BCSpireMagazine_Spring2016

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collegenews
Bluefield College recently partnered with Just Compassion,
Inc. to help provide dental care to low-income children and
families in Southwest Virginia. A non-profit organization with
a mission to provide dental care to underserved residents
in rural Appalachia, Just Compassion uses mobile units and
volunteer dentists and hygienists to provide its free services.
To help fulfill its mission, Just Compassion partners with
schools, like Bluefield, to provide easy-access locations for its
services. Read the full story at
Henry and Tasha Clary, international missionaries from
Uruguay, spent the 2015-’16 academic year on campus
enjoying a sabbatical from their work while sharing the
Gospel and the value of missions with students. On campus
as part of the college’s Missionary in Residence (MIR)
program, a venture the college has proudly hosted for nearly
15 years, the Clarys taught classes, led group studies, opened
their home to students, spoke in churches, and formed a
Spanish Club. Read the full story at
Bluefield College has been ranked among the nation’s
“best values” by The Economist magazine based on the
earnings of its alumni. Utilizing data from the Department
of Education, The Economist compared students’ loan
applications to their subsequent tax returns. BC students
were projected to earn $35,769 had they attended
college elsewhere, compared to the school’s alumni
earnings median of $42,800. That $7,031 positive
difference placed BC 44th nationwide and among the top
96 percent of the 1,275 colleges evaluated. Read the full
story at .
More than 100 alumni and friends, including 17 former
BC music students, took part in a Music Alumni Reunion
in February, which featured an alumni concert directed by
former music student and professor Debbie Burton (’83).
Among the BC grads joining Burton for the reunion: Donna
Berry Barnum (‘86), Billy Burton (’92), Cameron Botts Burton
(’95), David Calfee (’93), Elizabeth Decker (’15), Carrie
Laughlin Greene (’93), Josh Grubb (’07), Laura Whiteed
Grubb (’08), Rebecca Bentley Hall (’86), Adam Lowe (‘10),
Adam McAllister (’08), Joe Newton (’63), Alex Payne (’95),
Jennifer Rutledge Payne (’95), Tracy Shelton (‘94), Heather
Musick Shockley (’97), Jonathan Shockley (’96), Amy Bray
Short (‘94), Kimbra Nash Stenson (’84), and Carla Barr
Thomas (‘98). Photos at