SPIRE Summer 2019

which included a performance from Bluefield College’s Variations Chamber Singers, dinner, and the presentation of “Nunsense” by BC Theatre. The show was performed by a host of current and former students, like alumnae Jennifer Rutledge Payne (’95), Cameron Botts Burton (’95), and Tiffany Carter (’01). Among this year’s Golden Graduate Society inductees: George Agnew (’68), Joe Blackstock (’68), Sheila Brooks (’68), C. Diane Hawks Brown (’68), Betty Maggard Honaker (’68), Robert Kesler (’68), Dwight Moore (’68), and Ronald Shipe (’68). The weekend kicked off with the annual Ram-2-Ram Alumni Career Seminar where alumni shared advice with current students on how to prepare for life after college. The alumni panel consisted of: Benny Burrell (’17), a Retired Police Officer; Valerie Burrell (’09), a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Rep; Megan Chilton (’05), a school counselor; Brian Clemons (’18), a Forensic Lab Tech; Nicole Ayoub Coeburn (’12), a business owner at The Blue Spoon Café; Matt Moore (’13), a high school coach and teacher; Denny Peters (’61), a retired banker; Sara English Rutherford (’96), a marketing professional; and Lisa Robinson Yost (’07), a research assistant and Ph.D. student. Day two began with the annual community breakfast, campus tours, the Alumni Association Annual Meeting, and a memorial service for the late Rebecca Bentley Hall (’86). Friends and family gathered in Harman Chapel to remember Rebecca for her service to Bluefield College, her community, and for God’s Kingdom. Rebecca’s friends and classmates shared stories about how she impacted their lives and how she put smiles on their faces. Among the attendees of the event were Rebecca’s husband (Tim), mother (Rosemary), and sister (Rachel). Many classmates attended the memorial, including: Donna Berry Barnum (’86), Melissa Chase, Waylan Goddin (’87), Laura Suderno Gray (’84), Julie Hull Johnson (’88), Tim Mann (’88), Leslie Grey Marsh (’83), Jeff Marsh (’84), Howard Mayo (’88), Randy Owen (’85), and Doretha Robinson Villasenor (’89). Read

more about Rebecca’s legacy and the Harman Chapel room naming in memory of Rebecca on page 12. At the annual meeting, Zachary Smith (’08) began his term as Alumni Association President, Sara English Rutherford (’96) was voted in as Alumni Association Vice- President, and Brandon Caldwell (’02) began his term as Past-President. Three of the Alumni Association Board of Directors were recognized for exceptional service as their terms concluded at the meeting: Morgan Lloyd (’13), Howard Mayo (’88), and LeAnn Lane Montgomery (’05). Six BC grads were elected to serve on the Alumni Association’s Board of Directors from 2018 until 2021: Allison Campbell (’18), Courtney Ellis (’97), Wayne Pate (’73), Denny Peters (’61), Scott Polhamus (’11), and Alexis Thompson (’17). One of the major events for the weekend was the Alumni Awards Luncheon where eight distinguished grads were recognized

for their success, service, and support of the BC vision and mission, including Julie Hull Johnson (’88), a senior vice president and trust office of Summit Trust and Wealth Management Group, who was inducted in the Distinguished Hall of Graduates; Rebecca Bentley Hall (’86), a true servant of Christ and Bluefield College, who was recognized posthumously as Alumna of the Year; Amber MacDonald (’12), a research associate at the University of Tennessee, who received the Young Alumna of the Year award; McIntyre “Dick” Louthan, Jr., a retired senior consulting scientist, who was recognized as Honorary Alumnus; Danny Collins (’67), a U.S. Army veteran and retired pastor, who was presented with the Primitivo Delgado Christian Service Award; Cathy Corte Payne (’92), a long- time community leader and supporter, who was recognized as Volunteer of the Year; and Shawn Jenkins (’92) and Jerome Brown (’88), who were inducted in the BC Athletics Hall of Fame.

continued on page 30

Top Left : Homecoming King and Queen Evan Abbey (’18) and Mary Blake Avery (’19). Top Right : Class of 1994 – Carrie Laughlin Green (’94), Tim McKnight (’94), Dave Calfee (’94), and Tiffany Gore Webb (’94). Bottom : Ram-2-Ram Panel

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