Point Magazine Winter 2019

WINTER 2019

WELCOME TO

WARGO’S

Point alumnus uses his passion and education to serve others p. 20

AROUND THE WORLD with the Point men’s soccer team p. 14

THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS put into action for hurricane relief p. 10

MAKE YOUR POINT. Point University wouldn’t be what it is today without the support of alumni, friends and churches who believe in the impact of a Christ-centered higher education. Your gifts can change students’ lives!

point.edu/give

CONTENTS 4 From the President 5 University News ON THIS PAG E The first master’s degree recipients graduated from Point in December. For more on commencement, turn to page 8.

ON THE COV ER Cory Wargofcak ’14 at Wargo’s, his family business. To read more, turn to page 20.

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BEYOND THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS Bill Dorminy, director of IT, reflects on his hurricane relief trip to Florida.

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AROUND THE WORLD Representing 14 countries, the Skyhawk men’s soccer has remarkable global diversity.

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WELCOME TO WARGO’S Cory Wargofcak ’14 is using his pumpkin patch and Christmas tree business to glorify God. W IN TER 201 9 | 3

FROM THE PRESIDENT

POIN T M AG AZI NE Volume 57, Number 2 Winter 2019 EDITOR/DESIGNER Sarah G. Huxford CONTRIBUTORS Megan Brooks ’18 Bill Dorminy Carson Gregors Kara Johnson Steve Schwepker

At Point University we talk a lot about service. We emphasize “doing” and not just “knowing.” It is a centerpiece of our strategy. Jesus was pretty clear, in his Sermon on the Mount, that we are blessed when we do and not simply because we know. It is our goal for every student to do the work of the kingdom of God and not simply talk about it.

In order for students to learn this, we must model it. In this issue, you will see that our staff and alumni are doing kingdom work — whether that’s by giving the profits of a family business to charitable causes, as Cory Wargofcak ’14 has done, or by taking action to help when tragedy strikes. It was a joy to see how many in our community responded when the Southeast was impacted by the hurricanes of 2018. Within a short time, Point University had faculty, staff, students and alumni right in the center of relief efforts. And if you even casually read Scripture, you see how God calls us to serve and love those in need.

As you read on, you’ll also learn about the amazing diversity of our men’s soccer team and the contributions that our international students bring to the University.

I hope you will read and enjoy this issue of Point Magazine, and then consider making a visit to campus to see for yourself the good things God is doing on our campus, in our students and in our community.

In Christ,

Dean C. Collins ’79 President

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CONTACT US: Point University Attn: Point Magazine 507 West 10th Street West Point, GA 31833 706-385-1000 editor@point.edu © 2019 Point University Point University’s mission is to educate students for Christ-centered service and leadership throughout the world. Point University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate and master’s degrees.

Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, at http://www.sacscoc.org, or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Point University.

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W

here does the time go? 2018 is in the rear-view mirror, and another year is well under way! In 2018, we celebrated a milestone at Point University, awarding our first graduate degrees. It was a joy to watch these newly hooded graduates walk across the stage and back into their careers and ministries better prepared for service in the kingdom.

Point Magazine exists to tell Point University’s stories. It is intended to serve as a vehicle for connecting the University’s alumni and friends. For the first 49 volumes of its existence, Point Magazine was known as The Gold & Blue.

The magazine is published by the Communications Office, which retains the right to determine the editorial content and presentation of information contained herein.

Articles or opinion pieces contributed by guest writers do not necessarily reflect the official views or policy of Point University and its board of trustees. Point Magazine welcomes reader responses to its content.

HEADLINES

Point Hosts Sixth Annual Golf Classic On Oct. 5, Point held its sixth annual Golf Classic, raising $26,500 in sponsorships to fund scholarships for students from Troup and Chambers counties.

“We are very thankful to our donors for supporting this cause,” said Shannon Lipham, Point University golf course manager and assistant men’s golf coach. “This event was a great success, and we will strive to keep the momentum of hosting events at an excellent standard as we move forward.”

The roster for the Golf Classic consisted of 92 players, and the event was presented by J93.3, an Atlanta-based Christian radio station, which also attended the event with a booth.

The Golf Classic was the first Point University event to be held at the golf club since undergoing lawn restorations made over the previous six months.

“It was a great opportunity to show off the improvements we have made to the course. A lot

Point Skyhawks It’s time for spring sports! Baseball, softball, lacrosse, swimming, track and other sports are now in season. To keep up with all the latest news on Skyhawks sports, visit pointskyhawks.com.

University News To read the latest Point news, visit our website at news.point.edu.

of time, money and energy have been dedicated to improving the greens,” said Lipham.

“It was so exciting to see the community come together to support local student scholarships, since the proceeds went to Troup and Chambers County students,” said Dr. Stacy Bartlett ’05, vice president for advancement. “Also, the Point community rallied behind the event, and plenty of volunteers worked behind the scenes to make sure things ran smoothly.”

For more information about the Point University Golf Club, please visit our website at pointgolfclub.com or call 344-644-4503.

carson gregors; social media photos provided by users

WHAT'S TRENDING

refugepointchurch: We

had an amazing Sunday at RPC! @pointuniversity visited us and we hope to see you guys again!! Praying for a successful school year!!

Katherine Hamilton: Had Falen Kizunga: Wacky an amazing graduation day with the best cheer squad a girl could ask for. Honored to be one of the first graduates of Point University’s MBA program!

Wednesday during Homecoming week at Point! #wackywednesday #skyhawkspirit

#

aj_khaled: Felicidades por tu graduación hermano! Te quiero bro y vamos Bolivia! #pointuniversity

Share your tweets, posts and photos with the Point community! Tag your posts with #pointuniversity or #togetherwefly.

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HEADLINES

Point University graduated 81 students at winter commencement in December. The Class of 2018 included Point’s first graduates from the master of transformative ministry and master of business administration programs.

“We are tremendously impressed by our first graduating cohort in the master of transformative ministry program,” said Dr. Joshua Rice, program coordinator for the degree. “These graduates are consummate professionals who truly embody the heart of Point University, integrating scholarship, praxis, and a love for Christ and His work in the world. They have set a strong pace for many MTM graduates to come!”

The nine students who earned the MBA also graduated with the Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification. “Many benefits exist for our first graduate class now that they hold the coveted Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification,” said Dr. Joann Adeogun, chair of the Department of Business and Leadership. “The possibilities are endless, and so are the career opportunities.”

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During commencement, President Dean Collins ’79 presented the highest honor for a Point graduate, the Hathcock Award, which recognizes an outstanding student who has excelled in academics, leadership and Christian character while at Point. This year’s recipients were Bailey Haag, of Fortson, Georgia, and Lauren Turner Seagraves, of Carrollton, Georgia.

Dr. Faith Simpson ’76 gave the commencement address.

Simpson serves beside her husband, David Simpson ’77, at Lanier Christian Church in Gainesville, Georgia. As an alumna and a new member of the board of trustees, Simpson’s passion for Point and this graduating class was evident. Simpson encouraged the graduates to remember that they can always cling to their education. “You’ve worked for it,” she said. “That diploma didn’t come easy. By the receiving of that document, it will say you didn’t give up, you persevered!”

To see more from commencement, visit our online photo albums at flickr.com/pointskyhawks

carson gregors

Winter Commencement: First Master’s Graduates

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Beyond Thoughts & Prayers LAST FALL, HURRICANE MICHAEL DEVASTATED THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE AND PARTS OF SOUTH GEORGIA. WHEN POINT UNIVERSITY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR BILL DORMINY SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING, HE FELT CALLED TO ACTION. IN THESE PAGES, HE REFLECTS ON WHAT LED HIM — WITH HELP FROM WARREN CAREY ’99 — TO TAKE THE LEAD ON A LOCAL EFFORT TO HELP THOSE AFFECTED BY THE DESTRUCTION IN RURAL FLORIDA. TEXT AND ACCOMPANYING PHOTOS BY BILL DORMINY

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ABOVE An aerial view of the devastation in Altha, Florida, where Dorminy and Carey delivered the supplies collected from Point and other local groups.

PREVIOUS PAGE Bill Dorminy, left, and Warren Carey ’99, right, with the truck they used to haul supplies to Florida.

I thought of just finding someone at Point who could get those people some help. By Monday afternoon, I had spoken to someone “in the know” who said, “Hey, great idea, why don’t you organize it and make it happen?” Did I just get myself put in charge of gathering supplies and putting together a mission trip to Florida? This isn’t exactly what I had in mind, but I guess God had His own plan.

I sent an email out to everyone at Point and told them we needed to gather supplies to take to the storm victims in Florida. I had no idea what the response might be. I knew a lot of churches were way ahead of me, and people had already either given financially or with supplies. I just thought, “Whatever I get, I’ll take.” I made a post on Facebook, and later that night, my own church had gotten wind of my request and decided to help. This thing was taking off.

Looking at a map, I determined that Marianna, Florida, looked like an area that probably wasn’t getting a lot of attention. It’s a rural area that probably doesn’t have a lot of internal resources for something like this. I tentatively decided this is where I would take the supplies. Wednesday evening at church, there was already a truck load of supplies there waiting on me.

I assumed I wouldn’t be able to contact anyone in Marianna directly, because from what I’d heard,

bill dorminy

hen Hurricane Michael swept through the Gulf Coast and up into South Georgia, I was affected. Even though I wasn’t in the immediate path, I had family and friends who were. In fact, the path the storm took was cutting through the heart of places that are very near and dear to me — places that I have built memories around. I’ve grown up and spent many of my happiest times up and down the Gulf Coast communities, offshore fishing and vacationing from St. George Island to Panama City Beach, and down to Louisiana. Since I was a teenager, these places have been a part of my very soul. The salt water that runs through my veins might as well come from the Gulf of Mexico.

I’m not what some would consider a humanitarian. Sure, I’ll donate to causes from time to time, or drop things off at Goodwill. I’ll take canned goods to a food drive, but for the most part, I stand back and let the “professionals” handle getting the supplies where they need to go. I watched the relief efforts after Hurricane Michael, saw everyone flocking down to the coast to help and thought, “Great, these folks have it under control, and the people that got hit the hardest will soon have all the relief they need.” I continued to send thoughts and prayers that everyone affected would soon be relieved and all would be well.

As I watched from afar, I got an uneasy feeling.

Something wasn’t quite right. All this help was going all the way down to the coast, but that storm affected more than just the coast. It cut a pretty hefty swath of destruction through some very rural areas that most of us had never heard of. What about them? Was anyone taking care of them? I was sending thoughts and prayers, but was that really doing them any good?

It didn’t take long for me to recognize that I had to do something. Keep in mind, I’ve never “done something” before. At least not as the organizer/leader. Why did I feel that I had to do something? As a Christian, I knew what it was.

God was pushing me to get off the couch and help.

He actually became quite persistent about it.

I began to consider the rural areas of the Florida Panhandle that were not getting attention. At first,

bill dorminy

electricity and communications were questionable at best. I had a lot of supplies, so I made some calls and left messages. I decided to use Facebook to see if I could find any information about what was going on in Marianna. I made a couple of posts, and before I knew it, I had a contact name and number.

I reached out and was given the number to the police chief of a tiny little town called Altha. They were getting desperate. I called the police chief, and even he sounded worn down and in need. I asked him if there was anything that he specifically needed, and he said canned food and Vanilla Ensure, which I added to the top of my list.

Now I had a destination and specific need. At this point, it was becoming very clear that God was in control of this situation, and all I had to do was stay out of the way and do as I was told. My coworker, Warren Carey ’99, decided to make the trip with me to help deliver the supplies.

After about three hours, we were a few miles outside of Marianna and began to see trees down.

The closer we got, the more damage we saw. As we rode into town, the damage was obvious and heart-breaking. Roofs of buildings were gone.

Fronts of large brick buildings had fallen. 100-yearold oak trees had been stacked 10 feet high on the side of the road like cord wood during the cleanup.

About halfway between Marianna and Altha, electric poles were either leaning out over the road or gone. We encountered crews setting poles and getting ready to pull new wire. Once we arrived in Altha, we were greeted by Carol Finuff, the small-town mayor’s administrative assistant.

After the storm, she became the town’s savior. She took control of the supply chain and made sure those in need were able to get what was available.

After talking with her a few minutes, she directed us where to put the supplies we brought.

After unloading, she told us the story of how her husband and family all pitched in immediately after the storm passed, taking turns looking in on the elderly and sick and making sure everyone was taken care of. They took chain saws and removed trees, so people could get out of their homes. They did all of this while her husband was having heart trouble. He would eventually have

ABOVE The crumpled remains of a building in the rural town of Altha, Florida.

to be taken by ambulance to the hospital to get checked out, but not before he could make sure his neighbors were safe.

Warren and I eventually had to leave Altha, but we took a few minutes to ride around and survey the damage we could see. It was hard to determine the full breadth of what had happened, because we didn’t know what it looked like before, but it was readily apparent that the damage was extensive. Several trees had been uprooted, and almost every roof in the small town had multiple tarps covering it. Some of the buildings and homes were even missing their roofs. But both of us were amazed at what we had witnessed. Among all the damage and sadness, there was a lot of hope left in Altha, Florida. Hope and prayer can do a lot, especially when that’s all you have left.

After returning home and reflecting on our trip, I came to realize that God was answering the prayers of a lot of people. We don’t often see or know the results of our prayers, but this time I was fortunate to witness the power of all the “thoughts and prayers” being sent out from all over the country. Warren and I were simply the method that God used to answer them. I now realize that, when something happens, and people who can’t physically help send their thoughts and prayers, God is listening, and determining how He will fulfill the requests. Sometimes He will even send someone who’s not a humanitarian, just to remind us that thoughts and prayers aren’t empty words.

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around the

World

[in one soccer practice] HOW THE SKYHAWK MEN'S SOCCER TEAM BECAME ONE OF THE MOST INTERNATIONALLY DIVERSE GROUPS ON CAMPUS

BY SARAH HUXFORD

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W INcarson TER 201gregors 9 | 15

Brayan Palencia ’19

16 | POINT MAGAZINE

"I am big on recruiting players that fit the culture of the university."

-head coach jonathan lenarz

soccer coach. “Also, I am big on recruiting players that fit the culture of the University. With Point’s circumstances and the state of men’s soccer within the Appalachian Athletic Conference and the NAIA, it just made sense to recruit more international students. Little by little, this process gained momentum to where we had approximately 20 international players in 2018, from 10 countries outside the U.S. If you include players raised in the U.S., but born elsewhere, that number would be at least 23 from 13.”

“In the AAC and in the NAIA, in order to be competitive, you need to recruit international players,” adds Mark Wozniak, assistant men’s soccer coach.

“One of the benefits of having a diverse team is we get the styles and perspectives from so many different countries to form a beautiful style of soccer on the field and provide the players with an opportunity to learn from each other,” says Wozniak.

The influx of international students has been a learning process for the admission office, as well.

“It has pushed our admission office to become more knowledgeable in the extensive processes involved in not just getting a student admitted to Point, but also in getting student visas to get to Point,” says Rusty Hassell ’09, executive director of enrollment. “We have the ethical expectation and practice of admitting students who show they can be successful in their education here. For international students, this ‘success’ determination takes on the additional components of English comprehension and proficiency. Additionally, students are required to provide financial documentation that they can afford to attend Point either through scholarship, parental aid or sponsor support.”

“I probably have more international players on my team now than the total number enrolled at Point when I arrived in 2015,” says Lenarz. “This has created some challenges for admissions and our international student support personnel here, but I think the benefits far outweigh the issues.”

“Where I have been encouraged is in how the Point community has served these students,” says Hassell. “They are such a joy to get to know, and seem genuinely thankful to have the experience to combine education with talent and an opportunity to grow in their faith. Students, staff and faculty have embraced the opportunity to grow in knowledge of cultures outside our own, whether that is in language, music or food.”

randall hamer/aweshoot photography

S

itting on the sidelines at a Skyhawk men’s soccer game, even the cheers of the crowd can’t drown out the enthusiastic shouts of encouragement and instruction from team members to each other. But those shouts aren’t just in English — Portuguese, Spanish, German, Italian and Dutch are also in the mix. With players coming from a total of 14 countries, including the U.S., the men’s soccer team exemplifies the growing international student body at Point. The University’s classrooms are full of students who not only may not look like one another, but also may hail from all around the globe.

Part of the team’s international diversity comes from the global popularity of soccer. Many of the international students on the team grew up in countries where soccer is by far the most popular, beloved sport and have been playing since they were small children.

These experienced players have helped lead the team to success. The Skyhawks won the Appalachian Athletic Conference title for the first time in fall 2018, all while maintaining a 3.04 team GPA. Lindsay Patton Rorick ’16, assistant athletic director, said the team’s GPA has been above a 3.0 for the last six consecutive semesters.

“I have always been one to try to know and stay with, if not ahead of, the trends when it comes to recruiting,” says Jonathan Lenarz, head men’s

Gary Shorrow becomes the first Point studentathlete to be named Google Cloud AllAmerican of the Year for men’s soccer

randall hamer/aweshoot photography

G

rowing up in Toe Town, Liberia — a small town in western Africa — soccer was a huge part of Gary Shorrow’s life. The third youngest of ten children, Shorrow ’19 started playing as soon as he could walk.

“Every kid in my hometown played soccer when I was younger, and my father was kind of a well-known soccer star around the area, so I was basically born into it,” he says.

But because universities in Liberia don’t offer scholarships for playing sports, Shorrow never thought about playing soccer in college. “Like almost every kid in my country, I had dreams of playing professionally, but I never envisioned myself playing at a collegiate level in the United States,” he explains.

In 2013, Shorrow came to the United States through a program called the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program. He recalls that 70 students took an aptitude test for the program; only eight passed and were eligible to come to the U.S., living with host families during their junior year of high school. After the program ended, Shorrow’s host family sponsored his visa so that he could come back

to finish high school. (In fact, the Gibson family is continuing the Point tradition — son C.J. Gibson ’22 just finished his first season as a Skyhawk, as well.)

Attending high school in the U.S. was a blessing for Shorrow, but also a bit of a challenge — everything from the teachers’ accents, to the amount of homework, to the rotation of classes was new and different.

Shorrow first heard about Point through Jonathan Lenarz, head men’s soccer coach, who contacted Shorrow after seeing him play at a college soccer camp. “I was talking to other schools at the time, but none of the other coaches seemed as interested in me as Coach Lenarz,” Shorrow says. “I also liked that it was a small Christian school.”

And while Shorrow and the Skyhawks have had great successes on the field during his four years here — claiming the Appalachian Athletic Conference regular-season title for the first time in 2018 — Shorrow’s academic performance is even more impressive. Going into the second semester of his senior year as an accounting major, Shorrow maintains a 4.0 GPA.

This fall, Shorrow was named Google Cloud Academic All-American of the Year for NAIA men’s soccer. He is the first Skyhawk student-athlete ever to receive the award. He also received Point’s AAC Champion of Character Award.

“His integrity and respect are best evidenced by him being a two-year team captain and true leader who helps others reach towards the high standards that he has set for himself and our team,” says Lenarz. “His sportsmanship is demonstrated by the fact that he has never been disciplined by the officials for dissent or for losing his composure.”

“Off the field, Gary has a true servant’s heart as he leads in the local community,” Lenarz says. “He has spearheaded some of Point soccer’s community service efforts, including working with an inner-city soccer program and with local economically challenged youth.”

After graduation this spring, Shorrow plans to pursue a master’s degree in accounting. “Growing in my faith while doing the two things I love the most has been the best part of my [Point] experience,” he says. “I have loved every second.”

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International students

César Lazarini ’19

“I learned about Point when a friend back home in South Africa told me his friend is a head coach of a university in Georgia. I have made friends within the team, as well as with other people in the University. I experienced a lot of things with my friends, in terms of culture exchange and traveling a lot.”

—Eric Wowor ’20

Johannesburg, South Africa | Men’s Golf

“My favorite thing by far at Point is the relationships I have made here. I have met some of my closest friends and have became so much more excited on my studies because of my professors. Being so far away from home, I am happy here because I know I have a family here.”

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—martina belloni ’19

palamos, spain | women's tennis

“Some of our international students have even served as Student Ambassadors, and it is so awesome to hear them share their stories and how Point has made an impact on their life,” Hassell says.

When César Lazarini ’19, a business major from Campinas, Brazil, was a teenager, he heard that in the U.S., students could get scholarships for playing college sports – something that isn’t true in Brazil. What brought him to the U.S., he says, is “the opportunity to play my favorite sport and continue to dream about playing professionally while getting a college degree. In Brazil, I would have to follow only one path, either playing soccer or going to school.”

Brayan ’19 and Jeisson Palencia ’19 are brothers and business majors from Bogota, Colombia, who also grew up surrounded by soccer – but with no expectation of playing in college. “Because soccer is the biggest sport in Colombia, I grew up playing and loving the beautiful game. Soccer taught me very important things for life such as discipline, hard work and teamwork,” says Jeisson Palencia. “I really did not plan to play college soccer. But God has worked in my life to give me that opportunity.”

“I did not know that college soccer existed or that it was very important,” says Brayan Palencia. “I decided to come to the United States for college because I wanted to get a good education that would be recognized worldwide.

Also, I knew I would have a way to be financially capable of affording college in the U.S.” The brothers spent their first two years in the U.S. at Glendale Community College, in Arizona. They were playing in an All-Star game when Lenarz recruited them to transfer to Point to finish their college careers. “After I saw the soccer program at Point, I knew it could be very successful, and that I could be an important part of it,” says Jeisson Palencia. “Also, I noticed that the University offered a very good business program that perfectly matched my career goals.”

Lazarini, who played at Union University before transferring to Point, expresses gratitude for the opportunity to have played on a winning team with the Skyhawks. But even more important, he says, are the connections between players. “Regardless of the great mix of cultures, we are able to appreciate each other and be united,” he says. “It’s like a carnival of languages; everyone

randall hamer/aweshoot photography

can be found on many of point's athletic teams, bringing a global perspective to the classroom as well as the playing field.

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speaks a mix of their mother tongue and English, and it all makes complete sense.”

“We are a very united team, which is difficult to have when there are players from all over the world,” says Jeisson Palencia.

Lazarini was also drawn to Point in part because of the high percentage of international students. “For the five years I have been in America, I never had the opportunity to room with fellow Brazilians until this semester,” he explains. “It feels like home again, because I can speak my mother language, Portuguese, every day, listen to Brazilian music, eat Brazilian food, watch Brazilian soccer, et cetera.”

“Because of the size of the student body, it’s so easy to make new friends on campus,” Lazarini says.

“It’s like everyone knows everyone. I also enjoy the incredible diversity at the school and how students embraced it. Professors are friendly and well prepared to teach. They actually care about getting to know you if you give them the opportunity.”

For Gary Shorrow ’19, an accounting major from Toe Town, Liberia (see article on page 17), the hardest part of being an international student is missing home. “Sometimes you miss your family and friends and get homesick,” he says. “Going home is costly, so I have not been home in years.

Another thing that is challenging personally is adapting to the weather. I have been in the U.S. for about five years, and I still haven’t gotten used to the cold!”

“Being away from my family and not being able to see them often is very challenging,” adds Jeisson Palencia.

“As an international, I do not have the opportunity to have my family in every game as some of my teammates do. However, students and staff at the school

"I have a second family here at point."

-Brayan Palencia '19

have always been a big support every match.”

His brother points to the day the team won the AAC title, on a cold night in November, as an example of the community spirit at Point. “That day I saw the support that the students, staff, and people from the community have for the soccer program at Point,” says Brayan Palencia. “That day, we could see the result of all the effort put from every single member of the soccer team.”

“The international student community here at Point is a vibrant one,” says Lenarz. “Since their families are so far away, and going home is difficult, these students have become family to one another. At the same time, they are not closed off; they are more than willing to share their cultural experiences and backgrounds with our domestic students. This has transformed our soccer program, especially in terms of our competitive approach.”

Brayan Palencia says although there are challenges to being an international student, he wouldn’t change his experience: “I have been blessed to be surrounded by people that make me feel like I have a second family here at Point.”

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carson gregors

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WELCOME TO WARGO’S Point graduate Cory Wargofcak ’14 uses his passion and education to impact his community

BY CARSON GREGORS

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KIDS PLAYING CHASE, TRACTOR ENGINES RUMBLING, boiled peanuts cooking and families gathering — this is the season the Wargofcaks look forward to all year.

Five weekends before Halloween, Wargo’s Pumpkin Patch welcomes its first visitors. Located in Grantville, Georgia, this little farm patch in the country receives thousands of visitors each weekend until the season ends.

“It was always a joke when I was little,” said Cory Wargofcak ’14, warehouse manager for Coca-Cola Company and Point University alumnus. “I always said that one day I’d own my own business and name it Wargo’s something. I started calling it that from day one, and it stuck.”

Wargofcak and his wife, Monica, first opened the patch in 2014 after gaining inspiration while visiting several pumpkin patches in North Georgia. On that particular trip, their son, Wyatt, wanted to ride each hayride they encountered.

Costing $5 to $10 per ride, Wargofcak figured he had a tractor and could set up a hay ride, so his son could do it for free.

And Wargo’s Pumpkin Patch was born.

As with any good pumpkin patch, the first year Wargo’s opened, Wargofcak set out to grow a batch of pumpkins.

“To start out, I had all little bitty ones and great big ones because I didn’t know what I was doing,” said Wargofcak as he explained his introduction to pumpkin growing. In order to open the patch, he decided he needed a few carving sized ones to sell to customers, so Wargofcak went to a local market, owned by a family friend, and bought a bin of regular-sized carving pumpkins 22 | POINT MAGAZINE

for $100, a risky investment he said he was scared to make.

But his investment — in addition to the hayrides, petting zoo and a small country store selling locally made goods — proved to be fruitful.

At the end of the first fall season, the Wargofcaks decided to donate all of their profits to Camp Rockridge Christian Retreat Center in Franklin, Georgia.

The community embraced Wargo’s, and Wargofcak said the turnout of customers each year only grew. In the years that followed, Wargo’s donated proceeds to East Newnan Baptist Church, Coweta Pregnancy Services and the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home. After the first year, Wargofcak learned the importance of saving a portion of the proceeds from the previous year to invest back into his business; however, the remaining funds are donated to a charitable cause.

This year’s proceeds, their biggest donation to date, were given to Bethel Baptist Church in Rocky Mountain, Georgia, to assist in their fundraising for a new youth building. In all, Wargo’s patch has raised and donated more than $25,000.

As Wargo’s grew, so did the amenities it offered. Wargofcak added a corn maze and expanded the country store to include local products including milk, jellies, cider, honey and more from small vendors.

“My goal ultimately is to open a farmers market and country store with all of the same jams, jellies and milk I sell now. I want to do it towards Newnan somewhere. I’ve got a big vision because I worked at a nursery for a long time; I want to sell flowers and all that,” said Wargofcak.

Wargofcak said he worked for the nursery after deciding not to continue his college education.

“I went to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) when I graduated high school, but college just wasn’t for me back then. I couldn’t focus on it for nothing,” said Wargofcak. “As I got a little older, I was able to focus and do what I needed to do.”

He graduated from ABAC with an associate degree in turfgrass management and then joined the United States Marine Corps, but Wargofcak never forgot the time he spent working at a nursery during his pre-college years. It was there that his vision of owning his own business began to form.

Cory Wargofcak ’14

carson gregors

and his business partner, Michael McCray, during Christmas tree season at Wargo’s pumpkin patch in Grantville, Georgia.

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During pumpkin

“Agriculture is something that I’ve been passionate about my whole life. When I worked in the nursery when I was young, I learned a lot about the retail side there. My whole life I’ve wanted to own my own business and do something on my own,” he said.

After serving four years of active duty in the Marine Corps, Wargofcak landed a job at Coca-Cola. One day, he was tasked with visiting Point to see if the University was interested in partnering with Coca-Cola on a community project. It was during this visit that a Point employee introduced Cory to the Access program, the original adult-degree completion program, which has now grown into the College of Graduate and Professional Studies.

“The Access program was Point’s first step into educating nontraditional students and was designed to make college education available to them,” said Dr. Alan Kemper, professor of business and pracademics program director and one of the professors Wargofcak said he was most impacted by. “As the program and technology evolved, we transitioned to a fully online medium to deliver Christ-centered higher education, therefore, more successfully eliminating the barriers of geography and time. Our current process contains the same integrity and value as our previous Access program, but it allows learners wherever they are in the world to learn on their time — 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

24 | POINT M AGAZINE

Through the Access Program, Wargofcak graduated with a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership.

“The reason I didn’t want to go back to school was because I didn’t want to deal with signing up for class and all that stuff. But it was so easy.

I talked with like three people and was set up.

Point talked to the VA, and I never got a bill for anything. It went straight to the VA, and they paid for everything. When I signed up, they gave me a schedule for two years and only changed it once. I never had to talk to anyone to change my schedule. It was amazing to me. That was exactly what I needed to finish school,” said Wargofcak.

During his studies at Point, Wargofcak said he gained the skills that would prepare him to one day run Wargo’s.

“I’m not the best communicator. I’ve got a real strong accent and don’t use the right words. So, Point University really helped me in that aspect with communication, because you’ve got to kind of sound like you know what you’re doing,” said Wargofcak. “And the way I talk, I wonder if people maybe think I’m not the brightest, but I know what I’m doing, and I think it helped me a whole lot from the communications aspect and in leadership.”

carson gregors; sarah huxford

season, family fun at Wargo’s includes a corn maze, petting zoo and hay rides.

sarah huxford

Taking one class over a five-week period for the following two years was a plan that worked for Wargofcak. The Access program’s structure for finals was also different from traditional classes in that there were no exams; rather, the class had to complete a group project. Wargofcak said the students didn’t get to choose what group they wanted to be in, but it taught him how to work with and lead other people, and these key abilities have helped him thrive as the leader of Wargo’s.

“Everyone out here is a volunteer except two boys who are home schoolers, I pay them, but they work all the time,” said Wargofcak. “When you lead a group of volunteers, it’s not like you are paying them. It’s different. So, I think the leadership portion of that program and the communication portion are probably the two biggest things that helped me out with running Wargo’s.”

Wargo’s has experienced great success as a ground-up small business, but Wargofcak isn’t in the business for the profit, and creating a business that thrives has not come without failure.

“If I can go and enjoy what I’m doing, then that’s something big, and I enjoy every bit of this, even when we fail. There’s a lot of failure in agriculture. This year, we had one whole field get completely wiped out by deer. I enjoy every bit of it, so when I fail, I just learn from it,” said Wargofcak.

He attributes part of his view of failure to Michael McCray, his business partner at Wargo’s.

“Michael is the kind of person that when things go wrong, he is never, ever negative about it. He’ll calm me down, and we move forward, and he’s only twenty-three. I teach him a lot, and he teaches me a lot,” said Wargofcak. “I like to work. I can’t sit still for nothing, and he’s one of the only other people I’ve ever met who’s just like that. He’s not scared to take that challenge with me. These Christmas trees are a $25,000 investment. Five years ago, I was scared to spend $100, and now, I don’t even hesitate to spend $25,000 on Christmas trees because I know I can sell them.”

Two years ago, Wargo’s began selling Fraser fir Christmas trees. In addition to the retired volunteers who work at Wargo’s, one of his children’s school teachers sought to convince Wargofcak to give selling them a try. Then another lady joined forces, agreeing that Wargo’s should sell trees, and at Wargofcak’s request, she offered her husband, who had a long white beard, to play the

part of Santa. This year, he went to school to get certified as an official Santa Claus.

The Christmas haven opens for business on Thanksgiving Day and remains operational until they sell out of trees.

During the first winter season, Wargo’s was only open one week before all 150 trees were sold. In preparation for the following year, Wargofcak invested in 450 trees from North Carolina and Virginia.

Wargofcak said Wargo’s success is due to several people, namely his and Michael’s wives and their volunteers.

“The reason people respond so well to Wargo’s is because my wife and his wife are the two friendliest people you’ve ever met,” said Wargofcak. “And, even if people don’t talk to me or Michael, the people who work for me are really the reason that people respond. It’s all the volunteers that help. They’re so, so friendly.

When you meet a Christian, you know they’re a Christian, you can tell. When you meet my people, you know they are Christians. People come out here, and they know that — because of the love my volunteers give everybody.”

And this friendliness is not without a source.

Wargofcak said the ultimate goal when he and his family started Wargo’s was to use it as a platform to share Christ with all who visit. Wargofcak learned this principle during his time at Point in class with Emma Morris, a former Point administrator and instructor.

“You could tell with Professor Emma that whenever she started her businesses, ultimately along the line, her goal was to share Christ with somebody.

That’s what I learned from her,” said Wargofcak.

Wargo’s Pumpkin Patch is the product of Wargofcak’s passions, interests, education and abilities.

He has taken the resources he had and created a place where God can be honored, and people loved.

To learn more about Wargo’s and to see their hours of operation, please visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/wargospumpkinpatch.

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the most exciting weekend of the year!

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Encore!

P O I N T U N I V E R S I T Y D E PA R T M E N T O F F I N E A R T S P R E S E N T S

a spring concert featuring point university choirs and instrumentalists

Friday, April 26 5:00 & 7:30 p.m.

SPRING ROAD CHRISTIAN CHURCH LANETT, ALABAMA Join us as we celebrate Dr. Byron Cartwright’s career upon his retirement from full-time teaching.

Alumni and friends, want to sing with us?

Email finearts@point.edu for more details.