Casey Marlin

Student Story

As a member of the Lenoir-Rhyne University women’s soccer team, Casey Marlin competed and helped her team achieve its fifth straight SAC Conference Championship and NCAA bid. The team ended their season as regional finalists, ranked 11th in the country. Casey gained an interest in LRU after hearing about the standout women’s soccer team. She also found appeal in a school where she would be more than just a face amongst the crowd. “Coming to a smaller school you wouldn't think you would find so many interesting and cool people. Internationally wise I've met people from all over the world, just in the three years since I've been here.” For Casey, getting involved on campus was easy. As a member of the school newspaper she began writing articles for publication during her first weeks. She’s also working to start up her own club – something she says any student can do. “I’m working on starting a movie club for people interested in film. We’ll show private films that changed the way people looked at film and the big screen.” Casey is a junior majoring in Public Relations with minors in Business and Spanish. She will have the opportunity to use her Spanish courses firsthand – she will be studying abroad in Almería, Spain this semester.

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Undergraduate

Cigi Sparks

Student Story

Cigi Sparks was in 9^th grade when she first visited the campus of LR. She remembers getting off the bus and seeing all the flowers in full bloom. “This is where I am going to go to school,” Cigi told a classmate during their tour. Five years later, she is enjoying her sophomore year at LR as a Journalism and Public Relations major. Cigi’s goal is to have a successful career in the print media and she is well on her way. She works as a designer for the LRN Monthly campus newspaper and as a part-time reporter for the Observer News Enterprise in Newton. Though her work and studies keeps her busy, she still finds time to enjoy student life. She is the newly elected president of Zeta Tau Alpha and loves hanging out at her sorority house in Price Village. In addition, Cigi has served as PR chair for the Homecoming committee for the past two years, and assists the Video Board Crew at football games.

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Undergraduate

Josh Holbrooks

Student Story

Josh Holbrooks knows his faith led him to Lenoir-Rhyne. The first time he toured the campus he remembers a feeling of complete peace. “It felt like home,” Josh said. And his time here at LR has certainly been blessed. Josh will graduate with honors from School of Business with a double major in Finance and Accounting. He is a Lineberger Fellow and a member of both the Honors Academy and Mortar Board Honors Society. For Josh, his life here at LR has been about developing relationships. Thanks to his professors, he secured an internship at Shurtape and a career mentor who he credits with helping him to get a job as an Associate Auditor at one of the most prestigious and largest accounting firms in the country. Josh has also found success as an athlete as an offensive lineman for the LR Bears football team. He will receive his fourth SAC Conference Championship Title ring at the awards ceremony in the spring. Being a member of the Fellow Christian Athletes has also helped Josh to grow spiritually and reach out to others with the message of faith.

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Undergraduate

Charlie McBurney

Student Story

A Social Entrepreneurship Major, Charlie McBurney has started his own company called Cooperative Loan Solutions, with help from the Center for Commercial and Social Entrepreneurship (CCSE) at LRU. The CCSE provides opportunities for students to partner with professionals, and serves as a resource for organizations in all phases of development. Dr. Ralph Griffith head’s the CCSE, working to serve as a resource for budding entrepreneurs while extending LR’s reach into the community by offering consulting services for local citizens.

“I worked alongside Dr. Griffith on creating my business plan,” McBurney said. “The CCSE gave me the time, resources, and guidance that I needed to turn Cooperative Loan Solutions into a real company."

“By the end of the semester, we plan to make our first loan and start making an impact in the Hickory community.”

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Christin Collie

Student Story

Christin Collie is a member of the LRU Class of 2016. She is from Poplar Branch, North Carolina and is seeking a Double Major in Psychology and Sociology.

Growing up in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Christin had never seen the mountainous area of N.C. before coming to college.

She is a member of the LRU Campus Activities Board (CAB), which creates programs for students by students. Events such as casino night, movies on the lawn, and the highly anticipated Red Carpet Event, happen through CAB.

“I love being able to walk around campus and see people I know, as well as having a tight knit community of professors and friends that I can count on.”

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Marcus Slade

Student Story

Marcus Slade is a member of LRU's Class of 2015. He called Caswell County, North Carolina home before Hickory. Marcus is seeking his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and Economics, with a minor in Sociology.

He rises up through his involvement in on-campus organizations including the debate team. As president of the College Democrats, Marcus had the opportunity to volunteer at the Democratic National Convention when it was in Charlotte.

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Michaela Moore

Student Story

“What is LRU to you?”
“LRU to me means family away from home, who are there for you no matter what. People that you can depend on, including faculty you can turn to.”

“Was there anything you wish you knew before you came here?”
“Don’t be afraid to try something - anything - new.”

“What would you say if you had only one sentence to describe your time at Lenoir-Rhyne?”
“The best decision I’ve made so far.”

Michaela Moore is a member of the Class of 2015, and she's seeking a degree in Biology. Before she made the move to Hickory, she called Statesville, NC home.

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Joshua Justice

Student Story

Joshua Justice moved to HIckory from Belmont, North Carolina. He graduated from Lenoir-Rhyne with a Bachelor of Art in History in the Spring of 2014, and his time in education is far from over. While at LRU, Josh says he felt a calling to be a teacher, and that's exactly what he's going to do. Josh is an incredible example of an LR Bear who Takes Charge: Josh was one of the Quarterbacks for the 2014 NCAA Divison II National Runner-Up Bears Football Team. Here at Lenoir-Rhyne, our students are doing incredible things every day, and we’re honored to call them Bears. If you think you have what it takes to be a bear, click the link below to start your journey!

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Haley Rawlinson

Student Story

Haley Rawlinson is a member of the Lenoir-Rhyne University Class of 2014 with a Bachelor of Art in Psychology and minor in Biology. Haley is from High Point, North Carolina. While she was an undergraduate student Haley was an RA (Resident Advisor), a member of the cross-country team, and still managed to find the time to hold a 3.9 GPA! If you think you have what it takes to be a bear, click the link below to start your journey!

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Chris Hedrick

Student Story

Chris Hedrick is a senior here at Lenoir-Rhyne and even though he grew up in Mountain View, NC, it’s been a long journey that has brought him back to Hickory. Chris enlisted in the U.S. Army in May of 2000, and served a number of tours in Afghanistan before receiving his honorable discharge in early 2011. His next step brought him to Lenoir-Rhyne, where he has been working toward his Bachelor of Arts in Politics and International Affairs. If you think you have what it takes to be a bear like Chris, click the link below to start your journey!

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Katie Schomburg

Student Story

Katie Schomburg is a junior here at Lenoir-Rhyne and she called Burlington, North Carolina home before coming to Hickory. Katie is working towards her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, and she is involved in a number of activities outside of the classroom as well! Katie runs for both the cross-country team as well as the track team, she is a sister of the Kappa Delta sorority, and an active member of Lenoir-Rhyne Cru. But Katie rises up through her involvement as an Orientation Leader, and she looks forward to doing it again next year, when new freshmen move in! If you think you have what it takes to be a bear like Katie, click the link below to start your journey!

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Woodrow Boyles

Student Story

Woodrow Boyles is a student here at Lenoir-Rhyne and he called Vale, North Carolina home before Hickory. In the classroom he’s studying history. Around campus he’s part of the band, and a Lineberger Fellow. Wood rises up by compiling research in the fields of Local History and Folklore, and is on his way to being published in these fields. If you think you have what it takes to be a bear like Woodrow, click the link below to start your journey!

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