A look back at a difference-making 2025

2025 was a busy, difference-making year at Wingate University, full of academic excellence, community-focused initiatives and even (more) national championships. Let's take a look back at some of the highlights:

January

Soon after the new year began, English professor Dr. Ben Sammons took over as Wingate's first chaplain. The chaplain role is an expansion of the past "campus minister" position, to include advising the University's administration in matters of faith and spirituality as they relate to emerging trends and issues, the campus climate, and institutional norms. Also in January, Wingate honored several students and employees during the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Awards ceremony and promoted a pair of faculty members to positions in the Provost's Office.

February

With help from a grant from Foundation for a Healthy Carolina, professors in the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program established WoMB (Woman-Mother-Baby), a pro bono clinic for mothers and newborns. And in Hinson Art Museum, the University celebrated Black History Month with a special exhibit on Franklin, the first Black character in the Peanuts comic strip.

March

Wingate Athletics announced the addition of three new sports: women's flag football, men's varsity rugby, and men's beach volleyball. Rugby started in the fall, while flag football and men's beach will get going this spring. They joined women's triathlon, men's club triathlon, field hockey, acrobatics & tumbling, and women's beach volleyball as new Bulldog sports added since 2020. Also in March, the University's human services program was ranked second in the nation, and opera star Anthony Dean Griffey '90 returned to campus to give a masterclass and performance.

April

The University community has shown its dedication to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by establishing Julia's Learning, hosting a baseball game alongside Union Diversified Industries every year, and having athletics teams and academic departments working closely with IDD individuals. That commitment helped the University be named Special Olympics National Champion, ahead of 29 other schools, including San Diego State University and the universities of Wisconsin, Nebraska, Michigan and Florida. Also in April, One Day, One Dog brought more than 1,000 members of the Wingate community together to work on service projects, while the University raised more than $570,000, during its annual Day of Service and Giving.

May

Nearly 450 undergrads and 150 students from graduate and professional programs heard from an IT pioneer (Sathish Muthukrishnan, CIO at Ally Financial) and a healthcare advocate (Tchernavia Montgomery, CEO of the healthcare nonprofit Care Ring) during commencement ceremonies May 16 and 17. Among the graduates were 20 H.K. Helms Award winners (who had perfect 4.0 GPAs) and Brenda Rodriguez, who received a doctorate (pharmacy) and two master's degrees (public health and business administration).

June

Wingate has long dominated the South Atlantic Conference in sports, winning the Echols Athletic Excellence Award 17 consecutive times. Last year, Bulldog Athletics nearly claimed a similar spot nationally. Wingate placed a school-record second in the Learfield Directors' Cup standings, meaning the University had the second-best overall athletics program in NCAA Division II. Also in June, The Leon Levine Foundation gave Wingate $1 million to go toward improving college access in rural areas. The Cannon Foundation ($1.04 million) and Wendell and Judy Talley ($600,000) also gave significant gifts this year.

July

A study from Georgetown University showed that Wingate ranks No. 5 in North Carolina in terms of return on investment for low-income students. Considering that about half of Wingate's students are eligible to receive a Pell Grant, the University is undoubtedly helping the Charlotte region improve social mobility for people in lower socioeconomic demographics. Also in July, Wingate led the NCAA (all divisions) for the spring semester in number of NCAA postgraduate scholarships awarded.

August

Wingate kicked off the new academic year with a new master's program: clinical mental health counseling. "Since Covid, the need for mental-health counseling has just boomed," says Dr. Jennifer Jordan, director of the program. The 21 members of the initial cohort will learn about mental-health counseling from a "trauma-informed angle." This fall, the University also had its largest crop of new undergraduates (1,020) in seven years.

Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Angels

September

With Ethan Evans well established as the punter for the NFL's Rams, another 2023 Wingate graduate made it to The Show in Los Angeles this fall. On Sept. 2, Mitch Farris took the mound for the L.A. Angels, becoming the first former Wingate Bulldog to start a game in the Major Leagues. Farris, allowing just one run on three hits, picked up the win in a 5-1 Angels victory. Also in September, the successful Wayfind college-access program expanded to Richmond County.

October

Dr. Mary Swiggum became one of three longtime Wingate employees to take over a health science program this year when she was named director of the Department of Physical Therapy. In June, Dr. Michele Pfaff was named director of the nursing program (she had been interim director since January), and in November Dr. Andrew Woods (also interim for six months) was named dean of the School of Pharmacy. Also in October, Northeast Residence Hall was renamed after trustee Carl Tucker and his wife, Linda.

November

It's probably fair to call it a dynasty at this point. Wingate's men's cross country team won its second national title with a nine-point margin over second-place Adams State in Kenosha, Wis. The Bulldogs have two second-place finishes and two national titles in the past four years. The Wingate women continued their climb toward the top as well, placing third in the national meet. Also in November, Wingate music students took on a tall task by performing the opera Don Giovanni in Italian.

December

The University's deep ties to the community are not by chance. Wingate is intentional about serving the community, whether it's establishing a learning program for young people with IDD, making it easier for low-income students to attend college, or helping revitalize the town of Wingate. That's why we were so honored to receive the Union County Chamber of Commerce's Community Impact Award. Also in December, more than 300 students received degrees at fall commencement.

Jan. 1, 2026