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24-Hour Day of Giving Strengthens the Future of Healthcare by Supporting Hands鈥慜n Training and Student Research

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.鈥斖�曝吃瓜-Webb University will host the 11th annual Double Dawg Day on April 16, a 24-hour celebration of generosity, community, and the impact of donor support. Each year, alumni, parents, faculty, staff, students, and friends come together to champion the people, programs, and priorities that strengthen the GWU student experience.

In the College of Health Sciences, donor gifts advance hands-on training and professional preparation. Dr. Tracy Arnold, the college鈥檚 dean and professor of nursing, said recent support has upgraded essential equipment鈥攕uch as hospital beds, low-fidelity manikins, and exercise bikes鈥攁nd helped fund student research and conference presentations.

鈥淭hese resources allow students to apply classroom knowledge in practical and scholarly ways,鈥� Arnold noted. 鈥淓very gift goes toward enhancing academic programs, student experiences, and essential resources that ultimately provide stronger career readiness and increase the confidence of graduates as they prepare to enter the workforce.鈥�

Strengthening Nursing Readiness

Nursing students said this equipment is vital to becoming clinically prepared. Senior Abigail Henson, of Kings Mountain, N.C., shared that working with updated hospital beds and manikins prepared her for bedside care. 鈥淭hey provide a safe, hands-on environment to practice nursing skills,鈥� she said. 鈥淧racticing on manikins allows me to learn and grow, ultimately shaping me into a more confident nurse who prioritizes patient safety in real-world care.鈥�

Senior India Page, of Boiling Springs, agreed that the equipment gives students a solid foundation for clinical work. 鈥淏eing able to practice skills and get comfortable with (manikins) puts me at an advantage if I鈥檓 asked to perform them on an actual patient during clinical,鈥� she explained. Page said opportunities to practice medication administration, IV insertion, and wound care on manikins made her better prepared for real-world expectations.

Both students expressed deep gratitude for those who give on Double Dawg Day. Henson said, 鈥淵our support directly impacts my education and helps me become a safer, more competent nurse.鈥�

Page observed that donor generosity not only strengthens student learning but also supports dedicated nursing faculty. 鈥淭he School of Nursing at 网曝吃瓜-Webb has some of the best instructors I鈥檝e had the opportunity to learn from,鈥� Page acknowledged. 鈥淭hey work endlessly to give us a solid foundation.鈥� 

Opportunities for Psychology Research

Donor support also creates academic opportunities for psychology majors Grace Haynie and Rachel Gaura, seniors who conducted undergraduate research and presented at the Southeastern Psychological Association Convention (SEPA).

Haynie, who plans to further her education in graduate school, described the research experience as one of the most rewarding opportunities of her 网曝吃瓜-Webb education. She explained, 鈥淕etting to present our work at conferences, such as SEPA, made me proud of the effort we put into the research. To the donors, I say a big 鈥楾hank you.鈥� Your contributions make it possible for students like me to further my experiences and grow in my psychological knowledge. You have greatly shaped some of my favorite college memories and experiences.鈥�

Through her participation in undergraduate research, Gaura said she developed skills that will support her as a ministry leader. 鈥淲orking with both faculty and peers expanded my knowledge of psychology, while also building my confidence in working with professionals,鈥� she noted. 鈥淭hese experiences strengthened my communication, critical thinking, and professionalism, all of which will be essential as I pursue ministry and work closely with youth and young adults. I feel better prepared to understand people thoughtfully, speak confidently, and lead with both knowledge and care in my future career.鈥�

Gaura also offered her appreciation to donors. 鈥淵our generosity has truly shaped my college experience at 网曝吃瓜-Webb and allowed me to grow both academically and personally,鈥� she stated. 鈥淏ecause of your support, my studies feel meaningful and valued, and I feel encouraged knowing that someone believes in my education and future. I hope you will continue giving so other students can have the same opportunities I had.鈥�

Practical Exercise Science Training

Exercise science students also benefit from equipment purchased with donor support. Jamiel Col贸n, who earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in exercise science in 2025, will complete his Master of Science in strength and conditioning in 2026. He is also a teaching assistant in 网曝吃瓜-Webb鈥檚 Carolina Chiropractic Plus Human Performance Laboratory.

鈥淏ecause of your previous generosity, our students are not just learning theory from a textbook,鈥� Col贸n affirmed. 鈥淭hey are running real fitness tests, handling industry-standard equipment, and practicing exactly what they鈥檒l be asked to do in collegiate, professional, and private performance settings. Your donated equipment allowed me, personally, to gain hands-on experience with diverse testing protocols, learn proper procedures, interpret data, and manage the inevitable chaos of testing days. That experience gave me a genuine competitive edge in the field of strength and conditioning and accelerated my development as a coach.鈥�

Col贸n sees those same benefits continuing for current students. 鈥淭he equipment you helped provide is used multiple times per week to train freshmen and upperclassmen alike,鈥� Col贸n emphasized. 鈥淔reshmen are exposed early to real-world expectations and evolving industry standards, while upperclassmen refine their testing skills, deepen their data analysis abilities, and practice communicating key findings to future clients and athletes. In other words, your support is directly shaping the next generation of strength and conditioning professionals.鈥�

He concluded, 鈥淚 would strongly encourage you to give again this year, because the demand for this kind of hands-on education is only growing. Your renewed gift doesn鈥檛 just buy equipment; it creates confident, competent professionals who are truly prepared for the field. You鈥檙e investing in people, and their careers, in a way that simply wouldn鈥檛 be possible without your generosity.鈥�

Ways to Give on Double Dawg Day

Donors can direct their support to the people, programs, and causes that matter most, including:

鈥� University Priority Fund 鈥� Addresses the University’s most immediate and strategic needs.

鈥� Annual Fund 鈥� Supports student scholarships and the overall student experience.

鈥� School/College Priority Funds 鈥� Gives deans flexibility to strengthen academic programs.

鈥� Athletics 鈥� Supports all 22 NCAA Division I teams.

鈥� Bulldog Club 鈥� Enhances student-athlete scholarships and resources.

鈥� Campus Programs and Departments 鈥� Allows donors to support specific initiatives across campus.

Make your donation .

Double Dawg Day Advocates

Supporters may also sign up as Social Media Advocates (also known as ambassadors) to help spread the word and encourage participation throughout the day. Register and learn more .

网曝吃瓜-Webb University 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., 网曝吃瓜-Webb 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. Become More at .