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September 9, 2025 By Sarah Bolton Leave a Comment

Belmont Abbey College Celebrates Record-Breaking Enrollment for Fall 2025

Belmont, N.C. (September 9, 2025) – Belmont Abbey College announces the highest total enrollment in its history, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s continued growth and academic expansion. For the Fall 2025 semester, the college has welcomed its second-largest incoming class of new students, making a new record of total enrollment of 1,741 students—an unprecedented milestone that represents a 3.2% increase over last year.

The total enrollment includes students from a variety of academic tracks: traditional undergraduate, online undergraduate, dual-enrolled, non-degree seeking, and graduate programs. Among the 1,741 enrolled, 741 are new admissions—a strong indicator of the growing interest in the college’s Benedictine liberal arts tradition and superior academic offerings—with students representing 48 states and 26 countries.

“We are gratified to see so many students and families connecting with our academic, student, and faith experiences,” said Dr. Jesse Dorman, Vice Provost of Enrollment at Belmont Abbey College. “We are thrilled to welcome this highly engaged incoming class, with their unique talents, skills, and abilities that will enrich the Belmont Abbey College community and extend far beyond our campus.”

A key contributor to this growth is the record number of 134 graduate students—the highest in Belmont Abbey’s history—enrolled across eight graduate programs. This surge is driven in part by the launch of two new graduate degrees: the Master of Arts in Motorsport Management and the Master of Sport Management, both of which began this fall.

The MA in Motorsport Management is especially groundbreaking—it is the first program of its kind in the United States, establishing Belmont Abbey as a national leader in motorsports education. With Charlotte and Concord serving as hubs of NASCAR and other motorsports industries, the college is uniquely positioned to offer students direct access to internship opportunities, industry leaders, and real-world experiences in a dynamic, fast-growing field.

The college also recently redesigned its Master of Science in Nursing to address the growing need of educators in the healthcare industry. The new MSN—Educator program enables experienced nursing to pass on their expertise to the next generation of caregivers.

Interim President Dr. Joseph Wysocki attributed this year’s success to the dedication of the entire Belmont Abbey community. “This community—so passionately committed to the College’s mission and so dedicated to fulfilling the Abbey promise to our students—is the reason we’ve come this far. Congratulations to every one of our faculty, staff, and the monks who work every day to make the promise of the Abbey a reality for our students.”

While many regional and rural colleges are facing demographic pressures and enrollment declines, Belmont Abbey continues to grow while remaining true to its Catholic mission of forming students in mind, body, and spirit. As Belmont Abbey looks to the future, it remains committed to cultivating a community where academic excellence, faith, and service intersect.

For more information about Belmont Abbey College and its programs, visit www.belmontabbeycollege.edu.

About Belmont Abbey College: Founded in 1876, Belmont Abbey College is a private, Catholic baccalaureate and liberal arts institution. Our mission is to educate students in the liberal arts and sciences so that in all things God may be glorified. Guided by the Catholic intellectual tradition and the Benedictine spirit of prayer and learning, we welcome a diverse body of students and provide them with an education that will enable them to lead lives of integrity, to succeed professionally, to become responsible citizens, and to be a blessing to themselves and to others. Our beautiful and historic campus is conveniently located just 10 miles west of Charlotte, N.C., and is currently home to more than 1500 students. For more information, visit https://belmontabbeycollege.edu/.

For Immediate Release

Contact: Sarah Bolton

P: 704-461-7016 E: sarahbolton@bac.edu

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September 8, 2025 By Evan Shoup Leave a Comment

Finding Your Journey of Faith and Transformation With Paul J. Kim

In this episode of Conversatio, Belmont Abbey Campus Minister Carmen Alexander and our guest Paul J. Kim discuss his journey of faith, the challenges of living as a young adult in a secular world, and the importance of community, sacraments, and personal growth.

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August 29, 2025 By Laura Schaffer Leave a Comment

Go out into the deep…

Do not be afraid. Do not be satisfied with mediocrity. Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch. – St. John Paul II

I first stumbled on this quotation by St. John Paul II early in the summer. It’s a striking quote, and the words seem to follow you around without losing their edge. I suspect this has something to do with our immersion in a society that – whatever else it does or claims – tends to capitalize on fear, reward consumer-driven complacency, and avoid the question of Truth with squeamish mistrust… all of which the monastic rhythms of prayer and work, ora et labora, quietly and undemonstratively counter.

In a way, the monks’ faithful example offers us an act of hope and a grounding of calm from which to attend to St. John Paul II’s exhortation. And now, at the start of a new academic year at the Abbey, it feels natural to take up these words in earnest and consider what they might mean for each of us.

Do not be afraid. Do not be satisfied with mediocrity. Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.

There’s a reason St. John Paul II begins with Christ’s bracing exhortation, given more often than any other scriptural directive: Do not be afraid.

No matter how you approach it, the deep is frightening. It’s the place in our lives – wherever this might be for each of us – where we have to confront our human weakness. It’s the mission that’s beyond us, the need that’s more than we can fill, the question for which we have no answer.

We are all called to holiness – to the terrifying, vibrant love that empties us of illusion and pride, transforming our lives if we let it – if we let Him. We’ve heard over and over “Do not be afraid,” and we recognize that there is nothing mediocre about the sacrificial love that sets the world on fire – or the adventure of a life drawn to God, who accompanies us in so many strange, profound, intimate, and sacramental ways. We may not always recognize this quality of adventure, but whether our vision is free to perceive it or not, the world is charged with His grandeur, and the spiritual battle, with its eternal stakes and its call to heroism, is real and never limited by what the world tells us is big or important or worthy of our attention.

God calls us into the deep not to crush us but to lead us into this adventure and beyond fear – to invite us to trust Him so radically that we allow His love to fill us beyond our capacities, transforming even our limitations into His strength and accomplishing in us what we knew we could not do.

Do not be afraid.

Those words are for you. They’re for each of us, whether or not we know which way to travel in order to “put out into the deep” at all.

Just know that whenever we find ourselves standing with the disciples, shifting uncertainly before blurting out, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” His answer to us is the same: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:5-6).

Put yourself in His presence and ask Him to lead you. Ask Him to hear the prayer you may or may not have words for. He is the Way, and He will never leave you to venture the deep alone. Follow Him. And lower your nets into the deep you can’t fathom. He will do the rest.

August 21, 2025 By Evan Shoup Leave a Comment

A Reflection on Wisdom and Foolishness

In this episode of Conversatio, Professor James Neff of the Belmont Abbey Honors College shares an original reflection on the Gospel of Luke about wisdom and foolishness.

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August 21, 2025 By radefolaju Leave a Comment

Remembering Humpy Wheeler, Jr.

Belmont Abbey College Remembers Humpy Wheeler, Jr., Racing Icon and Beloved Alumnus

Belmont Abbey College expresses deep sorrow over the passing of Howard “Humpy” Wheeler, Jr., a devoted supporter and beloved friend of the college. A native of Belmont and alumnus of the Abbey’s Preparatory School, Wheeler played a pivotal role in founding the college’s renowned Motorsport Management program in 2007.

Wheeler’s contributions to Belmont Abbey were multifaceted. He served two terms on the Board of Trustees, offering invaluable leadership and insight. In recognition of his outstanding service, the Abbey awarded him both the Grace Award and the Sport at the Service of the Spirit Award. In 2008, the college inducted him into the Alumni Wall of Fame. He received an honorary degree from the college in 2019 in recognition of his outstanding contributions. Throughout his life and career, Wheeler’s deep connection to Belmont Abbey and the Benedictine tradition remained evident—not only through his own unfailing service but also through the legacy of two of his children, who followed in his footsteps as Abbey alumni.

Dr. Joseph Wysocki, Belmont Abbey’s Interim President, remarked, “Humpy Wheeler’s visionary leadership and unwavering commitment have left an indelible mark on our college community. As an alumnus, trustee, and generous benefactor, he demonstrated an enduring commitment to the Abbey and its mission. His leadership helped shape the direction of the college, and his support opened doors for countless students. Humpy believed in forming not just professionals, but principled leaders—and his impact will continue to be felt through the lives of the alumni and students he championed so passionately.”

In 2007, Wheeler encouraged the then-President of Belmont Abbey College, Dr. Bill Thierfelder, to begin a Motorsport Management program. Patti Wheeler ‘86, his daughter, and Humpy guided the development of the program, which has remained at the forefront of motorsport education, blending academic rigor with strong industry connections. For nearly two decades, it has been one of the few programs in the nation, producing accomplished alumni who now hold key positions in racing at organizations such as NASCAR, numerous racing teams, tracks, and racing support organizations. In Fall 2025, the college expanded the program’s impact by launching the nation’s only Master of Arts in Motorsport Management, further strengthening its leadership in the field.

Dr. Trey Cunningham, Chair of the Motorsport Management program, highlighted Wheeler’s impact: “Humpy was instrumental in shaping the lives of young adults aspiring to enter the motorsport industry. His vision was to create a pathway for students to turn their passion for racing into a profession, and that vision has become a reality for so many. Through his industry insight, storytelling, and unwavering support, Humpy inspired confidence and ambition in everyone he met. His legacy is the foundation of our program, and it will continue to drive our students forward for generations to come.”

Wheeler’s legacy extends well beyond Belmont Abbey College. As the former president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway, he was renowned for his innovative promotions and contributions to the motorsports industry. His efforts earned him inductions into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2004 and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2006. In January 2026, he will be honored with the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR during the induction of the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2026.

Abbot Placid Solari, O.S.B., reflected on Wheeler’s lasting relationship with the Abbey, “Humpy and Pat Wheeler have been personal friends as well as generous benefactors of Belmont Abbey and Belmont Abbey College and many other worthy causes. Humpy grew up on the abbey campus and always remembered his roots here. He enjoyed an amazing and happy life and was blessed with a beautiful marriage and family. He was the entrepreneur’s entrepreneur. I can imagine he is advising God about some new extravaganza to liven up heaven!”

Belmont Abbey College has been blessed by Humpy Wheeler’s enduring support and guidance. His legacy will continue to inspire generations of students, faculty, and alumni.

The funeral is scheduled for Tuesday, August 26, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Gabriel Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial donations be made in Wheeler’s name to the Belmont Abbey College Motorsports Management Program. Visit bac.edu/futurestars to learn about how you can make a memorial gift in remembrance of Humpy.

For the official statement from the Charlotte Motor Speedway, please click here.