Belmont Abbey alumni Steve Ohnesorge has been a journalist for more than 40 years, but he’s never taken a journalism class. He graduated from the Abbey with a degree in Business Administration and landed a job at WBTV when Gerald Ford was president. Throughout his career, he covered news for Western Carolina and was known for quickly building strong relationships with members of the military.
Abbey News
Belmont Abbey Treasure Inducted into the Gaston County Sports Hall of Fame
If you were at the Abbey between 1956 and 2015, you likely remember Stanley Dudko. After immigrating to the U.S. following two different Nazi occupations in Poland, Dudko found a home at Belmont Abbey. From standout soccer player to award-winning soccer coach to beloved professor, he has left a mark on this institution. His legacy continues on with an induction into the Gaston County Sports Hall of Fame.
LAWA and Belmont Abbey College partner to help close Latino academic achievement gaps
LAWA (Latin Americans Working for Achievement) and Belmont Abbey College announced today a new partnership to help Latino students from low-to-moderate income families by matching scholarship grants for LAWA students attending the college, doubling their award. The new program recognizes that finances are often a barrier to education and helps Latino families in the Charlotte Region gain access to high-quality post-secondary career opportunities. In partnership with LAWA, Belmont Abbey will also host a workshop dedicated to helping students with FAFSA and making college more accessible. The workshop is part of the inaugural High School series and will take place on Belmont Abbey’s campus on December 9th.
“We feel incredibly grateful to Belmont Abbey College for partnering with us,” said LAWA Executive Director Ana S Rey. “Our partnership will allow our organization to reach more Latino homes in Gaston County.” LAWA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the education and quality of life for the Latino community in the Charlotte region through scholarships and career-readiness programs. Through collaboration with community organizations, LAWA offers Youth scholarship programs and High School Series workshops to U.S. Latino high school students that might not see college as a possibility.
The initiatives with Belmont Abbey College aim to close Latino academic achievement gaps, improve Latino high school graduation rates, and increase the number of Latino students who pursue and complete post-secondary study in Gaston County. These efforts are crucial, as the majority of LAWA scholarship recipients are first-generation college students.
“At Belmont Abbey, we’re excited about the opportunity to positively impact our local Latino community by providing them with a liberal arts education that prepares them—mind, body, and spirit—to pursue the good for themselves and their communities,” said Martin Aucoin, Vice Provost and Dean of Admissions at Belmont Abbey College. “We welcome the talents of everyone, from any background and tradition, who is committed to fostering the development of the whole person and contributing to the mission of the college.” The initiative with LAWA aligns with Belmont Abbey’s aim to offer an environment where students can work towards their full potential.
About LAWA: LAWA is a 501©3 nonprofit charitable organization serving Mecklenburg and adjacent counties. The organization’s mission is to advance the education and quality of life of Latinos in the Charlotte Region through scholarships, academic, and cultural programs. www.lawanc.org
New Gaston High School Geared Toward Future Health Care Workers
The future of healthcare is here. Construction of a new CaroMont Health hospital with 66 beds is in process and will be located on property belonging to Belmont Abbey College along Interstate 85 in Belmont. This comes alongside the introduction of two new healthcare degrees available at Belmont Abbey, a Masters in Health Administration and a Bachelors of Science in Nursing. The healthcare industry demands skilled workers, which has prompted Belmont Abbey College, Gaston College, and Gaston County Schools to step up to the plate. Leaders of the institutions share a broad vision to develop a pipeline to transform students into local workers.
Homecoming 2021
We are impatient to get our community back to the Abbey and to bring our alumni Home at Last. However, our concern and love for you all outweighs any disappointment we feel about postponing Homecoming.
The College leadership is in frequent communication with the local health officials about the state of Covid-19 cases in Gaston County. While only eight members of our college community have tested positive and are safely quarantining, the region is experiencing an increase in the number of cases.
Thus, the decision has been made to move this Fall’s Homecoming. The 2021 Homecoming will now be held in the Spring, April 22-24, 2022.
The best part about Homecoming is being together, seeing old friends, and strengthening the Abbey Spirit — and that’s not going away just because the dates have shifted.
We will still honor our dear friend and coach, Mike Reidy, during a special Celebration of Life event. We also look forward to reunion for classes ’70 & ’71. The BAC lacrosse team will be in season and we plan to enjoy the Spring weather out on the Abbey fields as we cheer them on to victory.
It will be a full and wonderful Homecoming and who knows, maybe the cherry trees will cooperate and bloom just in time for our favorite alumni to come Home at Last!
Bookmark this year’s Homecoming Site to check back for updates.
