Sisters Anna Weavil Angles ʼ10 and Emma Weavil Lawrence ʼ13 followed similar academic paths at William Peace University, both majoring in biology.
The siblings have built successful careers in healthcare, with Lawrence working as a physician assistant at Novant Health in geriatrics and Angles as a physical therapist at an outpatient orthopedic clinic.
Looking back, they reflect on their time at Peace with deep appreciation, acknowledging how the school and its faculty helped them find success in their chosen career paths.
“I knew I wanted to do something in the healthcare field. I wasn’t sure what, but I had an internship at WakeMed in inpatient rehab,” Angles said. “That really sparked my interest in choosing physical therapy, because I was on the fence.”
Before that internship, Angles said she only had a limited understanding of what a physical therapist did or what rehab even looked like. When she was in high school, their mother tore her rotator cuff, and Angles would go with her to rehab, thinking it was “kind of cool,” but it wasn’t something she saw as a career yet.
The internship and hours spent at WakeMed set her on her course.
“It was 100 hours we had to spend, day in and day out, just seeing a lot of different facets of that field that then sparked my interest and drove me toward making it a career,” Angles said.
Lawrence transferred to Peace after her freshman year and immediately benefited from the smaller campus community.
“There were a lot more opportunities to have leadership roles,” Lawrence said. “That certainly prepared me for my career and the different leadership roles I’ve had.”
Building a Foundation at Peace
After leaving Peace, Lawrence earned her master’s degree in physician assistant studies from Methodist University. Angles earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Campbell University.
Looking back at their time at Peace, the sisters credit the relationships they formed with their professors for helping them get through their undergraduate studies and placing them on track for success.
They spoke fondly of Lisa Bonner, department chair of science and mathematics, and Patrick Myer, associate professor of biology, who guided them along the way.
“They facilitated my involvement in an N.C. State course that served as one of the prerequisites I needed,” Angles said. “I took physiology at N.C. State and did the lab with Dr. Myer, and they (Myer and Bonner) did that just for me, so I would be on track. Those relationships were meaningful.”
Bonner wrote recommendation letters for both alums’ graduate school applications and still stays in close contact with the sisters. To Bonner, Angles and Lawrence were shining stars as students.
“Anna and Emma exemplify the very best of our biology program and our college community,” Bonner said. “As biology majors, they distinguished themselves as exceptional scholars, demonstrating a strong work ethic and a deep commitment to their studies. Both were actively engaged in the department and emerged as natural student leaders, serving as outstanding role models for their peers.”
Lawrence observed that staying in contact with her professor, who remains a mentor, is one of the things that stands out about their college experience.
“I think that’s one of the really special things about Peace,” Lawrence said, “those meaningful relationships you can form, and how they benefit you personally and professionally once you graduate.”
Still to this day, Angles thinks back to the attention to detail required during her courses at Peace and how that training translates into her career. Little but important things — like spelling every part of the anatomy correctly and writing out answers on tests rather than selecting multiple-choice options — ensured students truly understood the material.
“If I didn’t have that foundation from Peace,” Angles said, “I would have struggled.”
Bonner said their unique strengths and personalities made them each a pleasure to teach and mentor, noting how proud the entire department is of the Weavil siblings.
“Anna and Emma are wonderful ambassadors for Peace,” Bonner said. “We are pleased to celebrate their continued success.”
