Gardner-Webb University
Paul Foster, Assistant Dir.
Univ. & Media Relations
704-406-3221
August 5th, 2006
BOILING SPRINGS, NC - Gardner-Webb University held its 2006 Summer Commencement Ceremony Saturday, August 5th in the Lutz -Yelton Convocation Center’s Paul Porter Arena. A total of 321 students received degrees during this special event.
This year’s commencement marked the 19,000th-degree given to a graduate at Gardner-Webb since the school went from junior college status to a four-year institution in 1971. Social Sciences major, Stephanie Puckett of Mount Airy became the 19,000th graduate.
The event featured guest speaker, James H. Royston, former executive director-treasurer of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. Royston served in this post with the Baptist State Convention between January 1998 and July 2005.
Royston, a native of Tennessee graduated from Carson-Newman College with a B.A. degree in religion and earned his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Before joining the Baptist State Convention, Royston was director of missions-ministries for the Mecklenburg Baptist Association of Charlotte, now called Baptist Metrolina Ministries and he pastored several churches in Tennessee and North Carolina. Last summer, Royston returned to the pastorate, serving First Baptist Church Mooresville, NC.
In his commencement address he challenged the students to answer three questions for life. “What are you the best in the world at? What are you deeply passionate about and what drives your resource engine?” Royston said this commencement is the beginning of a new chapter. ”This platform, handshake and diploma are not the end of a journey but the prequel to the plan God has to prosper you and give you hope.
Located in Boiling Springs, NC, Gardner-Webb University is home to nearly 4000 students from 30 states and 30 foreign countries. Gardner-Webb seeks a higher ground in higher education - one that embraces faith and intellectual freedom, balances conviction with compassion, and inspires in students a love of learning, service, and leadership.