Destined for the Medical Field: Ignite Scholar Benjamin Rogers Pursues Academic Goals

Gardner-Webb Junior Biochemistry Major Involved in Various Groups, Activities on Campus

By Makella Knowles, Intern for University Communications

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Ignite Scholar Benjamin Rogers, a junior at Gardner-Webb University, has known since he was young that he was destined for the medical field. As a winner of the Ignite Scholarship, Rogers begins his academic journey toward his goal with his tuition fully paid for eight semesters.

His fascination with the human body and anatomy studies prompted him to choose to major in exercise science when he arrived at Gardner-Webb. This program’s pre-professional concentration prepares students for various graduate programs in medical and healthcare fields.

Rogers described how initially choosing this route offered him, “a different feel of the pre-med avenue” that he believes he wouldn’t have gotten otherwise. Just recently, he officially switched his major to biochemistry, which aligns better with his interests and plans for the future while still requiring many of the same classes as exercise science. He takes his school work seriously and sometimes stays up late to catch up on his studies. He also participates in the Honors program and works to earn the required GPA to maintain his scholarship.

Working as a lab assistant since his sophomore year, Rogers is involved in many career advancement opportunities. His freshman-year anatomy instructor, Stacie Smith, invited him to assist in anatomy and physiology labs after seeing his love for the field. Rogers credits Smith as a faculty member who has greatly supported him in his academic journey, and he appreciates how all of his professors in the Department of Natural Sciences are highly qualified, saying “It really inspires me to know that I am learning from those who I eventually want to be [like].”

Rogers is involved in a wide range of on-campus activities and stays busy in his free time. Beginning this semester, he leads a men’s Bible study with Campus Ministries United on the book of Acts and Kingdom living. The gatherings usually contain a small group of five to 10 guys. After being a part of one in the past, Rogers wanted to lead a Bible study before he graduated.

He also works on-campus in the Office of Admissions as a Student Recruitment Ambassador (SRA). His role as a student representative is to give tours to prospective students and their families, answer the phone, help with campus promotion, and represent the students on Admission Days. He likes how well the job works with his academic schedule. Inspired to work for Admissions by the student who conducted his first tour of Gardner-Webb, Rogers has been leading tours since his freshman year.

Hearing about Gardner-Webb from his mom’s friend, Rogers set up the tour where he fell in love with the campus. He also learned about the Ignite Scholarship from his tour guide, who was a previous winner. He applied and came in for the interview. The University staff and the SRAs made the process easy. He reminisced about how he tried to be as eager as possible in his interview by being very friendly and talkative with the person.

Gardner-Webb checked the boxes for private, Christian school in North Carolina, and Rogers was drawn to the University’s small size and its tight-knit community. Growing up on a farm in Waxhaw, N.C., he didn’t want to be too far from home. Before receiving the Ignite Scholarship, Rogers decided Gardner-Webb was perfect: “In all reality, I felt like I wasn’t just a number here, and I felt like this place would be home.”

Makella Knowles, of Indian Trail, N.C., is a senior majoring in English and minoring in Spanish and marketing.

About the Ignite Scholarship

Ignite Excellence is Gardner-Webb University’s most competitive academic scholarship. Each recipient receives a full-tuition scholarship that covers the cost of tuition for eight semesters. Recipients are selected through an on-campus interview process. Applicants must reside on campus, be enrolled full-time, and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5. Learn more here.

About Gardner-Webb

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.