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Tigerville, SC—Be genuine, be sincere, demonstrate care, and be likeable.

Dr. Jason Young offered this advice to 217 graduates at 91������’s Fall Commencement Friday evening in Tigerville, South Carolina.

Sharing from Proverbs 3:3-4, Young said taking a genuine interest in others will make personal and professional goals attainable.

“Being likeable is about embodying love, humility, and grace,” he said. “It’s about demonstrating (that attitude), especially when it’s hard.”

Friday’s ceremony, opened with a welcome from 91������President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr. and an invocation from 91������Board Chair William Tyler.

“We are proud of you,” Tyler told the graduates. “We know that you have been prepared to go and lead as transformational leaders for church and society.”

Following a musical selection from the 91������ Choral Group and a scripture reading from 2024 graduate Cobey Cruell, Young delivered the keynote address.

Young is a two-time graduate of 91������and the author of six books. He is an executive coach, and a consultant for several organizations, including Chick-fil-A, Delta Airlines, Google and Christ Fellowship.

“At North Greenville, my life changed,” he said. “The professors and leadership here helped me navigate many things and were there for me.”

Young stressed the importance of developing likeability as graduates begin and continue their professional pursuits.

“Your resume is important. Your job is important. But an unconventional idea is to think about boosting your likeability,” he said. “Your likeability is more important than your leadership ability.”

“Highly likeable people ask questions, they’re more willing to listen than talk. They put away their phone and are willing to be fully present with you. They don’t pass judgment and are approachable. They don’t seek attention. They’re consistent,” Young said.

Young’s address was followed by the conferring of degrees and presentation of diplomas.

Jamie Oates, father of one of the graduating students, led a responsive reading blessing of the graduates. Dr. Debo Nathaniel, professor and chair of NGU’s biology department, led the benediction.

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Graduate spotlight

Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences

91������ graduated the first group of students from its Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences (MABS) program on Friday night.

The program began in 2023 and is offered within NGU’s College of Allied Health.

“We teach them the fundamentals of medicine. We give them competitive, critical-thinking tests that provide real experience,” said Dr. Cathleen Ciesielski, MABS Program Director . “I’m very proud of the program and the students. The majority of them have full-time jobs and families to care for. It’s exciting to see them do well. I can see how much they’ve grown and they are on the right track to meet their goals.”

Dr. Carson Moore, Principal Faculty of NGU’s PA Medicine program, said the MABS students have been highly motivated.

“We have students from all over the country pursuing many different goals,” Moore said. “The goal of this program was not for students to re-do their undergraduate coursework. It was designed to be a rigorous online graduate program, and these students have persevered through quite a bit.”

Carissa Nussbaum, who received her diploma Friday night, said the program’s flexibility was key.

“It was flexible. I could do things on my own time,” she said. “This program was a stepping stone for me. My end-goal was to apply for the PA program here at 91������and become a physician assistant.”

Fall graduate Jenny Tran will be attending NGU’s PA Medicine program in 2025.

“It was a remarkable experience,” Tran said. “It further accelerated my education, and despite it being online, you still had the opportunity to communicate and collaborate with classmates.”

Tigerville, SC—Longtime financial management leader Mark Reeves has been named Senior Vice President for Finance at 91������, 91������President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr., announced Friday, November 22. Reeves has worked in higher education, healthcare, and tax/accounting services posts over a four-decade career in financial services.

Reeves will begin his 91������tenure on December 2, 2024. He previously was managing director of operational excellence with Clifton Larson Allen, a national accounting firm. He served as vice president of finance and auxiliaries at Southern Wesleyan University for five years before moving to CLA.

“Mark Reeves has a rich background of fiscal leadership in varied industries, and those experiences, along with his commitment to use his abilities to further Christ-centered higher education, make him an exceptional addition to our senior leadership team,” said President Fant. “As we seek to fulfill our historic mission and maintain strong financial management, we are delighted to welcome Mark.”

“I’ve been blessed to have a career full of experiences, across multiple industries, with a number of organizations that have had a growth mindset and visionary leadership,” said Reeves. “After meeting with Dr. Fant and members of the leadership team, and praying about it, I sense an energy and see an excellent opportunity to assist the team in continuing to create something very special at NGU.”

An Iowa native, Reeves earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Drake University and completed an MBA degree from the University of Wisconsin. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. He worked with Deloitte & Touche for nine years before moving to Hartford Financial from 1995-2002. He then was director of financial reporting with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, for four years. He continued in healthcare-related financial services, including three years as chief financial officer at Community Health Partnership in Eau Claire, WI, before moving into higher education financial management in 2010 as director of business services and university budget officer at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He was assistant vice chancellor for financial services at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse before joining Southern Wesleyan University in Central, SC.

Reeves will fill NGU’s chief financial officer role previously held by Michael Stowell, who resigned earlier in the fall semester to relocate to Arizona. Reeves and his wife, Heidi, have been married for 33 years. They have two adult sons, Nick and Caleb.

“Mark’s experience in quality improvement and analyzing financial best practices across industries will help us move forward, building on a strong financial footing which was bolstered by the work of Mike Stowell,” said President Fant. “We believe 91������is positioned to broaden our mission effectiveness as we equip transformational leaders for church and society.”

Tigerville, SC—91������’s (NGU) Criminal Justice and Legal Studies club will host its sixth annual��Cops��for��Tots��fundraiser at the Greer Police Department’s Physical Training Course this Saturday, Nov. 23, at 11 a.m.

Attendees who donate a new, unwrapped toy (or bring a $5 donation) will have the chance to run the Greer PD training course.

“The partnership our Criminal Justice and Legal Studies program has with the Greer Police Department is invaluable to our students and faculty,” said Joshua Styles, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies at NGU. “Several of our graduates have worked or currently work for Greer PD, so partnering with them for a fundraiser like this is especially meaningful. This event is the perfect opportunity to learn more about how police officers are trained while also supporting GPD’s efforts to care for kids in the Greer community.”

The Greer Police Department began serving families in the Upstate through the Cops for Tots program in the late 1980s.

“Over the years, thousands of families have received gifts, clothing, and essentials, easing financial burdens during a typically busy and expensive season,” said NGU’s Director of Campus Safety and Security Jeff Smith, who formerly served with the Greer Police Department.

“Families often see officers not just as enforcers of the law but as compassionate, caring members of the community.�� The program certainly provides a great opportunity for community members and organizations to come together, bridging gaps between the community members,” Smith said.

The event is free to attend and those seeking more information can contact Josh Styles at joshua.styles@ngu.edu.

“NGU’s mission of servant leadership��and fostering Christ-centered values makes involvement in efforts like Cops for Tots a natural fit,” Smith said. “Supporting vulnerable families exemplifies living out faith through action.”

Tigerville, SC —“I hope this show impacts the North Greenville community with the high-quality of performance and design elements and inspires some people who may not be familiar with Shakespeare to understand the relevance, intensity, and accessibility of his work.”

Those ambitions are from Amy Dunlap, co-director for NGU’s upcoming production, “Richard III” by William Shakespeare.

“Richard III” is among a series of historical plays that Shakespeare wrote about the ongoing war for power between the British houses of York and Lancaster. This is known as “The Wars of the Roses.”

The plot follows the story of Richard III as he maneuvers to the crown through deceit, trickery and bloodshed.

“There is a somewhat hopeful and redemptive ending, though, which was written by Shakespeare to celebrate the ancestry of Queen Elizabeth,” said Dunlap.

Logan Stewart, senior theatre education major, plays the leading role of Richard. “Playing Richard in this show means the world to me because this is one of the few moments that I have been able to play a serious tragic role rather than a comedic role,” he said.

“Richard III” is Stewart’s last production at 91������as a student actor.

“I want this show to be a crowning role, no pun intended, that will let the underclassmen see the professionalism that I can display,” he said.

Stewart began preparing for this taxing role back in the spring semester. Throughout his summer, he took a deep dive into the script, storyline and Richard as a character.

Richard III is not the hero type. With a leg limp and a deformed arm, he has family members murdered, takes the life of his newlywed wife and circulates lies all for power.

“I want this to be a role that allows other individuals in the future to know that no matter your stature you can play a big role and fill the space with your presence,” Stewart said.

NGU’s installment of the play has 25 cast members: Maddux Schmidt (King Edward/Tyrell/Soldier), Payden Atwell /Eleanor Finn (double cast as Edward, prince of Wales), Fuller Finn/Claire Wells (double cast as Richard, duke of York), Dylan Thompson (George, duke of Clarence/Sir James Blunt), Logan Stewart (Richard, duke of Gloucester), Jacob Jones (Richmond), Alex Raines (Archbishop of York/duke of Norfolk), Alyssa Wells (Ely/Soldier), Rowan Bishop (Buckingham), Chappie Livdahl (Earl Rivers/Sir Walter Herbert), Morgan Benson (Dorset/soldier), Caleb Wright (Lord Hastings), MJ Greene (Lord Stanley), Morgan Madden (Ratcliffe), Grace Turner (Catesby), Esther Dostie (Brakenbury/Messenger/Soldier), Corrie Owen (Queen Elizabeth), Alyse Barrett (Margaret), Rachel Forester (Duchess of York), Aviya Baluch (Lady Anne), Sadie Beaumont (Young Elizabeth/understudy for Anne), Savannah Williamson (Murderer 1), and Ryleigh Ann Guyton (Murderer 2).

Directorial and Management positions for “Richard III” include: Amy Dunlap (Co-Director/Designer), Bess Park (Co-Director/Designer), Seth Atkins (Stage Manager), Anna Faith Major (Assistant Stage Manager) and Grace Salter (Assistant Stage Manager).

The play incorporates unique design elements, Dunlap said.

“One interesting aspect to our design, which I think is also somewhat humorous, is the presence of hundreds of eggshells throughout the set,” she said.

Audience members will see that the show is performed on a unique traverse stage, set up like a chess board. This is a type of theatrical stage where the audience is seated on two opposite long sides, and the stage itself is like an alleyway.

When most hear the name Shakespeare, they often think of the nontraditional language style.

“Shakespeare is for everyone. Most people are afraid of it because they have only tried to read it and not see it performed live. When the words are spoken and enacted, the stories revealed themselves brilliantly,” Dunlap said.

Dunlap fell in love with “Richard III” after being in a production of it at the Virginia Shakespeare festival.

“That experience made me fall in love with the richness and complexity of this particular Shakespeare show,” she said.

Dunlap reflected on how this play relates to current events surrounding the presidential election, which occurred last week.��

“I think the show is particularly resonant right now in our current political climate and I thought it would be a great stretch for our students,” she said.

“Richard III” will run Nov. 14-16 and Nov. 21-23 with showtimes at 7:30 p.m. nightly. are $8 for students and children and $15 for adults. Premium seating tickets are $20. One free ticket is available to 91������students with an 91������ID the Monday before show weekends.

Tigerville, SC—The fifth annual Tigerville Christmas Parade will ring in the holiday season starting at 6 p.m. on Friday, December 6.

“This is a great event for our community,” said Matt Jennings, event organizer and Owner of Cherokee Valley Course and Club. “It’s a family atmosphere, and it represents what Tigerville is all about. We love supporting our community churches and NGU.”

The parade begins at 6 p.m. and will travel north from the Highway 414 and Highway 253 intersection to Tigerville Elementary School Road, then back east and south to Highway 414. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Tigerville Fire Department.

The event is organized by various businesses in the local community, with 91������ (NGU) as the lead sponsor. The main stage area for the parade will be just east of the Tigerville Road and Chinquapin Road intersection, with food trucks, and craft vendors in an 91������parking area directly south of the university’s McCormick House on Tigerville Road.

The parade will include various entries, including church groups, classic tractors and sports cars, 91������student organizations, and the 91������Marching Band. It will conclude with the arrival of Santa Claus.

Following the parade, families will have the opportunity to have photos taken with Santa.

to enter the parade will be open until November 30. There will be a vote for Best Overall Float and Best Ensemble at the judges’ booth. The cost for entry is $30, and one winner in each category will be chosen.

The 2024 Parade Committee includes Matthew and Michelle Lindsey, Matt and Renee Jennings, Joe and Kayla Gilreath, Pastor Tim McConnell, and 91������President, Dr. Gene Fant, and First Lady, Lisa Fant.

For more details, follow the Tigerville Christmas Parade on .

Tigerville, SC— A rapid response helped mitigate damage from Tropical Storm Helene on NGU’s Greer and Tigerville campuses.��

“I know I speak for the entire 91������community as I express appreciation to members of the Crisis Management Team and others who went well above the call of duty before, during, and after the storm to respond to many challenges,” 91������President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr. said.����

With power outages, downed trees, and water issues, a host of 91������faculty, staff and student leaders were on site assisting in recovery efforts in Tigerville. ��

“Many in the community sprang into action, even during Helene’s strongest winds and rains,” said Executive Vice President Rich Grimm, who coordinated the university’s response to the September 27 storm. “The care, professionalism, and selfless service of individuals too numerous to name gives testimony to their love and commitment to NGU. We are overwhelmed with gratitude for each person.”��

Kyle Walden, Campus Enhancement Services vice president, whose team, along with the staff of The Budd Group, the university’s housekeeping and landscaping partner, have been busy cleaning up after the storm.����

“We were blessed to only have sustained what damage we did, but it is also a testament to the people and community of 91������that planned, responded, collaborated, and worked diligently and tirelessly to bring the campus back together,” said Kyle. “There is a strong community here at this university, and this situation has proved that.”��

NGU’s student leadership team also organized in the aftermath of the storm, establishing on-going communication with residents who remained on campus, planning events, and helping with storm clean-up and more.������

“Through the hardships of the past week, what stood out as a constant encouragement was the selfless commitment seen in the CMSE student leadership team,” said Dr. Jared Thomas, 91������vice president of Campus Ministries and Student Engagement (CMSE). “I could not be more proud of and grateful for these student leaders. They proved that they are here to serve our student body in both the good and the bad. More importantly, they served in a way that, I believe, followed the humble and sacrificial example seen in Christ (Phil 2).”��

Serving Others��

“We didn’t have a full detailed and concrete plan, but we knew we needed to help.”��

Those were thoughts from Brett Plyler, student ministry coordinator at NGU, who helped organize a group of more than 100 91������students to travel to Biltmore Church in Western North Carolina to assist with hurricane relief.����

“A couple of us went to Bat Cave Baptist and drove through Black Mountain,” Plyler said. “We saw complete roads missing, powerlines down, houses completely removed from their foundation, and cars in the river.”��

“It was truly devastating,” he continued. “It reminded me of all the things I had to be grateful for, and the verse in Job that says ‘The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.’”��

The group helped organize donations at Biltmore Church, unloading trailers and organizing the flow of traffic in what has become a supply distribution center.����

“91������has great relationships with local churches, and we utilized connections with local churches to see how we could be help and mobilize our students,” Plyler said.��

Other groups within the 91������community have been finding their own ways to serve others who have been devastated by the storm.����

“I’ve heard about faculty members who personally called all of their students, who housed students and colleagues who needed help,” President Fant said. “I’ve heard of staff members who brought food to one another, who offered laundry rooms to others, and who provided chain saw service. We have watched colleagues work in relief crews in SC and across the line in NC. I’ve heard of coaches who helped students focus on others rather than getting bogged down in their own challenges. And we all have watched our churches and fellow parishioners leap into action to help all over the region. So many acts of courage and compassion.”��

President Fant said the response of many will be one of the lasting impacts of the storm.��

“For a generation, students will now talk about ‘that hurricane’ and their experiences during the following days,” he said. “That means that for a generation, students will recount how well their faculty mentors and staff leaders helped them to navigate difficult circumstances and showed the love of Christ to them in specific and tangible ways.”��

Operational Update: October 6, 2024

91������ resumes in-person on campus instruction on Monday, October 7, on both the Tigerville campus and the Tim Brashier Campus in Greer. We are grateful for the work of many members of the 91������community who have worked to restore services, clear storm debris, and provide for full campus capabilities. Please see the information below regarding 91������operations this coming week.��

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Traditional classes which meet on the Tigerville campus resume with 8 a.m. classes on Monday, October 7. Fully online undergraduate and graduate programs are continuing in their normal fashion and the Physician Assistant (PA) program will resume instruction on Monday morning. 91������faculty will work with students regarding any storm-related issues which affect their ability to reach campus or complete course requirements.����

SAFETY & SECURITY/LiveSafe App��
Main roads leading to campus are accessible at this time; however, there are still many downed trees, limbs and power lines in the broader region which may be blocking secondary roads and/or partially blocking highways. Please anticipate temporary closures or delays due to utility repairs and/or debris removal from the roads. Please use caution when driving. We strongly encourage traveling during daylight hours if possible.��

For real-time information on area and regional roadways, students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to visit these transportation websites:��

• ��

• ��

• ��

Access to campus entrances and buildings will return to normal operational hours at 7 a.m. on Monday morning. Note: Tigerville campus entry gates will close at 8 p.m. Sunday (Oct. 6) evening, except for the Taylor Street entry from Chinquapin Road. Continue to use the LiveSafe app for any safety and security needs as well as for any unlock requests upon your return to campus��

ADMISSIONS��
NGU’s Office of Admissions is fully operational and is available to host prospective students and guests for daily campus visits. Admissions team members continue to work with prospective students for the spring semester and those enrolling in the fall of 2025. ��Staff are working to encourage students affected by Tropical Storm Helene to not be stressed regarding the admissions process, as the team will work individually with each student exploring NGU. Questions regarding visits or admissions-related items can be emailed to��admissions@ngu.edu. ��

HOUSING/STUDENT ENGAGEMENT��
Residential students who departed campus due to the storm are free to return at any time. Please note that there will be limited services until Monday.��

91������Chapel will resume at 10 a.m. Monday. Information on service opportunities and scheduled campus prayer gatherings will be shared at that time.��

Residence Life will host mandatory hall meetings on Monday, October 7, at 10 p.m. for all residential students. Residential students should refer to their resident area “Group Me” for specific meeting information.��

Campus Ministries and Student Engagement, along with the rest of the 91������community, are available for students. We know that many have been directly impacted by Helene and are still navigating the aftermath. If you are experiencing any struggles – physical, emotional, spiritual, or academic – that might impact your ability to be successful in your returning to campus, CMSE staff desire to be of assistance. As you prepare to return to campus, if you are facing a need, please do not hesitate to let us know. You can email Dr. Jared Thomas, vice president for campus ministries and student engagement, at��jared.thomas@ngu.edu. He will work to connect you with appropriate 91������resources. ��

DINING SERVICES
For Sunday, October 6:��

• The 1892 Place will be open on Sunday from 1 p.m.-11 p.m.��

• Todd Dining Hall will reopen for Dinner on Sunday, serving from 5 p.m.-8 p.m.��

All Dining Service locations will operate on normal hours starting Monday, October 7.��

ATHLETICS��
91������athletic teams will operate on their normal schedules, as set with coaches. Competitions have resumed following scheduled dates and times; details may be found at��. ��

PERSONNEL������ ��
91������staff and faculty are asked to report as they are able. Any personnel with questions about specific circumstances are encouraged to reach out to their supervisors before the opening of offices on Monday. Supervisors will coordinate with all employees to determine appropriate work schedules as needed.��

MAIL SERVICES / CAMPUS STORE��
Wood’s General Store will be open from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. beginning Monday, October 7. Mail Services staff expect to have all mail and package deliveries processed and completed by 2 p.m. on Monday.��

GAS STATION��
The university gas station at Wood’s General Store is operational with all grades available.����

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES��
91������technology services continue to gradually improve as the larger network systems allow. You may experience unexpected interruptions with Internet and\or cellular service.  These interruptions are probably due to restoration work in the region, which should lessen over time.��

Here are tips for when you return to campus:��

• Reboot all devices before logging on to the campus network.��

• When accessing Blackboard (and other services using Single Sign-On), please select the “Legacy” option.��

• If you experience connectivity issues, first try rebooting your device.����

• Restarts may be necessary for cell phones as well.��

If you encounter issues, please send an email to the IT Services Helpdesk: its.helpdesk@ngu.edu  If you open a ticket, please be sure to include a good call-back number to help support staff reach you.��

DISPOSING OF PERISHABLE ITEMS��
Faculty and Staff:��Many perishable goods were lost over the past 10 days, and there will be numerous items that need to be thrown away. Campus Enhancement Services asks that you bag together as many of the items as possible when disposing of them and please put them in the large trash cans or dumpsters close to your buildings. If your building does not have either of these, please reach out to CES and a container will be delivered to your building for waste disposal. Please do not throw away individual food items without bagging, as this can create spills which are difficult to clean up.����

Students returning to campus:��Many perishable goods were lost over the past 10 days, so there will be numerous items that need to be thrown away. Campus Enhancement Services asks that you bag together as many of these items as possible when disposing of them and place them in the large trash cans or dumpsters near your campus housing.��

REPORTING MAINTENANCE ISSUES��
CES, The Budd Group, and others have worked steadily to clean up the campus from the effects of Tropical Storm Helene. CES and CMSE personnel have been in buildings to assess damage from the storm and have been working as quickly as possible, prioritizing their efforts by level of damage.����Students who become aware of any concerns with their residence facilities should follow normal procedures and contact their SLT representatives instead of contacting Campus Enhancement Services directly. Adhering to this standard practice will help streamline services across campus residence life facilities. ��

Employees who become aware of items they would like to make sure are brought to the team’s attention, should submit them through��.��

91������EVENTS THIS WEEK��
All special events in the life of the University will resume with normal schedules this week. These include PALS events, Trailblazer Athletics events, and the annual Red Carpet Gala for 91������President’s Partner-level donors.��

Please note two special schedule changes:��

• 91������Theatre will present a special final performance of the play “Unreal City” on Monday, October 7, at 7:30 p.m. in Billingsley Theatre. Ticketholders for cancelled September performances will be admitted by presenting those tickets. Any seats remaining will be made available in the Billingsley lobby after current ticketholders are seated.��
• 91������Family Weekend, initially scheduled for late September, will now be on October 25-26. Details will be available through CMSE.��