Campbell students leave a legacy through giving

Richard Carden (’18) has a unique claim to fame from his time at Campbell. A dedicated leader of the Camel Crazies student section, he was a two-time finalist for the Big South Conference Fan of the Year. Carden served as the face of the student body at games both home and away. The close-knit Campbell community and camaraderie is what inspired Carden to give back.

Carden first heard of Campbell as a junior in high school when his graduating friend was accepted there. He toured during the fall of his senior year, fell in love and began his freshman year in 2014. Meanwhile, his now fiancé Gabrielle Stewart was studying at a school several hours away.

Carden and Stewart met in high school as camp counselors at the Charlotte YMCA. Thrown together often as they corralled campers and equipment, the two became friends – close enough friends that when Stewart began to look into transferring colleges her sophomore year, Carden sold her on Campbell.

The decision was the right one, and both recent graduates have left a lasting mark on Campbell as donors to the Senior Legacy campaign.

As Senior Legacy campaign givers and 2018 graduates, the two are part of a group of young alumni who were present on campus for the planning of the student union, the introduction of the new marching band, the construction of the admissions building and many other projects that their donations will help fund.

But the one they are most excited about is the student union.

“We need a space that can serve as a hub on campus, that all of the student organizations can work out of and that will keep students here on the weekends,” says Carden. “It’s a really big piece that Campbell’s been missing.”

Stewart and Carden are looking forward to coming back to campus to see the finished project that they’ve supported from the very beginning. Carden can still recall the day he opened the email announcing the board of trustees had approved the idea for the student union.

“I was thrilled, and I know all of my peers felt the same way. From the renderings we’ve seen it looks incredible, and we’re thrilled to support the project.”

Story courtesy of Billy Liggett, Director of Publications & Campbell Magazine Editor. To learn about the Campbell Leads campaign and how to support the student union, visit campaign.campbell.edu.