SPIRE Summer 2019

college news

Current Students Solicit Almost $24,000 from Former Students for BC Fund This past spring, current students telephoned Bluefield College alumni to raise thousands of dollars during the school’s annual Phonathon for the Bluefield College Fund. With nearly all of BC’s students qualifying for some sort of financial aid, the BC Fund is an extremely important resource in helping students afford their college education, and the annual spring Phonathon is an important process for the growing fund. This year, 20 current Bluefield College students and six alumni called approximately 3,860 alumni and solicited approximately $23,932 in gifts and pledges for the Bluefield College Fund. It is important that alumni keep in contact with BC either online through MyBC or by contacting the Office of Institutional Advancement at 276.326.4458.

College Honors Employees at Faculty and Staff Breakfast Bluefield College honored its employees with a faculty and staff awards ceremony on May 2, 2019, which included the presentation of the Distinguished Staff Award to Josh Grubb, director of development and alumni affairs, and the Distinguished Faculty Award to Dr. Abigail Heiniger, assistant professor in English. Others were also recognized for their service to the College and breakfast was served for those in attendance.

Dr. Lewis Brogdon Releases Book Entitled “The Unknown King” Dr. Lewis Brogdon, dean of institutional effectiveness and research and associate professor of Christian Studies at Bluefield College, has recently released his book entitled: “The Unknown King: Why America Needs to Read Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Writings.” Brogdon thinks Dr. King was far more than a dreamer. “He was an intellectual, an activist, a minister, and a Christian prophet whose legacy can help us fight this new wave of hate.” He believes that America today is still similar to past decades like the 1850s and 1960s. African Americans faced many injustices, controversy, debate, and protests and this continues today. Brogdon believes we have ignored Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and all he stood for. Dr. Brodgon believes that if we are to honor King, we need to “read excerpts of his writings rather than simply color pictures of him.” Dr. Brogdon was also recently featured in Virginia Capitol Connections Quarterly Magazine whose spring issue theme was race and reconciliation. Dr. Brogdon’s contribution to this conversation is to remind America of one of our leaders, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Tonia Walker Named New Athletic Director at BC Mrs. Tonia Walker will serve as the new full-time athletic director at Bluefield College. Walker is the first female full-time athletic director in the history of Bluefield College. Walker comes to Bluefield College after serving 18 years in athletic leadership at Winston-Salem State University in Winston- Salem, North Carolina. Bluefield College received nearly 80 highly qualified applications. The 10-member search committee composed of students, faculty, and athletic department representatives, conducted its search over three months. Mrs. Tonia Walker became the candidate of choice from among a strong group of finalists by presenting a detailed game plan for success for the future of Rams Athletics. Tonia discussed her game plan for success at a press conference held on May 29. Read more on our New & Events website here: http://www. bluefield.edu/article/bluefield-college-announces-tonia- walker-as-new-athletic-director/

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