news-category: Student Engagement

End-of-Year Reception Honors Top Gardner-Webb Club, Advisor and Event

two photos featuring the winners of the club awards
The winners of the Event of the Year, left, were Alpha Chi's Survivor Night accepted by Trevor Wyatt, left, and Allyson Butts. The CrossFit Club won Club of the Year. Representing the club in the photo on the left are, from left, Allyson Butts, CrossFit Coach Melissa Batista, Kayla Upshaw, Zoe Mina and Blake Elizalde.

Program Celebrates the Work of all Clubs and Organizations on Campus

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—The Gardner-Webb University Office of Student Engagement hosted its first Clubs and Organizations End-of-Year Reception recently. The event also included several first-time awards to recognize the Club of the Year, the Advisor of the Year and the Event of the Year.

“We celebrated all the hard work GWU clubs, organizations, and honor societies have done this year,” noted Hope Saunders, assistant director of Student Engagement. “We recapped the year, as well as showed our appreciation for those who made the year such a success. In attendance were the Faculty/Staff advisor and two executive board members from each of the 45+ student-led groups across campus.”

The CrossFit Club received the 2022-2023 Club of the Year award. This club hosted the most events, grew the most in membership and completed club paperwork on time.

Club leaders were asked to nominate advisors for Advisor of the Year and explain why they were deserving of the award. Receiving the award was Jessica Grant of Joyful Hands.

The Alpha Chi National Honor Society’s GWU Survivor Night won the Event of the Year, which was voted on by the Inter-Club Council Executive Board.

Saunders also summed up what the over 45 student-led groups had accomplished this year:

  • Hosted 54 service events that served GWU, the surrounding community and across the globe.
  • Provided community for 547 unique club members.
  • Provided a total of 827 events for the student body to participate in.

In addition to recognizing the overall winners, a Club of the Month and Event of the Month were presented. Clubs were recognized for either offering a variety of events to their members, conducting fundraising for their club, or completing their documentation in a timely manner. Program of the Month awards went to the clubs that hosted successful, creative or unique events.

Monthly Recognitions for Clubs and Organizations

October

  • Event: CrossFit Club—B.Y.O.F. (Bring Your Own Friend).
  • Club: Campus Ministries United (CMU).

November

  • Event: Honors Student Association—Murder Mystery Dinner.
  • Club: American Sign Language Club.

December

  • Event: Future Business Leaders of America—Fall Leadership Conference.
  • Club: MOSAIC French Club. (Not available for photo)

February

  • Event: Tri-Beta National Honor Society—Crowders Mountain Trail Workday. (Not available for photo)
  • Club: Equestrian Club.

March

  • Event: College Democrats of Gardner-Webb and Pride Club of Gardner-Webb—Plate Smashing.
  • Club: Math Club.

April

  • Event: Alpha Chi National Honor Society—GWU Survivor Night.
  • Club: Joyful Hands Ministry Team.

Gardner-Webb 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., Gardner-Webb 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. Ignite your future at Gardner-Webb.edu.

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