Legacy Spotlight: Rodgers Family

Soon, the Rodgers family from Clayton will open a new chapter in their Campbell legacy story. Leah Rodgers is joining her brother Caleb, parents James (’89, ’01 MBA) and Lynn (’90), and grandfather J.D. Gore (’60) as the next in a long line of Campbell students from the Rodgers family. She is entering as a member of the women’s soccer team, a first for the family, as she prepares to leave her own legacy on campus. 

Both Rodgers children, Caleb and Leah, are legacy students at Campbell. A legacy student is a student whose parent or grandparent attended Campbell, making them the second or third generation of Campbell students in their family.

Caleb, a member of the class of 2020 and a business administration student, expressed his excitement for his younger sister to join him on campus, saying, “I am very excited that Leah is going to play soccer at Campbell. Going to watch her play and supporting her will be a lot of fun. I can’t wait to spend time with her going to different events, or even just eating dinner at Marshbanks.” 

For James Rodgers, the opportunity for both of his children to choose the same school he graduated from is a special one. “Returning to campus was surreal and a reminder of how time goes by so quickly. It certainly didn’t seem possible that my kids could now both be in college,” he said. 

Being a legacy student can ease some pre-college nerves, as Caleb realized. “Being a legacy did impact how comfortable I felt on campus,” he said. He and his father participated in a yearly father/son basketball camp every year on campus, and between that memory and hearing his parents’ stories of Campbell, he said, “This allowed me to already be familiar with the campus and know a little about Campbell in general.” 

James agreed, saying, “It’s really comforting to have my kids back at Campbell. College is a major step for the rest of their lives, and Campbell is like home. There’s no greater place to build lasting memories, and it’s truly special that they are part of three generations that have attended Campbell.” 

James and Lynn met at Campbell, and Campbell has been a formative part of Caleb’s childhood memories. Now it’s time for Leah to start her own Campbell journey, a journey her entire family is excited she is beginning.

The road to becoming a Campbell legacy is different for every student, but for Caleb, it is a road without regrets. “It means a lot to me being a Campbell Legacy student. Being a third generation Campbell student, it is awesome to see the impact I am making at the school my parents and Grandpa called home. Campbell has grown a lot, but it is amazing that we still keep the same values,” he said.

The Rodgers family recently invited incoming Johnston County Campbell students into their home to welcome them to campus as a part of the Office of Alumni Engagement’s annual student sendoffs. During the evening, they had the opportunity to share some Campbell memories and discuss their love of Campbell with these incoming students, including Leah and her new classmates. 

With Campbell’s variety of academic programs, including some new additions such as cybersecurity, engineering, and sports communications, and the opportunities for legacy families to enjoy, alumni are encouraged to explore the possibilities of continuing the Campbell tradition in their families. To learn more about the Campbell legacy program, contact Campbell Admissions for additional information. 

Are you the parent or grandparent of an incoming Campbell University student? Are you an incoming student with a relative who attended Campbell? Let us honor your decision to continue the Campbell University legacy in your family. Join us on August 17 to celebrate your student and their commitment to Campbell University at our fourth annual Legacy Lunch. Learn more and register by Monday, August 12, here.