91������

Due to power outages caused by Hurricane Helene, 91������ will be closed through the weekend. All on-campus activities are postponed, including the 91������Football game versus Shorter University and all Family Weekend activities.

91������students, faculty and staff should continue monitoring LiveSafe for updates.

Blackboard is now accessible. When logging into Blackboard (and other services using SSO):

• Select the “Cloud” option
• Do NOT use the “Legacy” option, as it will not work during the outage

Please send an email to the IT Services Helpdesk (its.helpdesk@ngu.edu) if you have issues logging in.

An update will be available by 2 p.m. Sunday, September 29.

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Tigerville, SC—91������ (NGU) continues to ascend in the annual US News & World Report Best Colleges , improving two spots in the 2025 report.��

Ranking 34th in the report’s Best Regional Universities (South) category, North Greenville is listed sixth among 16 South Carolina schools, tied with Anderson University and Coastal Carolina. This is the highest rating the university has received in its region, which included 133 schools in 2024.��

“We are blessed to continue to be recognized as one of the top universities in the state of South Carolina,” said 91������President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr. “Rankings never tell the full story, but they do underscore North Greenville’s unwavering commitment to cultivating and equipping transformational leaders for church and society. That is the mission we are living out each day in Tigerville.”��

91������continues to be recognized as a Top Performer in Social Mobility, improving six spots in the metric and ranking 16th out of 132 universities.��

The Social Mobility category analyzes schools who enroll and graduate large proportions of students who are awarded Pell Grants. North Greenville enrolled 697 Pell Grant recipients during the 2023/24 school year and 810 recipients for 2024/25. The university currently has a Pell Grant graduation rate of 72 percent and ranks sixth out of 16 South Carolina schools in the Social Mobility metric.����

91������is committed to investing in students by assisting first-generation college students through its Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). The QEP aims to provide knowledge of university resources and connect first-generation students with a support system that will help students complete their degrees.��������

U.S. News & World Report also recognized 91������as a Best Value School (Regional Universities in the South) and one of the Best Colleges for Veterans (Regional Universities in the South). 91������placed 36th and 34th respectively in these categories.��

“There are many schools I could have chosen, but all the arrows were pointing to North Greenville. I kept hearing that 91������had an awesome teaching program that sent teachers out to local areas. I knew that’s what I wanted to do.” said Frank Signor, a sophomore education major who served 17 years in the United States Marine Corps. “The instructors have been amazing. I enjoy the fact that I can come to them with questions and I’m able to get clarity right then.”��

Now in its 40th year, the U.S. News & World Report rankings evaluate nearly 1,500 national colleges and universities on up to 17 measures of academic quality and place an emphasis on social mobility and outcomes for graduating college students.��

About 91������ ��

91������ (NGU) equips graduates to serve as transformational leaders for church and society. With six colleges and 125+ areas of study, 91������offers on-campus undergraduate degrees as well as online and graduate level degree programs. Pursue your passion and explore your God-given calling at NGU.  Visit www.ngu.edu for more information.��

Tigerville, SC—“I get emotional when I pause to think about the awesome reality that this show is happening.”

Those are reflections from Abigail Thomas, director of 91������Theatre’s upcoming production, “Unreal City: A Song Cycle,” and a 2023 91������ alum.

91������Theatre will open its 2024-2025 season with performances on September 19-21 and September 26-28 at 7:30 p.m. in The Billingsley Theatre in Tigerville.

“Unreal City” is based on T.S. Eliot’s poem, “The Wasteland.” Looking at the post World War One poem, Elliot writes on the themes of fragmentation and isolation. This song cycle expresses how hope and community can defeat those themes written in Elliot’s poem.

“Through the show we see a series of vignettes that depict broken, fragmented relationships. It is not until each character can accept help from others and join together in community that healing can happen,” Abigail said.

“Unreal City” is not only directed by an 91������alum, but it is also written by Abigail’s husband, Michael Thomas, who graduated from North Greenville in 2021.

The married duo is using their passions of creative and performing arts to present a show that seeks to leave audiences reminded of the hope of Jesus Christ.

“Working together has brought us closer together in our relationship. It really is a dream come true to be creating art with your best friend,” Abigail said.

Since the original Eliot poem confronts human suffering, “Unreal City” will contain challenging material.

“This is an intentional decision, rooted in our desire to tell the whole story of redemption,” said Amy Dunlap, theatre department chair. ��“In order to fully understand and appreciate the need for redemption, we must first acknowledge the reality of sin and brokenness in our world.”

The show’s rehearsal process started with a few virtual��meetings, with the cast analyzing the script over the summer. In person rehearsals started at the beginning of August.

Before the initial rehearsal process, 91������theatre hosted two workshops for “Unreal City.”

“We thought it would be a great opportunity to support new work and support our alumni as they branch off into the world of theatre. We are trying to reconnect with our alumni,” said Dunlap.

Abigail said the entire process has been surreal.

“The cast is fantastic. They have really poured themselves into these roles. It is awesome as a director when the actors offer new and different perspectives,” she said.

The cast for the show includes: Rachel Forester (Philomel “Lil”); Alyse Barrett (Marie); Matthew Blanton (Phlebas), Dylan Thompson (Tiresias); Meghan Frady (Philomel understudy/Procne); Chappie Livdahl (Tiresias understudy/Stetson & Albert); Sadie Beaumont (May); Eliana Kelly (Isolde); and Morgan Madden (Marie understudy).

Crew positions for “Unreal City” includes: Abigail Dover Thomas (Director); Michael Thomas (Composer/Lyricist); Ruby Lee (Music Director); Kara Hayes (Stage Manager); Rebecca Panagiotacos (Assistant Stage Manager); and Marnie Daniel (Choreographer).

Abigail’s said her calling to go into directing started in a sophomore year directing class. By the end of that course, theatrical directing became her passion.

“I’ve always been an organized person and directing brought together my love of order and creativity,” she said.

Directing a main stage show at her collegiate alma mater, Abigail describes it as a privilege and honor.

“In a way it feels like an opportunity��to give back to the theatre that made me the artist that I am,” she said.

“Unreal City” are $8 for students and children and $15 for adults. Premium seating tickets are $20.

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Tigerville, SC–91������ (NGU) hosted its annual Global Impact Week from Sept. 9–11 on the university’s Tigerville Campus.

The event invites 91������students to learn about different cultures and how they can become a part of global missions through various activities and chapel services.

This year, the keynote chapel speaker was Dr. Kambiz Saghaey, Director of Persian Leadership Development at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) in Wake Forest, NC. Saghaey opened the first chapel service on Monday morning by giving his testimony and encouraging students to spread the gospel wherever they go.

“The Great Commission is for everyone. God commands us to ‘Go and make disciples,’” Saghaey said during his talk. “There is no choice in that. It’s a command.”

Saghaey, originally from Persia, had been a church planter in multiple countries and even faced time in prison for his faith.

“People call it persecution, but I call it the closest relationship I had with God because I could feel His presence,” he said.

After being released from prison, Saghaey continued to be faithful in his call to ministry and pursued his master’s and doctoral degrees in the United States through SEBTS, where he is currently serving.

Global Impact Week included another chapel sermon from Saghaey on Tuesday evening and concluded with a Wednesday morning message from Dr. Matthew Hirt, Assistant Professor of Intercultural Studies at NGU.

Apart from chapel, students had the opportunity to pray for the nations, engage with national and international mission organizations, and experience different cultures through fun events on campus each day of Global Impact Week.

“Our prayer is that many of our students will discover, during these days, where they can join God in His great mission of raising up worshipers from every nation,” said Dr. Allen McWhite, Department Chair of Intercultural Studies at NGU.

McWhite explained that the purpose Global Impact Week is to expose the 91������family to the incredible ways God is moving around the world. The 2024-25 short-term mission trip locations were revealed to students during the week as well.

“One of the many things we will be doing this week is revealing the locations of our 91������Send teams (mission teams),” McWhite said. “During the 2024-25 year we will be sending student teams to locations in the United States and around the world to share the good news of the Jesus Christ and engage in a variety of different ministries.”

NGU’s Center for Global Engagement will be holding a mission trip interest meeting on Friday, September 13 for students who want to take the next step and take part in God’s global mission to make disciples of all nations.

Global Impact Week is jointly sponsored by Campus Ministry and Student Engagement (CMSE) and the Department of Intercultural Studies.

For those who feel God is leading them to become vocational missionaries, 91������offers a Bachelor of Arts in Intercultural Studies. This degree program helps equip students to be confident in their calling by gaining hands-on learning through culturally immersive opportunities on the mission field.

To learn more about NGU’s Intercultural Studies degree, visit ngu.edu/intercultural-studies.

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Tigerville, SC—Two students from NGU’s School of Communication had the opportunity to intern at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) in Charlotte, NC over the summer.

This 10-week program allows interns to gain practical and hands-on learning experience in the globally known ministry founded by renowned evangelist, Rev. Billy Graham. ��

The organization was established in 1950, and its mission is “to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by every effective means and to equip the church and others to do the same.” ��

Savannah Yopp, a senior Strategic Communication major, spent her summer serving as a social media and communication intern at BGEA. Her role included writing press releases, coordinating with the media, and working with the Billy Graham Library social media channels. ������

She described her time at BGEA as a blessing because she was able to proclaim the gospel through her work.��

“I can glorify the Lord with my job, and it’s such a needed fuel,” Yopp said. “No matter where I work, I can proclaim the gospel through my communication.��

“It was such a blessing to be able to use the Lord’s name in a press release,” she said. “That is so special, and you don’t see that in a lot of places.”��

Carolina Busch, a junior Strategic Communication major with a Digital Media minor, also interned at BGEA and emphasized how encouraging it was to work alongside fellow employees and interns.��

“I really enjoyed the office place environment,” Busch said. “I appreciate how the other employees were willing to step alongside you. It was cool to see how the employees made an intentional effort.”��

Busch served as an American Sign Language intern. Her primary roles consisted of working with deaf churches within the internet evangelism department to update and add information about the deaf churches to the association’s online church locator. ��

During her time at BGEA, Busch saw God move in many ways. One of her highlights from the internship was getting the chance to experience a deaf worship service.��

“My supervisor invited me to go to a deaf worship service. I was able to go to a completely silent worship service and there were 200 deaf people there,” she said. “I was able to watch and be a part of a service that is ultimately still worshiping the same God I was and yet, it was in a completely different language.”��

Not only did the internship help Yopp and Busch grow professionally, but the association also poured into them spiritually.��

“Spiritually, I genuinely learned so much from the people around me and the importance of disciplining myself not just at work, but before you get there and learning what it looks like to pray without ceasing or spending time in the Word before I go to work,” Yopp said. “All those disciplines we tend to forget, He instilled in me. It was sweet to learn those habits, especially before coming back to school.”��

Busch explained how the devotions that BGEA held at the beginning of each workday helped strengthen her walk with the Lord as they emphasized the importance of prayer.��

“I felt spiritually the importance of having that prayer time 5 days a week. I saw transition,” Busch said. “When someone came up to me and said, ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do,’ my first instinct was, ‘Hey, let’s pray about it.’ It was cool because of that structure from the devotions to pull into that.”��

For students who are interested in doing an internship at BGEA, both Yopp and Busch offered the same piece of encouragement: pray about it.

“Genuinely pray about it, seek wise council, and hear from those who have done it,” Yopp said. “If you feel the Lord is leading you in that direction, just thank Him for the opportunity and trust in His sovereignty and plan because Billy Graham and that organization is such an ordained place. The Spirit is moving in that place and moving out of that place.”��

“Evaluate what you’re good at and be willing to sell yourself well and realize the ultimate goal of the association is to grow people through sharing the gospel and discipleship,” Busch said. “If you have a heart for that and have a desire to pursue that, then pray about it and apply.”��

“It’s such a blessing as a young person to work in an environment like that, such a spiritually healthy and encouraging environment,” explained Yopp. “I would encourage any student, no matter what year or what you’re studying, there’s a place for you in the ministry.”��

BGEA offers internships each summer and has many opportunities for students to learn and grow professionally, while working in an environment focused on Christ and His mission.��

The School of Communication at 91������offers two undergraduate degrees, a Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Communication and a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Media with several concentrations. Along with the majors, 91������also offers minors, including American Sign Language.

��For more information about NGU’s degree programs and minors, visit ngu.edu/academics.

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Tigerville, SC—91������ hosted its largest Church Fair in university history on Thursday, Aug. 22 in Tigerville.

Representatives from more than 90 churches around the Upstate were on campus talking with students, providing resources, and extending invitations. The South Carolina Baptist Convention provided a free meal to church volunteers working the event.

NGU’s Church Fair has been steadily growing and has produced many meaningful connections over the years.

“We have North Greenville students that have become members of our church and are now serving regularly,” said Will Cleland, associate pastor at Abner Creek Baptist Church. “Church Fair was a blessing to us. We’ve been able to engage students on the things that we value.”

Joshua Gilmore, senior director of church and community relations at NGU, said the university’s partnership with local churches has been a benefit to students.

“The aim of the event is simple—we are just trying to connect 91������students with the local church,” he said. “We believe that students will make friends, visit a church, and then commit to a local family of faith.��This event is just a front door (so to speak) for students to enter through the doors of a local church.”

The Church Fair brought a number of 91������alumni back to campus. Slater Baptist Church Pastor Scott Catoe, a 1999 91������graduate, said church attendance is vitally important for college students.

“The most important decision you make as a college student is not what you major in,” Catoe said. “It’s where you’re going to go to church.

“That’s where discipleship and connection happens, and it’s a really good thing to spend time with people that are not your age,” he said.

Brandon Simpson, pastor at Christ Fellowship Cherrydale, echoed Catoe’s sentiments.

“Our vision for college students in our church is to connect them to multiple generations,” Simpson said. “We don’t want you to go from North Greenville where you’re attending events and doing everything with your friend to driving 30 minutes to come do the same thing with the same people. We want to connect students with folks who are several life stages ahead and produce a love and a high view of the local church.”

Noting the success of the event, Gilmore recalled inviting Greenville Vietnamese Baptist Church to attend.

“I told them, in all honesty, we might have one or two Vietnamese students at NGU, but they were more than welcome to participate.�� To my surprise,��their whole church showed up and served an authentic Vietnamese meal to the 91������students as they passed by,” Gilmore said.

“I ran up after the event to thank the pastor for being so gracious.��He told me that we do have a Vietnamese student, and they invited him to church on Sunday.�� The student agreed to come to church, but, sadly, did not have a car.�� The pastor said, ‘But, it’s no problem, someone from the church will come pick him up on Sunday.’�� This 91������student’s college experience has been positively impacted by the local church,” he said.

Tigerville, SC—91������ has named Kyle Walden as the institution’s new Vice President for Campus Enhancement Services, effective September 1. Walden has worked at 91������since 2010 and had served as the interim vice president since April.

As head of Campus Enhancement Services, Walden provides direct management of the division which provides maintenance, construction, transportation and special projects oversight for university campuses in Tigerville and Greer. He also coordinates landscaping and housekeeping services for 91������through the university’s partnership with The Budd Group.

“Kyle Walden has been a valued member of our community for nearly 15 years. We are pleased to have him in this critical leadership role,” said 91������President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr. “Our CES team is known for dedication to NGU’s Christ-centered mission and Kyle will guide the team in building on that reputation.”

Walden was a member of the 91������soccer team while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in sport management. He graduated in 2009 and completed a Master of Business Administration degree from 91������in 2012. He began a five-year tenure with 91������Athletics in 2010, serving as assistant varsity soccer coach and head junior varsity coach.

His tenure with Campus Enhancement Services began as a groundskeeper in 2013. He moved to a maintenance/carpenter role in 2016. He was promoted to director of transportation and special projects in 2023.

“It is a privilege to serve at North Greenville as the Vice President for Campus Enhancement Services, and to be afforded the opportunity to further invest back into the institution that has been such an influence on my life,” said Walden. “North Greenville provides an education and an experience that stands on biblical truths and strives to foster transformational leaders for both church and society. It is an honor to play a part in achieving this mission, and I look forward to what the future holds.”

In his vice president post, Walden will direct a team of more than 35 university staff and will have direct involvement in planning and execution of 91������building projects, including communication with contractors and government entities.

“Kyle has a wealth of experience that will serve his team and his alma mater well,” said Rich Grimm, 91������Executive Vice President. “We’re grateful for this fresh calling on his life and look forward to serving alongside him in this key role.”

Walden is a native of Hendersonville, NC. He and his wife, Miranda, have a two-year-old daughter, Lillian. They attend Biltmore Church.