SPIRE Summer 2019

Spire is the official magazine for alumni and friends of Bluefield College, 3000 College Avenue, Bluefield, Virginia 24605. The magazine is published annually by the Office of Marketing and Public Relations. Available online at bluefield.edu/spire. S P R E a magazine for bluefield college alumni and friends

contents A Word from the President | 3

SPRING 2018

EDITORS Lindsey Akers (executive editor), Joshua Cline, Josh Grubb, Nicole Kaklis, Hal Keene, and Vanessa Scruggs

President Olive Talks About the Notable Achievements and Growth at Bluefield College

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OFFICERS Mr. Zachary Smith (’08) – President Mr. Brandon Caldwell (’02) – Past-President Mrs. Sara English Rutherford (’96) – Vice President Mr. Joshua Grubb (’07) – Secretary

Vision-Mission | 4 There’s Nothing Like BC Missions BC Mission Team Travels to Ecuador Hastings Embodies Servant Leadership

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Mrs. Valerie Burrell (’09) Ms. Allie Campbell (’18) Ms. Hallie Elder (’13)

Ms. Courtney Ellis (’97) Mr. Morgan Lloyd (’13) Mrs. Fran Webb Louthan (’60) Mr. Tim Mann (’88) Mr. Matthew Moore (’13) Mr. Wayne Pate (’73) Ms. Sarah Pauley (’19) Mr. Denny Peters (’61) Mr. Sammy Poindexter (’86)

Features | 8 Antonio Dawkins: From Homeless to College Grad and Beyond Hall Leaves Lasting Mark on Campus Through Donation in Memory of Rebecca Bentley Hall Bluefield College’s Very Own is Recognized as WVVA’s Hometown Hero

Mr. Scott Polhamus (’11) Mr. Robert Ratcliffe (’09) Ms. Alexis Thompson (’17) Mrs. Courtney Robertson Tucker (’10) Mr. Steve Underwood (’17) ADVISORY COUNCIL Dr. Randall Belt (’94) Mrs. Kathy Fogg Berry (’75) Mrs. Peggy Emert Bickford (’71) Mr. Steve Bickford (’71) Dr. Jeff Bloomer (’71) Mr. Brandon Caldwell (’02) Dr. Glenda Farrar Camp (’63) Ms. Cindy Carter (’75) Dr. Donald W. Caudill (’75) Mr. Jim Dill (ex-officio) (’75) Mr. Bill Gilmer (’75) Mr. Bobby Griffin (’75) Mr. Dennis Harper (’71) Dr. Garry Jones (’74) Ms. Jennifer Mitchell (’08) Mrs. LeAnn Montgomery (’05) Ms. Rebecca Peterson (’08) Mr. Eddie Rader (’03) Mr. Robert Ramey (’98) Mr. Neel Rich (’52) Mrs. Cindy Whittaker Sheets (’91) Mr. Peter Taylor Rev. Bill Tuck (’55) Mrs. Jennifer Ramey Turley (’96) Mrs. Lisa Robinson Yost (’07)

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Outcomes | 14 Myers Sets the Bar High From BC Grad to Officer

News | 17 Bluefield College Pre-Law Students Visit Appalachian School of Law Bluefield College Alumna Thriving in Criminal Justice BC Professor Appointed to Commissioner’s Special Advisory Council on Health Disparity & Health Equity BC Students Help Out Blessings in a Backpack BC Thanks Shott for Almost 20 Years of Service Bluefield College Holds Inaugural Master of Arts in Biomedical Science Commencement Blue Mountain Performing Arts Sponsors Concert at Bluefield College Bluefield College Cheer Team Attends UCA College Nationals Bluefield College Holds 97th Spring Commencement Bluefield College’s Baseball Coach, Mike White, Receives 400 Coaching Wins Caudill School of Business Hosts Launch Recovery Event Deel Commits to Teacher Education at Bluefield College Current Students Solicit Almost $24,000 from Former Students for BC Fund College Honors Employees at Faculty & Staff Breakfast Dr. Lewis Brogdon Releases Book Entitled “The Unknown King” Tonia Walker Named New Athletic Director Nathalia Lima Awarded Shott Excellence in Media Student Award Two Local Pastors Awarded BC Community Service & Justice Award Students Celebrate 41st Mud Pig Day Farmer Teachers More Than Criminal Justice in China

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES Mr. Gordon W. Grimes, II (’94) – Chair Mr. C. Todd Asbury (’93) – Vice Chair Dr. Christopher E. Lawson (’01) – Secretary Mr. William B. “Bud” Acken Dr. David L. Bailey, Jr. (’60) – Emeritus Mr. John P. Beckett, Jr. Mrs. Terri Nash Cole (’85) Mrs. Martha Dodd-Slippy (’05) Dr. Janelle B. Duremdes – Emeritus Dr. T. Keith Edwards – Emeritus Dr. Daniel E. Grabeel, Sr. (’55) – Emeritus Rev. Rodney J. Hale (’60) Dr. Michael P. Harris (’97) Mr. Douglas B. Hawks, Sr. (’57) – Emeritus Mrs. Julie Hull Johnson (‘88) Mr. David Kirk (’90) Mr. David T. Larimer, II (’92) Mrs. Margaret Newcomb Leonard (’55) – Emeritus Rev. Jack A. Marcom (’62) * Dr. Charles Nunn, Jr. – Emeritus

Alumni | 22 BC Grad Achieves Dream of Writing for Major League Team Payne Receives 2018 Alumni “Volunteer of the Year “Award Remembering Ralph A. “Pete” Petrone Dr. Spencer Wood Continues Partnership with Bluefield College BC Graduate Becomes Millionaire Serial Entrepreneur Don’t Miss Homecoming and Family Weekend 2019 2019 Alumni Award Recipients Alumni Celebrate Homecoming 2018 Bluefield College Announces New Heritage Society Members Class Notes | 32 Alumni Share Their Latest Professional and Personal Transitions

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Mr. Jackson E. Reasor, Jr. Mrs. Sarah Jolly Reid (’68) Mr. Thomas R. Scott, Jr. Mr. David A. Skidmore – Emeritus Rev. Craig F. Stout Dr. Jerry Turley

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Mr. Michael A. Wade Mr. William S. Winfrey, II

Cover photo by Mily Lusk

* Deceased