• Announcing the Lenoir-Rhyne Tuition-Free Guarantee

    Lenoir-Rhyne announces tuition-free guarantee for North and South Carolina students
    With the Lenoir-Rhyne Tuition-Free Guarantee, tuition will never stand in the way of your dreams. Starting in fall 2026, eligible students from North and South Carolina can earn a world-class education tuition-free—powered by scholarships and grants, not loans.

    View the Lenoir-Rhyne Guarantee

LR campus community mourns unexpected death of Omari Alexander


Omari Alexander

Lenoir-Rhyne University is grieving the loss of one of our student-athletes. Omari Alexander, a 19-year-old sophomore from Concord, North Carolina and member of the LR football team, was killed overnight on November 20 in an off-campus incident in Hickory.

”Omari was a special young man who had a bright future. He will always be remembered fondly by his teammates and the LR community,” said Kim Pate, vice president for athletics.

The Hickory Police Department is investigating Omari‘s death. They have indicated that this is an isolated incident, and there is no ongoing threat. 

Grief counseling is available for students, faculty and staff through the Cornerstone House. A campus memorial service was held on Monday, November 22, at 10 a.m. in P.E. Monroe Auditorium.

The University is working with the family to establish a scholarship fund in Alexander’s name. The goal is to reach $25,000 so that it can be endowed and provide annual support for student-athletes at LR. You can make a gift online or by sending a check to Lenoir-Rhyne University, PO Box 7467, Hickory, NC 28603-9874.

Omari Alexander Memorial Scholarship

News & Events

Avelyn Paulino

Bold, driven and visible all around campus, Avelyn Paulino ’26, MBA ’27, leads with purpose and inspires confidence wherever she goes.

View More
Harriet, Anna, Lura, Caroline and Martha with a shadowbox of DR Mauney's memorabilia

A special game-day reunion brought the Mauney family home to LR, where generations have learned, served and given back to the university that helped shape their lives.

View More