The project, titled 鈥淎dvancing Purpose: Building a Community of Shared Vocational Exploration,鈥� will strengthen Pfeiffer鈥檚 commitment to purpose-centered education by reframing vocation and leadership as shared, community-centered responsibilities rather than solely individual pursuits. Through campus-wide engagement, reflection, and dialogue, the initiative will help students more intentionally explore questions of purpose, meaning, and calling in relation to their academic, co-curricular, and community experiences.

The NetVUE Program Development Grant is administered by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) and made possible through the generous support of Lilly Endowment Inc. NetVUE (Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education) is a nationwide network of colleges and universities dedicated to fostering vocational exploration and discernment among undergraduate students.

鈥淭his initiative reflects 黑料专区鈥檚 mission to prepare students for lives of purpose, service, and leadership,鈥� said President Dr. Scott Bullard. 鈥淲e are grateful for the support of the Council of Independent Colleges and Lilly Endowment Inc. as we deepen our work of vocational exploration across the university and within our surrounding community.鈥�

During Year One, Pfeiffer will host a year-long, campus-wide series of purpose-centered gatherings known as an 鈥淎dvance,鈥� intentionally named to emphasize forward-looking engagement. These gatherings will bring together faculty, staff, coaches, and student leaders to develop a shared vocabulary and vision for integrating vocation and purpose across academic programs, advising, athletics, and campus life.

In Year Two, the initiative will expand beyond campus through a community survey and facilitated focus groups with local leaders, organizations, and stakeholders. These conversations will help align student service-learning opportunities with community-identified needs while deepening students鈥� understanding of vocation through real-world engagement. Additional campus focus groups will guide reflection, assessment, and long-term integration of this work.

鈥淏y embedding vocational reflection into the university鈥檚 general education curriculum, advising practices, and co-curricular programming, Pfeiffer aims to ensure that the impact of this initiative extends well beyond the grant period,鈥� said Dr. Ted Royston, planning team co-chair.

Outcomes will include clearly defined vocation-focused learning goals, community-engaged learning models, and a shared institutional language that helps students articulate who they are becoming and how their education prepares them to contribute meaningfully to the world.

Among the standout performances, Lola Cabaniss鈥慉li 鈥�26 placed sixth in the Future Business Executive event, which evaluates participants on leadership development, management concepts, and professional readiness. Vanessa Flores Garcia 鈥�26 earned a fourth鈥憄lace finish in Computer Applications, showcasing advanced technical proficiency and efficiency in business software tools. Kobin Hamilton 鈥�26 secured third place in Business Law, demonstrating strong analytical skills and a comprehensive understanding of legal principles affecting modern business practices.

These achievements reflect 黑料专区鈥檚 commitment to experiential learning and student involvement in professional organizations. As a result of their state鈥憀evel success, all three students have qualified to advance to the FBLA鈥慍ollegiate National Leadership Conference, which will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, in June. At the national conference, they will compete against top collegiate FBLA members from across the country.

 鈥淲e are incredibly proud of these students and the dedication they demonstrated throughout the competition process,鈥� said Tina Preslar, club advisor for 黑料专区鈥檚 FBLA chapter. 鈥淭heir success is a testament to their hard work, academic preparation, and commitment to professional growth. We are excited to see them represent 黑料专区 on the national stage.鈥�

Keith Troutman 鈥�79 and Troutman Enterprises of Concord, NC, are sponsors of the Pfeiffer team鈥檚 national competition travel. Other community partners, alumni, and supporters who wish to invest in student leadership development and academic excellence are welcome to also serve as trip sponsors. Those interested in learning more about how to support 黑料专区鈥檚 FBLA chapter may contact Jo Ellen Newsome, VP for Institutional Advancement at joellen.newsome@pfeiffer.edu or 704-463-3222.

This public event will take place on Friday, March 20^th from 10 鈥� 11 a.m. in Merner Gymnasium on the campus of 黑料专区 at 48380 US Hwy 52 N, Misenheimer, NC 28109. Doors will open at 8 a.m. and large bags and backpacks will not be allowed.

Senator Tillis has represented North Carolina in the U.S. Senate since 2015 and is currently the state鈥檚 senior senator. His Senate service spans nearly a decade in the North Carolina House of Representatives, including four years as Speaker of the House. Known for his pragmatic and solutions鈥慺ocused approach, Tillis has played key roles in areas ranging from judiciary matters and veterans鈥� affairs to banking, housing, and international trade. He has also served on several Senate committees that shape major national policies. Throughout his Senate tenure, Senator Tillis has built a reputation for working across the aisle on issues such as mental health, infrastructure, veterans鈥� services, and bipartisan legislative initiatives. His willingness to engage thoughtfully with complex policy challenges and to do so in ways that invite discussion rather than division aligns with the values of Pfeiffer.

Senator Tillis鈥檚 personal story also embodies themes that resonate with the Pfeiffer community. Raised in a working鈥慶lass family that moved frequently as his parents sought work, he began his career earning minimum wage before completing his college degree as an adult and rising to executive leadership roles in the private sector. His trajectory from modest beginnings to national leadership offers a compelling platform for reflection on perseverance, civic responsibility, and service.

黑料专区 is honored to welcome Senator Tillis as the 2026 Eugene I. Earnhardt Speaker Series guest. His experiences in public life and commitment to respectful dialogue promise to inspire meaningful engagement for the campus community and guests.

Students enter the program with an average of 3,125 direct patient care hours, acquired through positions including medical assistant, scribe, EMT/paramedic, certified nursing assistant, phlebotomist, patient care technician, and athletic trainer. The cohort also averaged 180 physician assistant shadowing hours.

Students range in age from 22 to 31, with anaverage age of 25. The class is 72% female and 28% maleand includes six first-generation college students. One student is a 黑料专区 graduate.

The cohort reflects both strong in-state representation and national reach. Twenty-three of the 28 students are North Carolina residents, with others coming from California, Florida, Illinois, and Michigan. Twenty students earned undergraduate degrees from North Carolina institutions, and the program received applications from 40 of the 50 U.S. states during the most recent admissions cycle.

Common undergraduate majors include Biology, Health Science, Exercise Science, Biological Sciences, and Psychology, with one student entering the program holding a master鈥檚 degree. Top feeder institutions represented include UNC鈥揅hapel Hill, NC State University, UNC Charlotte, East Carolina University, and UNC Wilmington. UNC Charlotte has historically been the program鈥檚 leading feeder institution.

Caylee Clayton, from Norwood, NC, and a recent graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, stated, 鈥淚 chose 黑料专区鈥檚 Physician Assistant program for its strong community and excellence in PA education, and I look forward to expanding my clinical knowledge as I grow to become a capable and compassionate provider for my future patients”

鈥淭his class reflects the academic strength, depth of character, clinical readiness, and commitment to service that defines Pfeiffer鈥檚 Physician Assistant Program,鈥� said Dr. Christopher Boe, Dean of the Graduate School. 鈥淲e are proud to welcome these students and look forward to supporting them as they prepare to serve patients in and around the community.鈥� The 黑料专区 Physician Assistant Program is based in Albemarle, NC, at the Center for Health Sciences, and prepares graduates for patient-centered clinical practice through rigorous academics, hands-on training, and a mission-driven approach to healthcare education.

She鈥檚 pursuing a B.S. degree in Business Management and Leadership with a double concentration in marketing and entrepreneurship, and she鈥檚 minoring in accounting. She鈥檚 also begun finding economical ways to dress for success, having acquired several items of professional attire at no cost from the Trendy Falcon, a career clothing closet located in the Welcome Center on Pfeiffer鈥檚 campus in Misenheimer, N.C.

Closet items include suits, ties, dress shirts, skirts, dress pants, and even professional bags. Lawson has worn her attire at several job interviews, and she also plans to enhance her wardrobe for internships she鈥檚 recently secured.

鈥淚鈥檝e visited the Trendy Falcon multiple times, and each time I鈥檝e been impressed with how many options were available to me,鈥� said Lawson, who hopes to start and become the financial manager of a marketing business and other ventures.

鈥淭he impact has been amazing because it gave me the confidence to walk into professional settings looking prepared, polished, and capable. It also helped relieve the stress of not having to worry about what to wear, allowing me to focus more on my coursework and presentation skills.鈥�

Lawson added that she鈥檚 often required to wear business attire for marketing classes taught by Dr. Raushan Gross, Associate Professor of Business Management & Leadership. She has incorporated the Trendy Falcon into a class marketing project, in which she recommended the service to classmates and had some of them try on items as part of the presentation.

鈥淎 few students took my advice and have since used the Trendy Falcon for their own professional needs,鈥� she said.

The Trendy Falcon began operating a few years ago and is stocked with clothing donated* by staff, faculty, and alumni. Joseph Smith, a Criminal Justice and History major who plans to graduate from Pfeiffer next year, said he鈥檚 acquired several shirts from the service that have made him feel 鈥渕ore professional and serious鈥� during a work-study stint at Pfeiffer鈥檚 library and at the Albemarle (N.C.) Police Department, where he has participated in ride-alongs and helped file paperwork. He appreciates the fact that the Trendy Falcon is much more convenient than shopping in clothing stores at distant malls.

The Trendy Falcon is run by Sharon Robinson, Pfeiffer鈥檚 Director of Career Services and Internships, who is available by appointment to assist students with the selection of clothing items. Similar services have caught on at several other universities, including Western Carolina University, N.C. State University, and Fayetteville State University.

Robinson plugged two advantages of the Trendy Falcon. First, because it鈥檚 free, students can 鈥済et off the ground鈥� in terms of acquiring suitable clothing that might otherwise be out of reach financially for them.

鈥淪ome students don鈥檛 always have the resources to purchase these kinds of things, so it gives them what they need to at least get the job,鈥� Robinson said. 鈥淎nd then once they have the job, they would have some money for one or two suits, if they need them, or for more business casual attire.鈥�

Second, Robinson offers students a bit of guidance on what to wear for an interview as a part of the process.

鈥淭hey aren鈥檛 always sure what to wear to an interview,鈥� Robinson said. 鈥淪o it鈥檚 nice to have a place where they can go and see what鈥檚 there and what it looks like and choose something that will work for them.鈥�

*Interested in making a donation to the Trendy Falcon? Please contact Sharon Robinson at sharon.robinson@pfeiffer.edu for more information.

The Knapps have also made resources available for painting and small repair projects in Merner, Rowe, and Cline Hall, and they鈥檝e supported the summertime transformation of the Francis Scholars Lounge in the Henry Pfeiffer Chapel into a room where the University鈥檚 Francis Scholars, commuting students, and others can relax and study between classes in a space designated for them. The Lounge space will also support religious life on campus by serving as a meeting space for small group Bible study and other gatherings.

鈥淲arren and Fran Knapp support Pfeiffer in so many ways, year in and year out. They value education and care deeply about our students, and they really are partners in Pfeiffer鈥檚 work. We are so very grateful for their investment in these important campus spaces,鈥� said Jo Ellen Newsome, Vice President of Institutional Advancement.

The residence hall parlor updates included the replacement or update of dining tables and chairs, soft seating, and rugs, making these spaces more appealing to current students and their visiting families. The facelifts will also improve the first impression that Pfeiffer makes on prospective students.

The upgraded Francis Center Lounge involved a complete reimagining of classroom space in the Chapel, including new paint and d茅cor as well as seating and other furnishings. The University Chaplain鈥檚 office is located next door to the Lounge, and together they will serve as a hub for student activity and a centralized physical space for campus religious life.  

鈥淧feiffer has been such an incredibly important part of our lives. We want to help provide an environment that supports a positive experience for the University鈥檚 students, and this is one way for us to do that,鈥� Warren Knapp said of the enhancements.

The Knapps did their homework. They worked closely with Pfeiffer鈥檚 chaplain, Rev. Kris Mares, Director of Alumni Engagement Ashley Burleson, and Pfeiffer鈥檚 facilities staff to determine needs and ensure that the project timelines stayed on track. They toured each of the North campus residence halls and noted what might need an upgrade and where enhancements should be added. Fran Knapp personally selected upholstery fabrics and colors that will be durable and comfortable, and when the furniture shipment arrived on campus, they were on site to ensure that everything was perfectly appointed. 鈥淭his was a labor of love for us,鈥� Fran Knapp said. 鈥淲e are so excited that the students who live in these residence halls and relax in the Francis Center Lounge will have comfortable new spaces to enjoy. We imagine that many life-long friendships will be made in these areas.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檓 very driven,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen I get my mind set on something, I do my best to make it happen.鈥�

At 黑料专区, where she majored in Biology, Bowers put herself in the best possible position to secure a spot at a veterinary school beginning in August of 2026. She鈥檚 applying to five schools in the Southeast and will learn which programs have accepted her in the spring of 2026.

And at summer鈥檚 end, taking advantage of a 鈥済ap鈥� between graduating from Pfeiffer this past May and starting graduate school in about 14 months, she鈥檒l head to the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla., where she鈥檒l work until January as an intern in the .

鈥淚鈥檝e always been a big Disney fan,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 went to Disney World for the first time during my sixth-grade year and just fell in love with it. And when I learned about the College Program a few years later, it sounded so awesome that I just had to participate in that as well.鈥�

Bowers credits her interest in becoming a veterinarian to her love of dogs. She has three of them at home and loves caring for them. She arrived at Pfeiffer as a sophomore, having completed freshman-level courses at Stanly (N.C.) Community College while she was still at North Stanly High School.

Attending Pfeiffer appealed to Bowers for several reasons. Her mother, Erin Wilhelm Bowers, is a member of the Class of 2001 and recommended it highly, as did her grandfather, Jim Wilhelm 鈥�69.

Mary Beth Bowers also liked the fact that the University鈥檚 campus was close to home: 鈥淧feiffer was down the street,鈥� Bowers said. 鈥淚 could get the college education I wanted but still live at home as a commuting student and be involved in the life of my younger sister Lainey and in what the rest of my family was doing.鈥�

While at Pfeiffer, Bowers took full advantage of a winning combination of faculty support and challenging academics related to her major as well as opportunities to intern with and/or shadow three veterinarians, each of whom pursued a different specialty.

Bowers lauded her advisor, Dr. Laura Reichenberg, an Associate Professor of Biology at Pfeiffer who also chairs its Department of Natural and Health Sciences.

鈥淒r. Reichenberg had a huge impact on my time at Pfeiffer from the beginning,鈥� Bowers said. 鈥淲e discussed that I wanted to go to vet school and she helped guide me on the path that I needed to be on, in terms of the courses that I should take and the research I pursued.鈥�

The research that Bowers completed would culminate in a project that she did as both a Milton Rose Scholar and as an Honors Scholar. It was on display at the last George Pfeiffer Research Symposium, which took place this past April in Harris Science Hall, where undergrad symposium participants stood by displays of their posters and discussed their work with guests. The project, which will almost certainly interest the veterinary schools to which Bowers is applying, investigated the impact of different dog foods on gut bacteria, with the aim of determining which type of food benefits canine health the most. She did this by employing molecular and microbiological techniques on stool samples from dogs.

As excited as she is to intern at Disney World, Bowers did consider attending veterinary school right after Pfeiffer. But given the application windows of most veterinary schools, that would have meant applying sometime between January of her junior year and September of her senior year, with admissions decisions coming during the following spring.

As her junior year was ending, Bowers felt she needed to include richer, more diverse intern/shadowing experiences for her resume and on her applications for veterinary schools — beyond the 鈥渟mall-animal experience鈥� she had gained over several years as a receptionist/kennel technician under Dr. James Link鈥檚 supervision at the . So, she decided to wait until late spring of this year to apply to veterinary schools and used her senior year to gain large-animal experience by shadowing Dr. Jonathan Wesson at Rocky Creek Veterinary Services in Olin, N.C. She also shadowed Dr. Kay Dodson 鈥�99 and other veterinarians who practice emergency medicine at in Kannapolis, N.C. Dodson was the subject of a recent alumni profile in Pfeiffer鈥檚 鈥淔orever Falcons鈥� publication. 鈥淎ll of these experiences will help set my resume and applications apart,鈥� Bowers said. She now feels much the same way about her upcoming work at Disney, which she鈥檚 now also able to mention in her applications to veterinary schools.

鈥淎 common misconception about veterinarians is that they just deal with animals all day long,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut people forget that those animals have owners, so that鈥檚 who you deal with a lot as well. Owners of pets are rightly concerned about them, and they can get upset very easily. Doing Disney鈥檚 College Program will definitely enhance my customer service skills and my ability to handle the public and talk to them.鈥�

She excels in Reined Cow Horse, a demanding equine sport of the (NRCHA), in which riders are judged on how well they can guide their horses through various intricate patterns, separate a cow from a herd, or a single cow by a fence in an arena area. Crawford trains for or participates in Reined Cow Horse competitions around the country.

鈥淚 love it,鈥� said Crawford, who lives in Albemarle, N.C. 鈥淚t showcases my horses and how talented they are. It gives me such an amazing feeling; it鈥檚 such an adrenaline rush and it is so much fun. I also just love horses.鈥�

Crawford said that she got into Reined Cow Horse only about two and half years ago, unlike many of her peers who grew up on ranches and have been working with horses for far longer.  Despite these limitations, she has become quite adept at what all Reined Cow Horse competitors must do, namely getting a cow to do exactly what she wants from atop a horse. She starts by 鈥渂oxing鈥� a cow to gain control of it and to make it respect her horse. She then takes the cow down an arena fence with the goal of getting it to make a right turn and a left one. After that, she and her horse move in tandem with the cow in such a way that the cow makes full circles in different directions.

There is a separate requirement in a Reined Cow Horse competition that involves the horse and rider only. Here, Crawford effortlessly guides her horse about an entire arena until she makes it stop, assume a stationary pose, spin around several times, and move backwards and forwards slowly. She also gets her horse to move at full speed and then stop at her command.

Crawford has also participated in American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) competitions, in which she has won a world title in a category called Level 1 Youth Boxing. This where a rider and their horse aim to 鈥渉old a cow鈥� in a prescribed area of an arena for 50 seconds. She has her sights set on winning titles in more advanced categories of NRCHA and AQHA competitions.

Crawford credits all this success to several factors. One has been an all-in commitment to the sport. After attending Gray Stone Day School (next to Pfeiffer鈥檚 Misenheimer, N.C. campus) for several years, she completed her last two years of high school online, so that she could compete in shows. At one point, these were happening every other weekend, and Crawford鈥檚 parents would transport and/or accompany her to them — a practice that continues to this day.

鈥淚鈥檓 very fortunate to have such amazing parents,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e willing to travel with me everywhere I go. They鈥檙e always there with me.鈥� 

The horses Crawford rides in shows are trained all year, but they are not in North Carolina. Three horses are in Virginia, and one is in Kentucky. When she鈥檚 not participating in a competition, she travels to those states on weekends to train with the horses.

Crawford has been able to train horses and/or show them in distant places, including her most important competitions in Texas and Oklahoma, and still keep up with her Pfeiffer studies because of the University鈥檚 unique 鈥淔alcon Friday鈥� schedule. The no-classes-on-Fridays benefit of a four-day instructional week at Pfeiffer gives its students the schedule flexibility to pursue special interests, participate in internships that can turn into job possibilities, or work to help fund their education. A recent survey indicated that students are overwhelmingly positive about the four-day week, giving the program 4.79 鈥渢humbs up鈥� points on a scale of 1-5.

Crawford鈥檚 also super organized and focused. 鈥淚 keep track of everything I have to do in a planner,鈥� she said. At the beginning of the University鈥檚 school week, she often tries to get as much schoolwork as possible done ahead of time so she can have more free time on the weekends. And during the many hours spent traveling to and from shows, she attacks schoolwork while her parents drive.

Crawford wants to stay involved with horses for the long haul, and she鈥檚 enjoying combining her passion for all things equine with her new love of Pfeiffer. Her riding blanket is a black and gold pattern, and she proudly wears her Pfeiffer gear when she鈥檚 out of the ring.

鈥淚鈥檓 so happy to be at Pfeiffer,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檝e found it to be an incredibly supportive environment that has allowed me to simultaneously pursue two very important goals 鈥� my horses and my education.鈥�