When Bishops talk about the familial presence on N.C. Wesleyan University’s campus, rarely are they referencing their literal family; however, I had the unique opportunity of getting to know the Waters family (and now Bishop Alumni Family) times three! You read that right. Morgan, Sarah and Hunter Waters are triplets who enrolled and graduated together during N.C. Wesleyan’s 2024 Commencement Ceremony. The Waters crew are triple the talent, dedication and smarts!
The family is from Scotland Neck. Though sharing lots of things in common — namely their birthday and age — they are each beyond skilled and passionate about different things with bright futures ahead.
Morgan shares, “It was pretty clear to see when we were younger that Sarah was the social butterfly out of the three of us. I was extremely shy and never really wanted to talk to new people. Hunter was a mix of the two of us.”
They were homeschooled by their mom until the eighth grade, at which point they wanted to get involved in sports — a passion they all found relatable. They enrolled at Hobgood Academy. There, Sarah played volleyball, basketball and softball, but later decided to compete in cross country, track and field, and lacrosse at N.C. Wesleyan. Morgan joined the lacrosse team as well her senior year as a Battling Bishop, but her priority was to the ROTC program and all of the responsibilities that were associated with it. Hunter developed a passion for watching performances on stage, and even took to the stage himself, ultimately deciding to major in theatre at N.C. Wesleyan.
Their hobbies include art, history and training for the U.S. Army. Sarah is a talented painter; Hunter has a great memory and can recall dates ranging from movie releases to world history events; and Morgan has been busy passing Air Assault School, getting her wings and attending Cadet Summer Training.
Simultaneously attending N.C. Wesleyan together was not necessarily planned but was the best fit for each of them individually. Sarah chose to attend because she enjoys “getting to know other people and making meaningful connections.”
She noted that N.C. Wesleyan is “a small school, and I felt an instant feeling of peace when I toured campus. … I’ve enjoyed being close to home, friends and family while also having a second home at Wesleyan.”
Hunter said he chose to attend the university because “it seemed like such a great place to learn and mingle with others. Plus, we would also still be around and there for each other.”
Morgan shares that she was charmed with the friendly staff, but mainly attended “because of the ROTC program and LTC Mercer. I had wanted to enlist into the Army after high school like my friends, but my mom advised me to get a degree, so I combined the two.”
Sarah said she thinks that “maybe it was a triplet thing. Either way, I am so blessed to have had them both with me throughout my college experience. Growing as people with them has been such a huge blessing and looking back God knew I needed them with me. I’m not sure if I can imagine now what college would have been like without them.”
While attending, they each achieved honorable mentions.
Hunter said one of his biggest accomplishments was getting to perform as a dancer and minor character in the Imperial Centre production of “Sister Act: The Musical” in 2023.
“It was my first major show and a big step forward in theatre for me,” Hunter said. He was also a member of The Wesleyan Singers, one of the oldest performing ensembles composed of N.C. Wesleyan students, faculty, staff and members of the local community.
Sarah said she felt most rewarded her senior year, stating, “I got another amazing opportunity to be a team captain for lacrosse, which taught me many leadership skills. What a blessing Wesleyan has been when it comes to new experiences and life skills!”
In cross country during her freshman year, Sarah said she received the Moe Bauer Sportsmanship Award and in Lacrosse in her junior and senior years, she said she received the Moe Bauer Sportsmanship Award two more times.
“My junior year, I was crowned Homecoming Princess, which was such a big honor,” Sarah noted.
Morgan nearly perfected the craft of multitasking as she was a ROTC member, changed her major from theatre to religious studies, dual-enrolled in Saint Augustine’s University, got her wings after passing Air Assault School, was in training, joined the lacrosse team, and not only ran, but won Homecoming Queen her senior year. Morgan’s most recent accomplishment was being commissioned into the U.S. Army National Guard and graduating.
When asked “what does being a Bishop mean to you?” all three responded differently.
Morgan replied that being a Bishop means “having resources and a family I can come back to. I’ve met many professors and new friends who have helped me graduate. I consider them a part of my family now.”
Hunter said he feels that being a Bishop means “making a difference in the world, taking charge of your life and showing the world what you are capable of doing.”
Sarah said being a Bishop to her means to “go for what you want and to work hard for it. Be open to every new experience that is thrown at you and never be afraid to try new things. It means persevering through hard times, finding the good in all scenarios and making the best of the time you have. It means trusting in God to lead you to the right path for you and to show other people the Love of God. It’s showing others what being a Bishop means through acts of kindness. Being a Bishop is such an honor!”
What’s next for the triplets? Hunter will continue pursuing his interest of theatre. Morgan is transitioning into her unit with the Army National Guard. She is also building a skoolie (a school bus house similar to an RV) to travel the country in. She said going back to school to get a Master of Divinity or a degree in geology or archeology are possibilities. Sarah plans to either teach a Religion 101 class at a high school or pursue a different path in radiology or dental hygiene, she said.
The Waters triplets embody multiple attributes of the education students receive at N.C. Wesleyan. It is such a pleasure to have them as part of our Bishop family and to see what they will do beyond our campus.
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