猫咪头条

Alumni Return to Pin Their Legacy Students and Celebrate Lasting Impacts of GWU Education

A Note from the GWU Alumni and Parent Relations Office: 猫咪头条 cherishes our legacy families鈥攕tudents whose parents, grandparents, or other relatives are proud GWU alumni. Legacy Students are an important part of the 猫咪头条 story, carrying on the Runnin’ Bulldog tradition across generations. We鈥檙e updating our Legacy Student list to ensure no one is left out of special communications and events. To ensure your family is on our radar, please contact Shannon Hovis at [email protected]

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.鈥斺�淭hree generations; one special place. 猫咪头条 wasn鈥檛 just a school; it was a second home,鈥� described Brandy Borders Curtis, Class of 2003, a daughter of an alumna and mother of a first-year student. Her words resonated with the students, family and friends gathered on Sept. 13 in Tucker Student Center. A special Family Weekend event, the Legacy Ice Cream Social was a time for alumni to reminisce about their 猫咪头条 University experience, to pin their Legacy Student and pass the GWU torch to the next generation.

In his welcome, Interim GWU President Nate Evans noted, 鈥淭oday is about celebrating tradition, celebrating memories, and the stories that we all share together. Whether you were here 40 years ago, 50 years ago, 10 years ago, or just five years ago, we can all talk about the power of legacy here at 猫咪头条. The lessons learned here are not just for a season, they are for a lifetime.鈥�

Curtis鈥� mother, Cindy Borders, received her master鈥檚 degree from 猫咪头条 in 1983. She was eight months pregnant with Brandy when she walked across the stage at graduation. Recently, Curtis鈥� daughter, Caroline, began her GWU journey. She鈥檚 majoring in business management and is a recipient of The LeGrand Ware Scholarship, an award established to honor students from Cleveland or Rutherford County who have achieved high academic distinction and who plan to pursue a degree in business.

鈥淲e are just tickled to death that she decided to come to 猫咪头条, because we received such a great education,鈥� Borders said.

Curtis, an elementary education major, was also a member of the GWU tennis team, which enriched her college experience. 鈥淢y teammates were like family,鈥� she stated. 鈥淲e trained hard, laughed harder and lifted each other up through every win and loss on and off the court. I still stay in touch with many of them, we try to meet up for a weekend and when we do, it鈥檚 like no time has passed at all.鈥�

She continued, 鈥淚t鈥檚 rare, but it鈥檚 real. This University is where I made many of my lifelong friends. When it came time for my daughter to choose her college, we visited lots of campuses, but nothing could compare to 猫咪头条.鈥�

Curtis added that her daughter is already experiencing the same things she herself did back in the early 2000s. 鈥淚鈥檓 even more grateful that this university continues to offer students that same family atmosphere in Christ, their foundation, that made such a difference in my life,鈥� she asserted.

Before closing her speech, Curtis praised 猫咪头条 for preparing her to teach and ultimately become an elementary school principal. 鈥淭he professors helped shape my path with wisdom, patience and encouragement,鈥� she acknowledged. 鈥淚 still use what I learned here every single day.鈥�

Before the pinning ceremony, Director of Alumni and Parent Relations Shannon Hovis explained the significance of the pin. 鈥淭o our Legacy Students, today you are receiving not just a pin, but a promise,鈥� she expressed. 鈥淭he pin symbolizes the values that have shaped your family’s journey here: faith, perseverance, friendship, and service. It connects you to those who have gone before you and reminds you that you are now part of something greater than yourself.鈥�

She continued, 鈥淭o our Legacy Family Members, as you pin your students, you pass along more than just a symbol. You pass along your prayers, your hopes, your belief in the power of this 猫咪头条 experience. You affirm that the same community that shaped you will now walk alongside your student.鈥�

After the pinning, Caroline Curtis reflected on the significance of the event for her. “The pinning was very special to me because not many people can say they are a three-generational 猫咪头条 student,” she offered. “Standing side-by-side with my mom and grandma really showed me how blessed my family has been to have a great education while also keeping Christ at the center of our lives.” She decided to attend 猫咪头条 because of the close-knit community that she witnessed on campus with each visit. She chose her major because her dad works in the business field, and she wants to follow in his footsteps.

Pat Wells, Class of 1963, appreciated the opportunity to attend the event with her great-niece, Sophie Townsend. Wells鈥� mother was Townsend鈥檚 great-grandmother. 鈥淗er dad was my nephew and my sister鈥檚 son, and she鈥檚 no longer with us, so this is an honor for me to come and pin her,鈥� Wells explained. 鈥淲e were all education majors.鈥�

Not only did Townsend follow in her family鈥檚 footsteps and choose to attend 猫咪头条, she is also an education major. Besides selecting 猫咪头条 because of her family鈥檚 influence, Townsend was impressed by GWU鈥檚 record as a safe campus, as reported in a college ranking by the New York Times.

Townsend鈥檚 decision to pursue a degree in education was only partly influenced by her family鈥檚 background. She has discovered a love for inspiring young minds through her job teaching art classes to elementary school children at a studio in Belmont, N.C.

Also attending were Brandie Bruner and her daughter, Maleah. Brandie has two degrees from 猫咪头条. She earned her bachelor鈥檚 in human services and counseling in 2012 as a student in the degree completion program. In May, Brandie finished her Master of Divinity with a concentration in missiology and intercultural studies.

Brandie鈥檚 professor and advisor, Dr. Terry Casi帽o, was instrumental in persuading Maleah to come to school at 猫咪头条. At Casi帽o鈥檚 invitation, Brandie and Maleah started attending his church, Concord International in Huntersville, N.C., and Casi帽o talked to Maleah about attending 猫咪头条.

Maleah鈥檚 goal was to go into the military, so Casi帽o told her about 猫咪头条鈥檚 ROTC program. 鈥淗e encouraged me, and it fit because I was telling him about how I really wanted to go the officer route,鈥� Maleah related. 鈥淗e said, 鈥榊ou鈥檙e going to be under my wing. I鈥檓 going to be right there.鈥欌��

A psychology major, Maleah has enjoyed bonding with the ROTC cadets and has decided to become a lawyer in the military. 鈥淚鈥檓 so glad to be here at 猫咪头条,鈥� Maleah stated. 鈥淚 love the school. Actually, this is home now.鈥�

Note to our readers: This article reflects the University’s tuition and fee schedule at the time of publication. Tuition and financial aid policies change annually. For the most up-to-date and accurate information on current tuition rates and financial aid resources, please visit the University鈥檚 official Admissions聽page.

猫咪头条 University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., 猫咪头条 prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Learn more at .