Dewayne Wray ’16

Gardner-Webb Alumnus felt at home on the campus of Gardner-Webb University

“I built good relationships with many professors. Mischia Taylor was my marketing teacher and advisor. She was always available to answer my questions and helped me learn the knowledge I needed.”

With his outgoing and friendly personality, Dewayne Wray ’16 felt welcome on Gardner-Webb University’s campus. “I was first introduced to Gardner-Webb by my grandmother and a few members of my church who are all alumni,” explained Wray, who lives in Green Creek, N.C. “I chose to attend Gardner-Webb, because it immediately felt like home and like a place where I could really make an impact.”

Recruited to play football, Wray also joined the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) to have opportunities to share his faith. He was also active in the Marketing Club, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the Student Alumni Association.

“It was a true blessing to be in FCA and a part of other events, where I was able to speak and let people know about Christ,” Wray observed. “You never know who needs to hear someone’s story to help move them in a positive way towards Christ.”

Wray decided to major in marketing, because he likes working with people and developing creative strategies. “Marketing is a really fun subject, because it is about problem solving and learning different ways to produce, market, and sell products,” he shared. “Also, building relationships is the biggest part of marketing.”

When Wray graduated, he was offered a full-time job with QuikTrip, where he had worked seasonally since 2014. “I’m an Initial Trainer for the company, so what I like about my job is meeting new people all the time and training new managers,” he described. “Typically, I train a person for about two weeks and travel anywhere from Gaffney (S.C.) to Anderson (S.C.)”

His classes at Gardner-Webb taught him how to manage his various responsibilities to meet deadlines. His professors—both in the Godbold College of Business and in other academic areas—gave him a solid foundation to begin his career. “I built good relationships with many professors,” he reflected. “Mischia Taylor was my marketing teacher and advisor. She was always available to answer my questions and helped me learn the knowledge I needed.”

He concluded, “I was able to gain true friendships that will last the rest of my life. From the friends you meet to the professors who really want to help you succeed, Gardner-Webb is a great place to thrive.”