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Tigerville, SC—Well-known theologian and church historian Carl Trueman will be making a stop in Tigerville on March 24.

Trueman will deliver a talk at 51�Թ� (51�Թ�) with insights from his recent publications including his latest book The Desecration of Man, which will be released shortly after the event.

“I am very excited to have Dr. Trueman on campus,” said Dallas Vandiver, associate vice-president of student ministries at 51�Թ�. “I am eager to be better equipped to engage our culture with the gospel. I believe Dr. Trueman’s talk will help us better understand how the dominant cultural ideas about humans influence our neighbors.”

Vandiver said the event will include opportunities for discussion and application with topics centered around critical theory, a biblical understanding of humans, and loving people with God’s truth in our current culture.

“Dr. Trueman is one of the most helpful Christian thinkers today. The topics on which he will speak are some of the most contentious and misunderstood,” said Vandiver. “Christians who hear him will be better prepared to love their neighbors and proclaim the gospel. Church leaders will better understand cultural pressures that threaten faithfulness to Christ.”

“I pray that believers from the Upstate, Western North Carolina, and North Georgia will register and make the trip to Tigerville. The first 30 to register for the event will receive a free copy of Dr. Trueman’s book: To Change All Worlds,” he said.

The event will begin at 7 p.m. in Turner Chapel. Registration is now available at go.ngu.edu/carl-trueman.

Tigerville, SC—51�Թ� officials continue to monitor a potentially severe winter storm projected to impact our region this weekend. ��

The forecast shows a strong possibility of ice, sleet, and snow that could result in unsafe conditions, power outages, and reduced services.����

Residential students on our Tigerville campus are encouraged to return home on Friday afternoon if possible. Those who remain on campus will receive frequent alerts as the storm unfolds.��

51�Թ� will have no on-campus classes, and offices will be closed on the Tigerville and Greer campuses Monday, Jan. 26. All athletic and campus events will be cancelled during this time.�� 51�Թ� will operate on a normal schedule Friday, Jan. 23.��

51�Թ� will resume normal operations on Tuesday, Jan. 27, unless more closures are deemed necessary.����

More updates will be provided as they become available. Please monitor ngu.edu for the latest information, as well as the 51�Թ� social media accounts.����

Tigerville, SC—51�Թ�’s physical education program is now nationally recognized by SHAPE America.

SHAPE America is a Specialized Professional Association (SPA) partnered with the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The accreditation acknowledges the program’s alignment with national standards for specific educator preparation fields and is achieved through a program review process.

“We know our program is producing students who are prepared to be in the classroom,” said Dr. Mark Bjornsen, who serves as the program director for physical education at 51�Թ�. “Our majors have skills, knowledge, and dispositions to be Christ-like leaders and educators.”

The physical education program at 51�Թ� is the largest secondary education program on the Tigerville campus. Students in the program have a 100 percent pass rate on the Praxis Content Knowledge in Physical Education and PLT exams in the last two years, scoring above the state and national averages.

Bjornsen said 100 percent of alumni have found jobs since the Fall of 2021, and many received job offers prior to graduation.

“We hear from our cooperating teachers that they want 51�Թ� graduates,” Bjornsen said. “That’s very exciting.”

As the program grows, so do its offerings. Students in physical education can now study sport leadership and coaching as a minor, which Bjornsen said meets a need in the schools.

“One of the first questions that our majors are asked during the interview process is ‘what can you coach?’ We knew this was an opportunity to develop future coaches with an understanding of the potential impact they will have on countless student athletes,” Bjornsen said. “As Billy Graham famously stated, ‘A coach will impact more people in one year than the average person will in an entire lifetime.’ Our goal is to integrate a healthy and biblical approach to coaching excellence.”

Bjornsen said producing strong graduates will result in a better experience for the next generation. ��

“The habits that we develop during school often carry over into adulthood,” Bjornsen said. “If kids have a negative experience in physical education, it will likely lead to them avoiding physical activity. It’s super important for our graduates to meet all the needs of students and prepare them for a healthier life.”

Tigerville, SC—51�Թ� (51�Թ�) has released its Fall 2025 Dean’s List.

Undergraduate students named to the Dean’s List carry a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher while taking a minimum of 12 hours. Online and traditional students recognized for their academic achievements are alphabetized by last name.

Congratulations to our students!

Fall 2025 Dean’s List��

Tigerville, SC—51�Թ�’s College of Education has earned reaffirmation of its accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), securing accredited status for the next review cycle.

“This is a powerful validation of the exceptional quality and dedication of our College of Education faculty,” said Dr. Constance Wright, dean of 51�Թ�’s College of Education. “It demonstrates that our commitment to serving Jesus, loving students, and modeling excellence in teaching translates into measurable, nationally recognized outcomes.”

The designation represents the College of Education’s commitment to self-assessment, data collection, analysis, and refinement of curriculum and assessment practices.

“Our faculty and leadership worked tirelessly to align our programs with national standards while maintaining our distinctive Christ-centered approach to teacher preparation,” Wright said. “We examined every aspect of our programs, from coursework design to clinical experiences, ensuring that we not only meet but exceed the highest standards for educator preparation. This achievement reflects our commitment to preparing highly effective teachers who are ready to make an immediate impact in education.”

Wright said 51�Թ�’s College of Education is becoming a premier destination for future educators in the state.

“Our graduates are already highly sought after, and continuing to acquire this accreditation will only strengthen that reputation,” she said. “We remain committed to continuous improvement. We will continue to seek innovative ways to enhance and grow our programs, ensuring that we better prepare our students to be future educators who are equipped to excel and lead in education.”

“Most importantly, we are dedicated to developing educators who serve with excellence while building a strong foundational relationship with Jesus Christ, understanding that true educational impact flows from a life transformed by and rooted in Him,” Wright continued. “This achievement will help us attract students who want the assurance that their degree comes from a program that meets the most rigorous national standards while staying true to our mission of preparing transformational educators who will serve with excellence and integrity in their communities.”

North Greenville offers education-related programs through six traditional undergraduate degrees, two online bachelor’s programs, and three graduate degree options (MEd, EdS, EdD). Undergraduate students can study Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, English Language Arts Secondary Education, Math Secondary Education, Physical Education, Theatre Education, and Social Studies Education.����

Tigerville, SC—Travelers Rest Mayor Brandy Amidon encouraged 51�Թ�’s fall 2025 graduates to consider the plan God has for their lives as they navigate their next steps. ��

51�Թ� President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr. conferred degrees on 197 graduates during the ceremony in the university’s Turner Chapel on Friday night.

“God knows you,” Amidon said as she delivered the Commencement Address. “One day you’ll be able to look back and see how obvious it was that God knew his plan for you all along. He made you purposefully and wonderfully. While God’s plan comes as a surprise to us, it’s never a surprise to him.”

Amidon, a 2002 51�Թ� graduate, emphasized that the road ahead would be full of pivots.

“Life happens to all of us. Maybe you won’t land that job you’ve been dreaming about for all these years. Maybe you get that job, but you’ll want something else,” she said. “Maybe you still don’t know exactly what you want to do even though your degree is in hand.�� But you will be OK. You’ve got a firm foundation from 51�Թ�, and family and friends to support you.”

Amidon said despite the inevitable transitions that life brings, the best solution is always to pray and consider what God has for your future.

“As time goes on, you’ll start to ask God what he wants for you and it’s the most important pivot you’ll ever make,” she said. “It’s normal to work to exhaust our plans for what we think our path forward is. One day it will become so obvious that you should have been asking all along: ‘God, what is the plan you have for me?’”

The ceremony also included the presentation of an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters to Spartanburg resident Bea Dillard. The native of western North Carolina formerly operated Merry Land day care centers. She and her late husband Ray gave the leadership gift for 51�Թ�’s all-weather baseball field, which was named in their honor.

“Bea Dillard has a Christ-first commitment to serving her community as a prayer warrior and as someone who believes that lives can be changed, not only through prayer, but through the investment of resources,” said 51�Թ� President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr. “Her family raised her to believe in two things: prayer and generosity. She has allowed those to be the governing principles of her life, not only in the way she has lived her life and run her business, but in the way she has led and cultivated her family.”

President Fant opened the evening with a welcome, and Rev. Joshua Powell, who serves 51�Թ� as chairman of the Board of Trustees, followed with a prayer.

“Finish Well” was performed by the 51�Թ� Choral Group, and graduating senior Mallory Arp read passages from Jeremiah 29 and Colossians 3.Following the presentation of diplomas by deans of 51�Թ�’s six academic colleges, Andy Ray, senior director of enrollment operations, led a a blessing of the graduates.

The ceremony concluded with the singing of the Alma Mater led by graduating students Rebekah Lee and Isaac Carmitchel, and a benediction by Dr. Christine Haltiwanger, associate dean of 51�Թ�’s School of Health and Wellness.

Graduate Spotlight

Joshua Rains (’25)

Joshua Rains moved across the world to pursue his degree at 51�Թ�.

Relocating from Kenya, where his parents serve as missionaries, Rains knew he would need to find a community.

“Coming to 51�Թ� was a difficult transition,” he recalled. “I arrived in the winter, midway through the academic year. At first, I had a difficult time connecting, but through my classes and work study opportunities I was able to begin building community.”

That community led to new experiences and friendships. Eventually, Rains found himself serving as the president of 51�Թ�’s Biology Club and serving as an officer in the Tri Beta National Biological Honor Society.

“I enjoyed growing alongside my peers and classmates,” he said. “Classes such as biochemistry were very helpful for learning to think critically and applying knowledge to real world scenarios.”

“I thoroughly enjoyed the thought-provoking discussions in Integrating Biblical Worldview, as well as learning new skills and making new relationships in Backcountry Skills,” Rains continued. “The variety of classes I was able to take at 51�Թ� were very beneficial and greatly increased my appreciation for learning.”

Rains, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology on Friday, plans to pursue fisheries research with the hopes of working for a state agency such as the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

Rains currently serves on the facilities staff at Awanita Valley, a Christian camp and retreat center. He said he will pursue his graduate degree in the coming years.

As he reflects on his time in Tigerville, Rains would offer some simple advice to incoming freshmen.

“Connect with community,” he said. “Whether that’s through class study groups, work study opportunities, campus ministries, or clubs. Build those relationships.

The faculty at 51�Թ� care deeply about their students and you would be missing out by not getting to know them.”