成人视频

Alumnus and National Security Expert Patrick Woody Challenges Graduates to Stay 鈥楩IRED鈥� for Lifelong Growth and Service

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.鈥敵扇耸悠� celebrated the achievements of over 500 graduates on May 8 in Lutz-Yelton Convocation Center. Traditional undergraduate students were honored at 9 a.m., with graduates from master鈥檚 and doctoral programs recognized at 2 p.m.

Each ceremony began with the ringing of a replica of the Liberty Bell. As America celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence this year, it is interesting to note the significance of this bell, which is used to begin all 成人视频 Commencement services, convocations and special assemblies. The bell was first rung in the fall of 1970 to inaugurate 成人视频鈥檚 first year as a senior college. The replica weighs 44 pounds and stands 15 inches high. It is one of a limited edition of 2,400 bells produced to mark the bicentenary of American Independence (1776-1976)鈥攐ne for each month of the 200 years.   

成人视频 President Nate Evans welcomed graduates and their guests to begin both ceremonies. He recognized the accomplishments of the students and thanked parents, spouses, friends, and loved ones who supported them along the way. He also expressed gratitude for the 成人视频 faculty and staff for teaching, guiding, and mentoring students to achieve their goals.

Each commencement program also included remarks and greetings from GWU Chair of the Board of Trustees the Rev. Dr. M. Lamont Littlejohn Jr. He congratulated their success and challenged them to carry the values that define 成人视频 with them鈥攖o live 鈥淧ro Deo et Humanitate,鈥� for God and Humanity.   

During the undergraduate ceremony, Student Body President Andrea Stampone addressed her classmates, reflecting on the defining role of kindness and community in the Gardner鈥慦ebb experience.

鈥淢y charge to you today is to carry this kindness into all walks of life that you may enter,鈥� Stampone stated. 鈥淭reat people with kindness. Be a person who needs people. Be someone that runs to others when they need people, because these things make you a lucky person. Care deeply. Listen carefully. Love loudly. So go out into the world, and make that community special. Because it鈥檚 not that being a part of something special makes you special, but instead that something is special because you are a part of it.鈥�

The featured speaker for both commencement ceremonies was Patrick Woody, a Gardner鈥慦ebb 2003 alumnus and former student body president. He is founder and CEO of Point of Warning, a consulting firm that provides risk, intelligence, public policy, and organizational improvement services to government, private sector, and nonprofit organizations.

A cybersecurity professional with experience across the U.S. Intelligence Community鈥攊ncluding the CIA, Department of Homeland Security, and National Counterterrorism Center鈥擶oody directly advised multiple U.S. Presidents, White House leadership, Cabinet officials, and Congress on critical national security issues.

Woody received a Bachelor of Arts in history at 成人视频. He has a Master of Arts degree in international relations and comparative politics from George Mason University and doctoral work in international relations at the University of Maryland.

He shared that his speech included advice that he wished someone had given him when he graduated 23 years ago. 鈥淚鈥檓 going to talk to you about getting fired,鈥� Woody explained. 鈥淣ot from a job or a career, but from a mindset. It鈥檚 getting fired from the comfort of thinking that because you鈥檝e achieved this milestone, you鈥檝e arrived and there鈥檚 no more work to be done. I want to talk about a different way of looking at the future and your post-graduate life鈥攐ne built around five principles that spell out the word 鈥楩-I-R-E-D.鈥� If you leave today with these principles, I promise you that the next chapters of your life will be the best ones.鈥�

Woody described each guiding idea and closed with a short summary. 鈥淔ail鈥攁nd let it teach you,鈥� he reiterated. 鈥淚nvest鈥攊n yourself, your future, and others. Reflect鈥攕o that you are steering and not just speeding. Educate yourself鈥攁lways, relentlessly, joyfully. Dialogue鈥攁cross every divide you encounter. Being 鈥楩IRED鈥� is not a setback. It is a posture. It is how you walk into every meeting, every relationship, every new chapter of your life鈥攚ith humility, with purpose, and with the courage to keep growing.鈥� 

Beyond the commencement addresses, the ceremonies also featured special presentations and awards recognizing excellence, service, and remembrance within the Gardner鈥慦ebb community.

Commencement Honors and Recognitions

Posthumous Degree Presentation

Before undergraduate students walked across the stage to receive individual recognition for their accomplishments, Evans took a moment to remember Isaiah Hughes, a valued member of the campus community whose academic journey was tragically cut short. Hughes was an accomplished student in the Godbold College of Business and destined for great success. Evans invited the Hughes family to join him on stage, and he conferred the Bachelor of Science degree in management information systems posthumously upon Isaiah Hughes.

Undergraduate Awards and Distinctions

During the morning ceremony, several awards were presented to recognize graduates for their exceptional achievements. Senior Scholastic Awards, were presented to the members of the graduating class who earned the highest grade point average during their terms of university study. The winners were:

• Corrie Danielle Cloninger, Bachelor of Science in nursing.
• Sara-Michael Jann, Bachelor of Science in biology.
• Kaylee Faith Maynor, Bachelor of Science in nursing.
• Madison Elizabeth Peek, Bachelor of Science in nursing.
• Ava Vaughn Stratman, Bachelor of Science in exercise science.

The Most Outstanding Male and Female Graduate Awards were given to the members of the graduating class, who, judged by the faculty, best exemplify the qualities of leadership, citizenship and academic excellence.

The recipient of the Most Outstanding Female Graduate Award is Kylee A. Morris, who received a Bachelor of Science in biology. Morris began her studies at GWU in 2022 as the University鈥檚 third Tucker Scholar, an honor that includes full tuition, room and board for eight semesters. She was also crowned Miss GWU in 2025, and is a section leader in the marching band.

The recipient of the Most Outstanding Male Graduate Award is Paul M. McElearney, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and international affairs. McElearney, former GWU student body president, served on the search committee for GWU鈥檚 14th president. He is also a cadet captain in 成人视频 Reserve Officers鈥� Training Corp (ROTC) detachment assigned under the Southern Guards Battalion.  

The 成人视频 Online Scholastic Award is given at each commencement to the online student with the highest cumulative grade point average. The winners were:

• Kayla Warren Griffin, Bachelor of Science in accounting.
• Jennifer Abernathy Ruckman, Bachelor of Science in accounting.

Graduate Scholarship and Research Recognition

The afternoon ceremony featured the presentation of the Darlene J. Gravett Citizen Scholar Award, which recognizes graduate research with the potential to make a meaningful contribution to the improvement of society.

Dr. Sydney Brown, assistant provost of Academic Systems and Graduate Studies, presented the award to this year鈥檚 recipient, Dr. Brittany Hudgins-Graham. Brown noted that Hudgins-Graham exemplifies the purpose of the award in a powerful and timely way. Her work, 鈥淔orest Therapy for Mental Balance: A Christian Community Approach,鈥� brings together mental health, community, and faith to address a growing need in our world today.

鈥淲hat makes this project especially compelling is its focus on practice鈥攃reating accessible, community-based approaches that support well-being in real and tangible ways,鈥� Brown observed. 鈥淗er work reminds us that research is not only about understanding problems, but about responding to them with care, creativity, and purpose. Dr. Hudgins-Graham鈥檚 work reflects the very spirit of this award鈥攕cholarship that serves others and strengthens communities.鈥�

Videos of Friday鈥檚 commencement ceremonies are available on the and

成人视频 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., 成人视频 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 成人视频.edu.