Spire Spring 2018

college news

The BC Board of Trustees met in April and approved a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, associate degree in ministerial leadership, two minors in early childhood education and Biblical languages, a track in educational leadership, and a certificate program for substance abuse. The group also endorsed new policies on campus safety, free speech and human sexuality; elected former state senator Jack Reasor a trustee; renewed a trustee term for Craig Stout; and named Dr. David Bailey trustee emeritus. During their fall 2017 session, the trustees approved a minor in worship leadership; appointed Todd Asbury vice chair and Chris Lawson secretary of the Board; elected former state delegate Joe Johnson a trustee; re-elected Rev. Jack Marcom to a new Board term; and recognized outgoing trustees Charlotte Sacre and Ken Russell (pictured right).

Students celebrated the school’s 40th Annual Mud Pig Day, April 26. A time of fun and relaxation as they unwind from a year of study just prior to the start of final exams, Mud Pig Day featured the ever-popular mud pit, the greasy water slide, corn hole, inflatable games, a dunking booth, a mechanical bull, human bowling, a color powder throw, and a barbecue picnic. The fun concluded with President David Olive going down the water slide (pictured) as part of a BC Giving Day fundraising challenge to alumni and friends, who gave more than $80,000 to the school to see Dr. Olive take on the slide. View Mud Pig Day photos at bluefield.edu/mudpigday18 .

For a month this spring, current students telephoned former students 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 these students afford their college education, and the annual spring Phonathon is an important process for growing the fund. During the month-long event this year, 17 current students called approximately 4,000 alumni and solicited approximately $30,000 in gifts and pledges for the Bluefield College Fund. Learn more at bluefield.edu/phonathon18 .

The college hosted its Eighth Annual Celebration of Appalachian Heritage and Coal Culture in April. Designed to honor the history, people, music, food and traditions of Appalachia, the celebration includes lectures, concerts, discussions, films and a daylong Appalachian Festival (pictured), which features local musicians, artists, crafters, woodcarvers, cooks, storytellers, authors and other vendors and talents. “It’s important to have events like this at Bluefield College,” said BC’s Charles Reese, “because it strengthens our connection with the community and celebrates who we are.” For complete coverage of the Celebration of Appalachia, including dozens of photos, visit bluefield.edu/appalachia18 .

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