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Gardner-Webb University
Friday, January 23, 2003 mm.gwupilot.com
Gardner-Webb
remembers
Justin Alston
1977 - 2004
Volume 7 No. 9
Sarah Olimb
Pilot editor
To many, he was the
avid sports fan; to others,
an intramural coach, cheer
ing from the sidelines. To
other Gardner-Webb stu
dents, he was the 2001
Homecoming King, manag
er of the men’s basketball
team, member of the
Student Alumni Council,
the 2003 Future Alumnus
of the Year and that guy sit
ting next to them in class.
After battling arteri
ovenous malformation
(AVM), a rare entanglement
of the blood vessels of the
brain, Justin Alston, a
GWU alumnus, died
Saturday, Jan. 17, after
being in critical condition
since Dec. 24, 2003 at
Moses Cone Hospital.
Carol Blassingame,
chair of the department of
physical education, well
ness and sports studies,
remembers when Alston
was diagnosed in 1999 and
his determination to finish
school.
“It’s really hard to
describe since that time
how much Justin went
through as he bravely per
severed through excruciat
ing headaches, numerous
surgeries, hospital stays and
adjustments with new med
ications - and at the same
time trying to complete his
degree here at Gardner-
Webb,” said Blassingame.
“And amazingly, that sweet
Justin always wore the
brightest smile through it
all!”
He was bom on Nov.
2,1977 in Greensboro. He
attended Southeast Guilford
High School and attended
University of North
Carolina-Greensboro.
Graduating from
GWU in May 2003 with a
B.S. in Sports Management
and Physical Education,
Alston was enrolled in the
graduate program at High
Point University.
The ftineral took place
on Thursday, Jan. 22 at 2
p.m. at Southeast Baptist
Church in Greensboro, fol
lowed by entombment in
Guilford Memorial Park.
Memorials can be made
to the Justin Scot Alston
Memorial Fund, Gardner-
Webb University-Restricted
Fund, Box 997, Boiling
Springs, N.C. 28017.
Like Blassingame, many
Pilot file photo
Justin Alston gets excited while coaching his intramural basketball team.
Alston died of arteriovenous malformation on Jan. 17, 2004.
of his professors felt that
Alston stood out—he was
more than a student, but a
friend and an inspiration.
Ozzie McFarland, pro
fessor of health and physi
cal education, remembers
Alston
“He poured his heart
into everything he did,”
said McFarland. “And he
had a great sense of
humor.”
dwells not on his death, but
on his life.
“As sad as I am con
cerning Justin’s death, I
am a bit jealous of him as
well,” said Peterson. “You
see, my jealousy is based
on the simple facts of
Justin’s incomparable life:
his amazing gift to be a
wonderful friend, his
unceasing effort to accom
plish what was unfinished.
Kirk Peterson, professor his unnerving approach to
of physical education, well- life and his endearing
ness and sports studies, faith that all will be well.”
On the Inside
Unity service
brings people
together...
page 2
GWU cam
pus gets
makeover...
page 3
Students
Tackle “24
Hours’
pages
Reflections
on
Resolutions,
page 6
Assistant
Track Coach
Leaves
GWU...
page 8
News...
..pages 2-4
A&E....
..page 5
Op/Ed..
...page 6
Sports
...pages 7-8