Wingate University

Wingate University
Motto	Faith, Knowledge, Service
Established	1896
Type	Private
Religious affiliation	Baptist State Convention of North Carolina
President	Dr. Jerry E. McGee
Academic staff	130, 90% professors with doctorates
Students	2,500
Location	Wingate, North Carolina, U.S.
Colors	Blue & Gold
Athletics	NCAA Division II
Nickname	Bulldogs
Mascot	Bulldogs
Website	www.wingate.edu

Wingate University is a private comprehensive university with more than 2,500 students on three campuses in Wingate, Matthews and Hendersonville, in North Carolina, United States. It was founded by Baptists in 1896 as Wingate School, an independent, co-educational institution and became a four-year college in 1977. In 1996, Wingate College became Wingate University.

The university offers 34 undergraduate majors, 37 minors and career concentrations, numerous pre-professional programs, graduate degrees in business, accounting, education, physician assistant studies and sports administration, and doctorates in pharmacy and education.

Wingate University is listed eighth among Best Value colleges and universities in the South based on quality and net cost according to the recently released ranking of the nation's top schools in U.S. News & World Report's 2012 Best Colleges. Wingate student athletes compete in 19 NCAA Division II sports, and the University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past five years.

Wingate University's Wingate campus is located in Union County, North Carolina on a 400-acre (1.6 km²) campus 30 miles east of Charlotte. A high percentage of students (85%) live on campus all four years.

W'International

Wingate University has offered an international study-tour program called W'International since 1978. After attending a one-hour seminar once a week during the regular semester, students travel to their chosen destination with the faculty member after classes end.

Athletics

In addition to academics, Wingate student-athletes compete in 19 NCAA Division II sports. These sports include: baseball, softball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's track & field, football, volleyball and lacrosse. Wingate's mascot is the Bulldog.

In more recent athletic news, the Wingate University men's swimming team placed fifth in the 2011 NCAA Division II national championship meet and took home two national championship wins. The men's program is only completing its sixth year. Numerous members of the men's team have earned All-American recognition.

Additionally, Wingate University was awarded the NCAA Division II Community Engagement Award of Excellence in 2011, recognizing its long-running Union County Special Olympics Swimming venue.

Wingate University was also recently ranked third among NCAA Division II Academic All-America producing schools for having 34 Academic All-American athletes since January 2000.^{[citation needed]}

Wingate University has won the South Atlantic Conference Athletic Excellence Award for the past five years. The South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award is presented annually to the member athletic department that earns the highest overall finish based on final regular season standings. Points are based on final tournament standings in the sports of men’s cross country, women’s cross country, men’s golf and women’s golf. The trophy is presented at the SAC Annual Business Meeting at the conclusion of each year.

Wingate's president, Dr. Jerry McGee, was an NCAA football referee for over 20 years and has helped officiate three bowl games that decided the Division I national champion.

Wingate also offers several intramural leagues and tournaments during the school year. Intramural leagues are formed in flag football, basketball, floor hockey, volleyball and soccer. Tournaments are held in billiards, racquetball, sand volleyball and softball.

Notable alumni

• Anthony Dean Griffey, four-time Grammy Award-winning singer w/the Metropolitan Opera
• Lorinza Harrington, former National Basketball Association player
• Jesse Helms, former Republican Senator

Fight song

Vic’try Wingate! Vic’try Wingate!

Hear the mighty call.

We will ever join together as bulldogs

one and all (Go Bulldogs!)

Vic’try Wingate! Vic’try Wingate!

Colors gold and blue.

Wingate has vic’try spirit,

brave and true! (Fight!)^{[citation needed]}

Alma mater

In the land of Carolina

‘Neath the sky so blue

Stands our noble Alma Mater

Glorious to view.

Lift the chorus, speed it onward,

Loud the praise relate,

Hail to thee our Alma Mater

Hail, all Hail, Wingate.

Far and wide her sons and daughters

Bear the gold and blue,

Proudly rally ‘round her banner,

Hail! Wingate to you.

Lift the chorus, speed it onward,

Loud the praise relate,

Hail to thee our Alma Mater

Hail, all Hail, Wingate.^{[citation needed]}

External links

• Official website