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Photo by Scott Holstein
Kenneth Gladish, YMCA CEO, addresses Gardner-Webb faculty, staff, stu-
dents and local YMCA representatives on Feb. 12.
Sarah Olimb
Pilot Editor
On Feb. 12, it became offi
cial. Gardner-Webb and the
YMCA of USA joined in a his
toric partnership, uniting to
train students to become lead
ers in the future of YMCA and
other non-profit organizations.
The ceremony, beginning
at 11 a.m. in the O. Max
Gardner Hall, opened with a
welcome from GWU President
Frank Campbell, followed by a
devotion led by Tracy Jessup,
minister to the university.
Cameron Corder, chief execu
tive officer of the Cleveland
County Family YMCA, shared
his vision for the partnership
between GWU and the YMCA.
He emphasized that the pro
gram’s focus is building ser
vant leaders. However, he
wants all students to get
involved.
"I hope students embrace
the Student YMCA," said
Corder. "Everyone can be
involved in the YMCA, even if
they don’t foresee a career in
it."
Following Corder’s
address, Kenneth Gladish,
chief executive officer of the
YMCA of USA, spoke of the
impact lhat the program will
have, both locally and national
ly. He stressed the importance
of the growth of character as
well as cultivation of the three
dimensions of human life that
encompass the YMCA mission
— the mind, body and spirit.
"This program responds to
local and national needs to sup
ply leaders for the future," said
Gladish. "It would not have
happened without real enthusi
asm from the local YMCA and
the university."
Frank Bonner, provost and
senior vice president, first
brought the idea of instituting
such a program at GWU to the
president. Bonner explained
the program as a three-way
partnership between the
YMCA, the local YMCA and
the university with all parties
supporting the program finan
cially. The YMCA, according
to Bonner, hopes to attract
more young people to careers
in the YMCA because of the
shortage of people pursuing
non-profit jobs.
A career within the YMCA
requires certain training. This
program works to give poten-
fial employees the needed
training and a college educa
tion before they graduate, said
Bonner.
"The program intertwines
with so many things that stu
dent development already does
— service learning, volun-
teerism and campus min
istries," said Bonner. It will
also prepare students for a myr
iad of careers within the
YMCA like business, adminis
tration and recreation."
While those developing the
program are still working on
the curriculum, Bonner envi
sions the university offering
courses that are both credit and
non-credit in order to prepare
students for these careers.
Eric Smith, a junior at
GWU and the aquatics coordi
nator at the Dover Foundation
YMCA in Shelby, feels that
this program will offer students
various career opportunities.
"There are a lot of jobs
offered through the YMCA;
jobs for any major," said
Smith.
Emily Stephens, program
director for GWU, emphasized
the students’ role in building
the program at GWU.
"This is the time to join,"
she said, "because the students
will help shape the program. I
am there to help guide and
advise them."
Stephens is holding an
informational meeting on 3:30
p.m. Feb. 21 in the Suttle
Wellness Center lobby. She
will provide general informa
tion about the program for
interested students. At 4 p.m.,
Stephens will hold a meeting,
informing students about the
YMCA mission trip to Poland
scheduled for summer 2004.
Campbell feels that the
installment of such a program
at GWU not only grants exist
ing students more opportunities
but also will bring more stu
dents to the university.
"It’s a great opportunity to
bring new students to our cam
pus and introduce them to our
kind of lifestyle," said
Campbell. "The GWU lifestyle
is very compatible with what
the YMCA stands for."
The agreement marks the
development of a model pro
gram to be used in universities
and colleges throughout the
country. It also heralds the first
formal relationship between
the YMCA and a formal insti
tution of higher learning in
decades, said Gladish.
Photo by Scott Holstein
Brandon Zoch, director of sound
support, hangs the YMCA flag on the
quad on Feb. II. Gardner-Webb
joined with the YMCA to begin a
training prograrfi for future YMCA
and non-profit leaders.
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