Gardner-Webb was College of First Choice for Chemistry Major, Whitney Upton, ’24

Daughter of Alumna Appreciates Financial Assistance Provided by Foothills Commitment

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Whitney Upton, ’24, a chemistry major at Gardner-Webb University, attends three classes at GWU this summer and works at Rutherford Sales & Recovery Co. in Forest City, N.C. She looks forward to the fall semester, being back on campus full time and reconnecting with her roommates and suitemates.

As she prepares for another year at Gardner-Webb, Whitney offers this advice to incoming freshmen, “Just be yourself, try new things, study hard and have fun.”

Gardner-Webb was Whitney’s first choice for college, because her mom, Rosa Upton, earned her Master of Business Administration from GWU in 2017. Additionally, Whitney was impressed with the chemistry program and believed the faculty would provide what she needed to pursue a career with the State Bureau of Investigation.

She wants to reassure new students that the faculty is approachable and helpful. “What I love most about campus is the science department,” Whitney related. “I value the extent that the teachers go to in order to help you succeed. They make sure you understand all that you are learning. I will definitely be prepared for what my future holds.”

Whitney is also thankful for the Foothills Commitment that helps her family pay for college. The Foothills Commitment is available to residents of Cleveland, Lincoln, Gaston and Rutherford counties, and the Piedmont Promise is for Mecklenburg County residents. These initiatives provide a minimum of $15,610 (50 percent of tuition) in all forms of institutional aid to new freshmen students from those counties who enroll in a full-time residential undergraduate program at GWU. The reduced rate is renewable, and residents from these counties who apply to GWU and meet the qualifications will automatically be a part of the program. Students also need to file the FAFSA form.

“I am glad to have the opportunity to attend Gardner Webb,” Whitney affirmed. “Without this scholarship, I feel I would have had a little more difficulty paying for my schooling.”

Applying to Gardner-Webb is free for traditional undergraduate students. For more information about admissions and other financial aid opportunities, email [email protected] or call 704-406-2550.

Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to six professional schools, 14 academic departments, 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.