Annapolis, Md.----There is nothing like the bond of a teammate.  Being a collegiate student-athlete affords one many experiences; perhaps the most memorable are friendships one develops with teammates.  I left Wingate in 2007 with teammates who turned into life-long friends. 
 
This past February, the Wingate Swim Team lost a teammate. Bridget Beth Melvin, affectionately named BBM, passed away from Lupus at the age of 27.  Without warning, we lost our friend. If one attended Wingate from 2003-07, one probably knew Bridget. It was impossible to be around Bridget and not be affected by her infectious smile and love for life.
 
Bridget was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) two years ago; she had symptoms since high school.  Bridget was admitted to the hospital for a severe headache and released to only suffer a stroke.  Doctors were desperately trying to figure out what was happening. Things started to look up for her health, when a stroke and hemorrhage took her life.
 
The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) reached out to the Melvin family and offered an opportunity to raise money for lupus research and to support people who are currently living with this disease. So instead of hiding in our grief, we formed Team Bridget and participated in the Walk for Lupus Now.
 
Team Bridget is composed of Bridget’s fiancé, family, friends, co-workers and some of her elementary school students. We walked a 5K in Charlotte on May 5.  Bridget’s family shared her story with the participants of the walk and we enjoyed each other’s company and recounted fun memories. To date, we have raised $16,904 for the LFA.
 
Working to raise money has been a positive and rewarding experience. Nothing will change the fact that our BBM is gone from this Earth, but knowing that one can help support someone that is in her same situation helps ease that pain.  We always hear the different sayings about how short life is…and how we should tell people we love them.  It’s true. Life is short.  Follow your dreams and love with all your heart.  Bridget did.
 
KRISTIN NEWMAN WATSON (’07)
 
Kristin Newman Watson (’07) earned first team NCAA Division II All-American honors two times as a senior swimmer for the Bulldogs. A 15-time All-Bluegrass Mountain Conference honoree (over four years), she won five BMC titles during her career. A 2007 co-captain, she set one conference record and four school records in 2007 (WU records in the 100 and 200 Backstroke and the 200 and 400 Medley Relays). Newman Watson was a Scholar All-American as named by the CSCAA.
 
Outside the pool, Newman Watson was the co-chair for Union County Special Olympics Swimming venue at Wingate her senior year. She was a member of the Wingate Leadership Fellows and the Tri-Sigma sorority. She won the Arthur Joseph “Pepper” Geddings, Jr. Athletic Leadership Award at Wingate’s 2007 athletic awards ceremony.
 
Newman Watson and her husband Mike (’08) live in Annapolis, Md. Kristin Newman Watson teaches elementary school. Mike Watson is a political and policy analyst at AARP. He will graduate with a master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Maryland this December. The Watsons continue to be active, playing lacrosse, swimming and competing in triathlons.
 
WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a comprehensive university with more than 2,500 students on three campuses in Wingate, Matthews and Hendersonville, N.C. The university offers 34 undergraduate majors, 37 minors and career concentrations, numerous pre-professional programs, graduate degrees in business, accounting, physician assistant studies and sports administration and doctorates in pharmacy and education.
 
Wingate students gain the tools and support they need to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life. The campus community offers in-class learning, out-of-class experiences, strong mentors, a competitive yet caring environment and rewarding community service opportunities for a complete educational experience.
 
Bulldog student-athletes compete in 19 NCAA Division II sports. Wingate University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past six years.
 
Wingate University is ranked number three among NCAA Division II Academic All-America® producing schools in the 2000’s with 42 honorees during this millennium. Only Pittsburg State (Kan.) University and Truman State (Mo.) University have produced more Academic All-America® honorees during this time period. Wingate’s 51 Academic All-America® honorees (lifetime) is tops among all SAC schools.