Ignite Scholarship Helps McCoy Stowe Fulfill Goal of Becoming a Neurosurgeon 

Gardner-Webb Junior Balances Campus Activities with Academics to Prepare for Medical School

By Makella Knowles, Intern for University Communications

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Matthew “McCoy” Stowe, a double major in biomedical sciences and chemistry with a minor in psychology, is a junior dedicated to getting into medical school. Growing up in Lincolnton, N.C., only 40 minutes from campus, Gardner-Webb University was frequently talked about by his family and friends during high school.

After sharing that his university hunt was challenging, Stowe comments, “Truthfully, God led me here completely.” While exploring all his options, GWU stood out more and more. “I don’t know what it was… I don’t think it was anything other than God,” he acknowledges.

Stowe then applied for the Ignite Scholarship and came in for the interview. Walking into Tucker Student Center, dressed and ready to go, made everything real to him, including how nervous he was. Stowe’s anxiety only built while he waited months to hear back from the school before finding out he had been put on a waitlist. Soon, the news came that he was hoping for and the deal was sealed: he was going to Gardner-Webb. Getting the Ignite full-tuition scholarship fulfilled everything Stowe had worked for in high school; he stubbornly pushed through his classes and graduated with over three semesters’ worth of college credit under his belt.

As long as he can remember, Stowe has wanted to be a doctor. He’s open to other options, but his heart is set on neurosurgery, specifically. After graduation, Stowe hopes to start medical school immediately, preferably somewhere close to home. “A positive mindset is the only way to do it,” he comments. Charlotte, N.C., is his dream career destination, and in 10 years he hopes to have completed a medical fellowship, started a family, and be practicing medicine part-time.

Stowe fills his time on campus with many activities, staying busy as a Student Government Association (SGA) congressman for Lutz/Royster Residence Halls and as vice president for three clubs on campus: Pre-health, a club for students going into the medical field; Tri-Beta for honors biology; and Sigma Zeta for honors math and general sciences. Most days, he goes straight from class to studying, but his hard work has paid off; he made the President’s List for the last three semesters. Right now, he is also diligently preparing for the MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test).

He noted that his earlier years were easier to balance, but even as his class load has increased, he’s gotten into the flow of campus life and decided to complete two majors. Speaking on his experience in the Department of Natural Sciences, he praises the work of his professors: “I’ve never met a group of people who are more invested in their students.”

Despite his packed and demanding schedule, Stowe prioritizes time with family and friends. He stays in touch with the group of guys he connected with his freshman year, even the ones who have graduated. And, because of his roommate’s busy athletic schedule, they have to work hard to find time to see each other. “Everyone has their own life; everyone is busy,” Stowe observes. “If you want to see somebody, you’re going to make the effort to see them.” This mindset has set him up for success in his college career, and Stowe expresses gratitude for the people who have brought him to where he is today.

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.

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.