Spire Spring 2018

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 EDITORS Chris Shoemaker (executive editor), Chris Catron, Josh Grubb, Nicole Kaklis, Hal Keene, and Vanessa Scruggs ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OFFICERS Mr. Brandon Caldwell (’02) - president Mr. Zachary Smith (’08) - vice president Mr. Joshua Grubb (’07) - secretary Ms. Sarah Pauley (’19) - STAT president Mrs. Valerie Burrell (’09) Ms. Hallie Elder (’13) Mr. Morgan Lloyd (’13) Mrs. Fran Webb Louthan (’60) Mr. Tim Mann (’88) Mr. Howard Mayo (’88) Mrs. LeAnn Lane Montgomery (’05) Mr. Matthew Moore (’13) Mr. Sammy Poindexter (’86) Mr. Robert Ratcliffe (’09) Mrs. Sara English Rutherford (’96) 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. Steven Bickford Dr. Jeff Bloomer Dr. Glenda Farrar Camp (‘63)

contents

SPRING 2018

A Word from the President | 3 President David Olive Talks about the Changing Skyline at Bluefield College

Vision-Mission | 4 Alumna Jennifer Brewster: Helping Kids Love to Learn BC’s Ellen Johnson Uses Volleyball to Mentor Youth Missionaries Share Experiences with BC Students

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Features | 10 Baraka Kasongo: Helping Others Overcome Language Barriers

Outcomes | 12 Bluefield College Grads Find Success in Science Settle Appointed Superintendent of Virginia State Police

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BC Psychology Grads Providing Critical Care to Those who Need it Most Bluefield College ‘Paves the Way’ to Success for Alumnus David Kessler

News | 19 College Launches $2.7 Million Science Center Expansion Project BC School of Education Addresses Regional Teacher Shortage College Honors Employees with Year-end Awards 146 Seniors Accept Diplomas during 96th Annual Spring Commencement Students Celebrate 40th Annual Mud Pig Day Board of Trustees Approves New Academic Programs BC Hosts Eighth Annual Celebration of Appalachian Heritage and Coal Culture Current Students Solicit $30,000 from Former Students for BC Fund Veteran Professors Honored with Walls-Farmer Criminal Justice Scholarship Historic Gift Allows BC to Create Caudill School of Business Music Alumni Return to Campus for Reunion and Concert Scholarship to Pay Tribute to Professor Will Gordon College Receives $651,000 for Scholarships and Campus Improvements Bluefield College Introduces Two More Master’s Degrees 78 Seniors Receive Diplomas during 26th Annual Winter Commencement College Presents Dr. Donna Watson Goodness and Light Alumni Award College Celebrates Record Enrollment BC Ranked Among Top Tier Colleges in the South by U.S. News College Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Men’s Soccer BC’s New Opportunity School Provides Hope for Disadvantaged Women

Ms. Cindy Carter (’75) Dr. Donald W. Caudill Mr. Jim Dill (ex-officio) Mr. Bill Gilmer Mr. Bobby Griffin Mr. Chip Hardy (‘98) Mr. Jim Jenkins (‘60) Dr. Garry Jones (‘74) Mr. Don Kidd (‘69) Ms. Jennifer Mitchell (‘08) Dr. Charles B. Nunn, Jr. Mrs. Rebecca Peterson

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Mr. Jeff Philpott (‘93) Mr. Eddie Rader (‘03) Mr. Neel Rich (‘52) Mrs. Cindy Whittaker Sheets (‘91)

Dr. Craig Sherouse Rev. Bill Tuck (‘55) Mr. Jerry Turley

Dr. Donna Hardy Watson (‘80) Mrs. Lisa Robinson Yost (’07) BOARD OF TRUSTEES

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Mr. Gordon W. Grimes, II (’94) - chair Mr. C. Todd Asbury (’93) - vice chair Dr. Christopher E. Lawson (’01) - secretary Mr. William “Bud” Acken Dr. David L. Bailey, Jr. (’60) - emeritus Mr. John P. Beckett, Jr. Mrs. Martha Dodd-Slippy (’05) Mrs. Patricia “Patsy” Douglas Dr. Janelle B. Duremdes - emeritus Dr. T. Keith Edwards - emeritus Dr. Daniel E. Grabeel, Sr. (’55) - emeritus Rev. Rodney J. Hale (’60) Mr. Michael P. Harris (’97) Mr. Douglas B. Hawks, Sr. (’57) - emeritus Mr. David Kirk Mr. J. Sidney Lanier, Jr. (’74) Mr. David T. Larimer, II (’92) Mrs. Margaret Newcomb Leonard (’55) - emeritus Dr. Brenda Long Rev. Jack A. Marcom, Jr. (’62) Dr. Charles B. Nunn, Jr. - emeritus Mr. Joshua D. Cline (’09) Mrs. Terri Nash Cole (’85) Mr. Joshua S. Cornett (’03)

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Alumni | 24 Caldwell Gives Back to BC as President of Alumni Association Don’t Miss Homecoming and Family Weekend 2018 Alumni Celebrate ‘Special’ Homecoming 2017

Class Notes | 31 Alumni Share Their Latest Professional and Personal Transitions

Mr. Jackson E. Reasor, Jr. Mrs. Sarah Jolly Reid (’68) Mr. Thomas R. Scott, Jr. Mr. David A. Skidmore - emeritus Rev. Craig F. Stout Mr. William S. Winfrey, II

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The Last Word | 35 Leave Your Mark on BC’s Science Center Expansion Project

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