View source for Wingate University

{{Short description|Private university in Wingate, North Carolina, U.S.}}
{{Infobox university
| name = Wingate University
| image = Seal_of_Wingate_University.jpg
| image_size = 150
| former_names = The Wingate School (1896–1923)<br />Wingate Junior College (1923–1977)<br />Wingate College (1977–1995)
| latin_name = 
| motto = Faith, Knowledge, Service
| established = {{start date and age|1896}}
| type = [[Private university]]
| religious_affiliation = [[Baptist State Convention of North Carolina]]<ref name=SBC_affiliation>{{cite web |url=https://www.sbc.net/resources/directories/colleges-and-universities/ |title=Colleges and Universities |publisher=[[Southern Baptist Convention]] |date=2023 |accessdate=March 19, 2023}}</ref>
| endowment = $99.1 million<ref>{{cite web |title=In Brief - Wingate University |url=https://www.wingate.edu/about/overview|website=wingate.edu |publisher=Wingate University |access-date=17 August 2023}}</ref>
| president = Rhett Brown
| provost = Laura Hunt
| students = 3,457
| undergrad = 2,673
| postgrad = 784
| doctoral = 
| city = [[Wingate, North Carolina]]
| country = U.S.
| coor = {{Coord|34|59|10|N|80|26|39|W|type:edu_region:US-NC|display=inline,title}}
| campus = 
| athletics_affiliations = [[NCAA Division II]]
| sports_nickname = [[Wingate Bulldogs|Bulldogs]]
| mascot = Victor E. Bulldog
| website = {{URL|https://www.wingate.edu/|wingate.edu}}
| logo = Wingate_univ_flag.png
| logo_size   = 150
| footnotes = 
| administrative_staff = 
| faculty = 177
| divinity = 
| colors = {{colorbox|#00205B}} {{colorbox|#00558C}} {{colorbox|#C5B783}} <br>(Blue, gold)<ref>[https://www.wingate.edu/the-wingate-brand/brand-guidelines Color palette (brand guidelines)]</ref>
}}

'''Wingate University''' is a [[Private university|private]] [[Liberal arts college|liberal arts]] university with campuses in [[Wingate, North Carolina|Wingate]] and [[Hendersonville, North Carolina|Hendersonville]], [[North Carolina]]. It identifies as a university with "Judeo-Christian heritage."

The university enrolls more than 3,450 students. It offers 37 undergraduate majors as well as seven master's and five doctoral degrees. Academic programs are housed in the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences; the Levine College of Health Sciences; the [[Porter Byrum|Byrum]] School of Business; and the College of Professional Studies, which includes the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.

== History ==
In 1896, Wingate University began as '''The Wingate School''', a primary and secondary institution founded by the Baptist Associations of [[Union County, North Carolina|Union County]], North Carolina, and [[Chesterfield County, South Carolina|Chesterfield County]], [[South Carolina]], in response to a dearth of locally-available public schools.

The school took its name from [[Washington Manly Wingate]], a former president of [[Wake Forest University|Wake Forest College]]. Following a 2021 decision by [[Wake Forest University]] to rename Wingate Hall,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://wfuogb.com/15655/news/university-to-release-renaming-process-details/ | title=University releases renaming process details }}</ref> Wingate University publicly acknowledged Washington Wingate's history as a slaveowner and announced they would begin looking for ways to address his past.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wingate.edu/about/special-message |title=Special Message |publisher=Wingate University |date=May 7, 2021 |access-date=May 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509180917/https://www.wingate.edu/about/special-message |archive-date=May 9, 2021}}</ref>

The Wingate School initially offered a primary and secondary education and continued to do so until the proliferation of public schools in the early 20th century. In 1923, the school began offering the first two years of a baccalaureate education and became '''Wingate Junior College'''. The years leading to World War II were difficult for the institution. Though it began receiving financial support from The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina soon after becoming a college, this support was withdrawn during The Great Depression. It was also during this period, in 1932, that the college's administration building was destroyed by fire. The college survived, however, as a result of the work of its administration, faculty, and supporters as well as the post-[[World War II]] college enrollment boom. The Baptist State Convention resumed financial support in 1949, and [[Charles Albert Cannon|Charles Cannon]], a local businessman and philanthropist, began making substantial donations to the college beginning in the 1950s.

In 1952, Wingate Junior College was accredited by [[Southern Association of Colleges and Schools|the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]], and in 1977, became a four-year institution, '''Wingate College'''. The college continued to grow, especially under the leadership of Jerry McGee, added graduate programs, and became '''Wingate University''' in 1995.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Martin |first1=Jonathan |title='Wingate University' |url=https://northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/wingate-university/ |website=North Carolina History Project |publisher=northcarolinahistory.org |access-date=2 September 2018}}</ref> Wingate also has a campus in [[Hendersonville, NC]], home to graduate programs in pharmacy and physician assistant studies.

From its founding, the institution was affiliated with the [[Baptist State Convention of North Carolina]] of the [[Southern Baptist Convention]]. In 2007, the university began the process of separating from the convention to allow the university's board of trustees to elect its own members. Wingate was among four universities making identical proposals to the convention.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/news/2007/03/24/five-schools-to-cut-baptist-ties/30298932007/ |title=Five schools to cut Baptist ties |publisher=[[Wilmington Star News]] |date=March 24, 2007 |accessdate=March 19, 2023}}</ref> The state convention also agreed to start transferring funds traditionally given directly to the universities into a new scholarship fund for Baptist students.

In 2009, the schools gained autonomy from the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and established a “good faith and cooperative” relationship with it. The four other schools were, [[Mars Hill University]], [[Campbell University]], [[Gardner–Webb University|Gardner-Webb University]], and [[Chowan University]].  
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+
'''Presidents of Wingate University'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet the President of Wingate University {{!}} Charlotte, NC |url=https://www.wingate.edu/about/meet-the-president |access-date=2023-08-26 |website=www.wingate.edu |language=en-US}}</ref>
!President
!Years
|-
|Charles Beach
|1923-1924
|-
|Joseph Huff
|1924-1930 
|-
|Coy Muckle
|1930-1936
|-
|J.B. Little
|1936-1937
|-
|C.C. Burris
|1937-1953
|-
|Budd Smith
|1953-1974
|-
|Thomas Corts
|1974-1983
|-
|Paul Corts
|1983-1991
|-
|Jerry McGee
|1992-2015
|-
|Rhett Brown
|2015-'''present'''
|}

== Academics ==
Wingate offers 37 undergraduate majors, 10 pre-professional programs and 42 minors. The university offers five types of bachelor's degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Music Education, and Bachelor of Liberal Studies. The university also offers several graduate programs. One-in-five Wingate undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist, or nurse, and 65 percent of graduate students are enrolled in health sciences.

===Pharmacy===
The '''Wingate University School of Pharmacy''' is a pharmacy school located in [[Wingate, North Carolina]]. The school, part of Wingate University, offers a four-year [[Doctor of Pharmacy]] degree (Pharm.D) and is nationally accredited by the [[Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.acpe-accredit.org/faq-item/wingate-university-school-of-pharmacy/|title=Wingate University School of Pharmacy}}</ref>  As of 2024, tied with 11 other programs, it was ranked #99 among pharmacy colleges in the US.<ref>U.S. News & World Report [https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-health-schools/pharmacy-rankings] Page accessed 09 September 2021</ref>

===Physician Assistant===
The physician assistant program is offered at both [[Wingate, North Carolina]] and [[Hendersonville, North Carolina]] campuses. As of 2021, it was ranked #118 among physician assistant programs within the U.S. [https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-health-schools/physician-assistant-rankings?name=Wingate%20University]

=== Study abroad ===
Started in 1978, the university's W'International program allows eligible juniors to take a two-credit-hour seminar, which ends with a 10-day travel experience for $1,500 or less. Wingate also offers language-immersion summer programs in Costa Rica and Quebec.<ref>{{cite web|title=Wingate International Studies|url=http://www.wingate.edu/academics/study-abroad}}</ref>

== Athletics ==
{{Main|Wingate Bulldogs}}
[[File:Irwin Belk Stadium at Wingate University.jpg|alt=Main entrance building of the football stadium|thumb|Football stadium of Wingate University]]
Wingate student-athletes compete in 22 [[NCAA Division II]] sports. These sports include: baseball, softball, men's and women's basketball, women's beach volleyball, 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, women's triathlon, men's and women's lacrosse, football and volleyball. Wingate's mascot is the Bulldog.

In 2016, the men's soccer team won the school's first team national championship, by defeating [[University of Charleston]] 2–0 in the national title game in [[Kansas City, Missouri]].<ref>[https://wingatebulldogs.com/sports/2018/1/12/team-national-champions.aspx Team National Champions - Wingate University Athletics]. Retrieved Aug 15, 2020.</ref>

In 2021, the men's baseball team defeated [[Central Missouri]] 5–3 to capture their first national championship.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-12 |title=NATIONAL CHAMPS!!!! Wingate caps historic title run with 5-3 win over #2 Central Missouri |url=https://wingatebulldogs.com/news/2021/6/12/baseball-national-champs-wingate-caps-historic-title-run-with-5-3-win-over-2-central-missouri.aspx |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=Wingate University Athletics |language=en}}</ref> 

In 2023, the men's cross country team won the NCAA Division II national championship.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.wbtv.com/2023/11/20/we-are-very-proud-wingate-mens-cross-country-team-wins-national-title/ | title=‘We are very proud’: Wingate men’s cross country team wins national title | website=www.wbtv.com | access-date=2024-07-28}}</ref>

==Notable alumni==
{{More citations needed section|date=February 2018}}
* [[Sean Barnette]], professional [[basketball]] player<ref>[https://wingatebulldogs.com/hof.aspx?hof=106&kiosk=true Sean Barnette (2018) - - Wingate University Athletics]. Retrieved Aug 15, 2020.</ref>
* [[John Bowman (Canadian football)|John Bowman]], [[Canadian Football League]] Hall of Fame defensive end and two-time [[Grey Cup]] champion
* [[Kenwin Cummings]], former [[National Football League|NFL]] linebacker
* [[Dick Elliott (politician)|Dick Elliott]], member of the [[South Carolina Senate]]<ref>[https://www.coastal.edu/aboutccu/historytraditions/founders/honorees/dickelliott/ Dick F. Elliott - Costal Carolina University]. Retrieved Aug 15, 2020.</ref>
* [[Ethan Evans]], NFL punter<ref>[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/E/EvanEt00.htm Ethan Evans Stats]. ''Pro-Football-Reference''. Retrieved January 1, 2024.</ref>
* [[Ken Goodman (politician)|Ken Goodman]], member of the [[North Carolina House of Representatives]]
* [[Anthony Dean Griffey]], four-time Grammy Award-winning singer with the Metropolitan Opera
* [[Todd Grisham]], [[Ultimate Fighting Championships|UFC]] and Glory kickboxing announcer
* [[Rohit Gupta]], film director
* [[Lorinza Harrington|Lorinza "Junior" Harrington]], former [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] player
* [[David Hayes (soccer)|David Hayes]], former Major League Soccer player
* [[Jesse Helms]], former Republican [[United States Senate|U.S. senator]]
* [[David Jones (cornerback)|David Jones]], former NFL cornerback
* [[Leon Levine]], founder of [[Family Dollar]] retail stores
* [[Richard Lindsay (West Virginia politician)|Richard Lindsay]], member of the [[West Virginia Senate]]<ref>[https://www.wvlegislature.gov/mobile/senator.cfm?input=Senator%20Lindsay Richard Lindsay - West Virginia Legislature]. Retrieved Aug 15, 2020</ref>
* [[Charlie Machell]], professional [[Association football|soccer]] player<ref>[https://wingatebulldogs.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/charlie-machell/4076 Charlie Machell - Men's Soccer - Wingate University Athletics]. Retrieved Aug 15, 2020.</ref>
* [[Mike Martin (baseball coach)|Mike Martin]], winningest [[college baseball]] coach of all-time
* [[Alvin Morman]], former [[Major League Baseball|MLB]] pitcher<ref>[https://wingatebulldogs.com/hof.aspx?hof=38 Alvin Morman (1999) - - Wingate University Athletics]. Retrieved Aug 15, 2020.</ref>
* [[Luke Mulholland]], [[Major League Soccer]] player

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{ccat}}
* {{oweb}}
* [https://wingatebulldogs.com/ Athletics website]

{{Private colleges and universities in North Carolina}}
{{Southern Baptist Colleges}}
{{South Atlantic Conference navbox}}
{{Conference Carolinas navbox}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Wingate University| ]]
[[Category:Private universities and colleges in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges affiliated with the North Carolina Baptist Convention]]
[[Category:Education in Union County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Baptist universities and colleges in the United States]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1896]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Union County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:1896 establishments in North Carolina]]