felt
Gardner-Webb Runs in the Family
By Belly Staton., Sophemers
Charlotte, N. C,
He’s down in Florida now, enjoying
a well-earned rest, but everywhere
you turn on the Gardner-Webb cam
pus, the influence of Dr. Phil Elliott
is seen or felt. Townspeople say,
“You can’t give any person all the
credit for the miraculous growth of
Gardner-Webb, but you can surely
I give a lot of it to Dr. Phil Elliott.”
Twelve years ago when he accepted i
the job—admittedly'a difficult one—j
there were only 71 students and five j
Gardner-Webb seems to “run in the
family.”
Ask any number of students at the
college if any of their family or
relatives attended Gardner-Webb and
40 per cent of them would answer in
the affirmative.
derstandings, frictions often cloud the
horizon, but we must go on to operl To:
eyes, to share, to accomplish. there .aig- new Jormitorjes, a
G.rdner-Webb offer. » horn, fai^udent center, librai-y, heating sys-
those who will tp coma -with u. l»-b«d hospital among many
two years. She offers opportunities | improvements. Dr. Elliott has
for growth mentally, socially, and:^^ condition, but is reported to
spiritually. Avowedly Christian the | recovering satisfactorily. In his
college is, and makes no apology for I W. Lawson Allen is acting
being a Baptist educational insti- president,
tution. We are unashamedly seeking'
.^3
friends who will help us materially,
for we believe that we have a mission
to perform that merits the financial
support to accomplish that mission.
The cause of Christian education must
not falter—our day is nowe
(
Gardner-Webb is currently en
gaged in a campaign to raise $1^
million for new buildings and en
dowment by the achool's Golden
Anniversary in October, 1947. In
cluded in the enlargement pro
gram are plans for new dormitor
ies, physical education building,
science building, administration-
classroom building, and faculty
apartments. Of the total amount,
$500,000 is expected from the Co
operative Program of the Baptist
State Convention. Dr. H. Hansel
Stembridge, Jr., Forest City, is
chairman of the steering com
mittee directing the campaign.
Already the college has had sev
eral encouraging contributions,
one a challenge gift of $25,000
from the family of the late O.
Max Gardner. Next month the
college will launch a drive to raise
$100,000 endowment for the
Church-Community development
program as a memorial to the
Rev. John W. Suttle, beloved
Cleveland county rural preacher.
HOMECOMING QUEEN—It’s
easy to see why Gardnner-Webb
students chose Grace Rollins,
Shelby sophomore, as Homecom
ing Queen. She is pictured here
in an informal pose.
1 w*
Revival Teams Are
Having Busy Year
By Miss Mabel Starnes,
Dean of Women
The debating team at Gardner-
Webb is under the direction of Francis
B. Dedmond, professor of English, and
is composed of Mary Philbeck of Boil
ing Springs and Lois Hoyle of Cherry-
ville, affirmative, and Sara Ballard
of Mooresville and Reginald Stroupe,
negative. The group recently visited
on the Mars Hill campus and enjoyed
a non-decision debate with the Mars
Hill debaters before the literary so
cieties of that college.
»
IDENTIUAI. TWINS FRO.M l.lNCOi.N'rO-N—The Wease
twins from Lincolnton—Hugh and Houston—are one of the most
interesting student combinations at Gardner-Webb. They are
alike not only in looks but in interests. After finishing higli
school together, they enlisted in the U. S. Air Force in September,
1950, serving for three years. During that time, they were
separated only six weeks. On their way home after being dis
charged, they saw a highway sign which read, “Gardner-Webb,
6 miles.” They investigated, liked what they saw and enrolled
for the 1953 session. Both boys plan to major in political science
and will probably enroll at East Carolina College next year—
together, of course.
One phase of the church-community
development program of Gardner-
Webb is the work of the Youth Revival
Teams directed by Miss Mabel Starnes.
Some 40 young people have conducted
worship services this year in 22
churches. These young people lead *
evangelistic services, teach Sunday |
school classes, lead department as
semblies, give Training Union demon
stration programs and lead panel dis
cussions on vital problems facing
Christian youth. A quartet or trio is
usually with each team. The teams
are personally prepared for their ad
venture by the Dean of Women and
meet each evening for an hour the
week prior to their engagement in the
church. 'The writer accompanies them
to the church and frequently addresses
adult groups. |
These Youth Revival Teams inspire
and influence the young people in the
churehei viaited. Tbl* year there have
Adult education classes operat
ed by Gardner-Webb through the
Church-Community development
program each year enroll from
1,200 to 2,000 people in all parts
of central and western North
Carolina and upper South Caro
lina. Six schools have been held
this year or are now in progress,
touching 868 people who enroll
for nine weeks of instruction in
church music, Christian sociology,
church administration and the
Bible. This program is unique in
education circles, but is proving
quite successful .
Take Gene and
Martha Bridges,
sophomores from
Mooresboro, for
example. Gene is
a business major,
and Martha plans
to enter nurse’s
training at the
*■ ** Baptist Hospital
Hetty Staton next year. Where
did their Interest in Gardner-Webb
originate? In their own home! Their
father majored in religion here and
later graduated at Wake Forest.
Their sister, I.,enora, took a business
course here in 1948-49 and don’t be
.surprised if Jimmy, 17-year old
brother, enrolls when he finishes high
school.
Ann Wheeler, freshman from
Roiling Springs, S. C.. follows in
the best tradition of “like mother,
like daughter,” since her mother
was a member of the 1934 class.
Ray Crawford, sophomore from
Harris, has six relatives who attended
'Gardner-Webb, including his father,
the Rev. R. L. Cra-wford, class of ‘43.
He is pastoy of the Sandy Springs
Baptist Church in Polk County.
Both parents of Nancy Lattimore
of Polkville, finished here—father in
1913 and mother, in 1917. John
McBrayer, Lattimore, is in the same
category, as his parents were in the
1923 class. Eddie Hudson's father.
Dr. E. V. Hudson, pastor of the First
Baptist Church, Cramerton, graduated
in 1913. And so it goes!
Generation After Generation
One of the most interesting “family
historie.s, is that of Mrs. Dorothy W.
Hamrick, college register, who was
in school from 1933-36. She has four
brothers and a sister who were also
students here. Her grandfather, the
late W. W'. Washburn, was one of the
original trustees, remaining on the
board until his death in 1934. Mrs.
Hamrick’s father, J. C. Washburn,
■was also a trustee and a brother, Dr.
Wyan W'ashburn, is on the current
board, in addition to serving as college
physician since 1945.
Another faculty member with
a rich Gardner-Wehb heritage is
John Roberts, a-ssociate director
of public relations and a native of
Shelby. He finished here in 1949,
then went on to P'urman and
George Peabody College to get
his A. B. and M. A. His mother
was a 19!0 graduate and three
sisters—Laura, Irene, and Bonnie
graduated in 1937, 1939, and 1943
respectively.-To make it com
plete, his wife, the former Helen
Goodwin, is a ‘48 graduate.
' Miss Saranan Moi^an is another
alumni member who returned to teach.
A ’46 graduate, she joined the faculty
in 1948 and teaches hygiene and
physical education. Her brother,
Robert, a ’41 graduate, is seridng his
second term as state senator in the
General Assembly in Raleigh.
The family of James Y. Hamrick
has Gardner-Webb influence running
all through it. Now dean of men
and associate professor of English,
he is a 1939 graduate. His brother,
Charles, is pastor of Nebo Baptist
Church and another brother, Hugh,
who was here 1935-36, was a prisoner
of war for four years. He died in 1949.
A sister, Carolyn, who ■was a Gardner-
Webb student 1936-38, now teaches in
Cleveland County Schools.
Five Out of Nine
Hubert Dixon, professor of mathe
matics, has an unusual distinction.
Five of the nine children from his
family came to Gardner-Webb, with
all brothers and sisters finishing at
different senior colleges. Three of
them—Basil, Goldie, and Ruby-
attended at the same time and had
their brother, Hubert, as teacher.
Felix Hamrick, Boiling Springs
businessman, and his seven
brothers and sisters attended
Gardner-Webb, so that ought to
be some sort of record.
If all of this geneological research
isn’t proof enough that a family
spirit exists at Gardner-W#1ib, visit
the campus and see one big, happy
family—studying, playing, and wor
shipping together.
(Editor’s Note: The writer was toe
modest to mention that her own sister.
Miss Gloria Staton, was in the ISif
class at Gardner-Webb.)
INDIAN STUDENT—Maz-
fOene Carter, shown here, is
the daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
John L. Carter of Pembroke
and is the lone Indian student
at Gardner-Webb. Her father
is connected with the Baptist
State Convention and work.s
with the seven Baptist Col
leges in the state. ‘T feel
right at home and feel that I
am a part of campus life,” the
attractive 19-year old student
says. '
J-
1
f
been 115 life commitments to service
for Christ. It emphasizes the impor
tance of attending a Christian college
and demonstrates influence of the
Christian college in the lives of the
individual students. It also serves as
a laboratory for Christian service to
the many students who go on the
teams. Many times a young man
preaches his first sermon or a young j
woman presents her first program, j
irW t