Spire 2022 Magazine

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a magaz ine for Bluef ield Uni vers i ty alumni and f r iends

CENTENNIAL EDITION

A WORD FROM THE President

You only turn 100 once! Our Bluefield University community celebrated with great fanfare the institution’s 100th year of impacting students’ lives and fulfilling its mission of being a “Christ-centered learning community developing servant leaders to impact the world.” For alumni and future alumni alike, many memories were shared during the past year, along with remembrances of those who sacrificially gave their time and treasure to founding the institution and sustaining it over the past century. From its founding, this institution was dubbed a “lighthouse on the hill” and has lived with this moniker throughout its history. The scripture theme for the centennial year was quite fitting: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.” (Ephesians 5:8-9) While not always perfect, this has been our constant aspiration and will continue to be. In the pages that follow, you will no doubt catch glimpses of light—God’s light—reflected through those whose stories of sacrifice, service, and achievement are incredible. I am continually amazed by the accomplishments of our students and alumni who are truly making a difference in our world. I certainly want you to pay particular note to the handful of faculty who have recently retired and collectively provided 103 years of instruction here at BU. Without them and the academic giants before them, our alumni and students would not be the same. Lives continue to be changed through transformational learning and service experiences at Bluefield. We are taking great strides to meet the needs of our communities, especially rural communities we serve. In addition to providing academic programs that appeal to students’ interests, we are aligning our programs with the global marketplace. This fall the new Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and the Master of Arts in Human Services Leadership programs launched! Another exciting program awaiting approval from our accreditor is the Master of Health Science in Anesthesia (Anesthesiologist Assistant) program that is another joint collaboration between the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) and Bluefield University to launch in 2023. As you read these remarkable stories, I hope you are encouraged. Bluefield University is a special place and has been blessed with tremendous individuals who have attended here, graduated from here, and/ or served here. They are the bright lights who keep this lighthouse on the hill shining!

Partnering with you in faithful service,

Dr. David W. Olive President

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MEMORIES OF Light

Growing up on Bluefield’s campus in the late ’90s and early ’00s, I can remember many “memories of light.” I define these as recollections of the people and places that have made an impression on my life. These special memories include; my parents’ coworkers’ offering pieces of candy from their glass dishes, a van ride to a hockey game with the student ambassadors who were serenading everyone from the back seats, the friendly faces of the cafeteria ladies on a Sunday afternoon serving lunch, and the warmth of a Christmas party at President MacMillan’s house (now the Advancement and Alumni House). Later on, as a student, these moments became life conversations with Dr. Cindy Bascom (Professor of Communication), tennis teammates motivating me from the fence on the other side of the court, sledding down the Rish Hill on a snowy night with my then-future husband, and a desire to grow in my relationship with the Lord following a particular chapel service. As an employee, I have many more of these moments as I get to know our students and my co-workers. I’m sure you, too, have many “memories of light” as well surrounding Bluefield; the professor who encouraged you, the teammate(s) you still keep in touch with, or the chapel speaker who made an impact on your life. The stories in this centennial edition shed light on the people of Bluefield, their servant leadership, the hope they give, and the impact they have made. As you reflect on your “memories of light,” I hope they inspire you “to live as children of light.” Rebecca Kasey ‘17 Director of Public Relations & Marketing Editor, Spire

Centennial Edition

CONTENTS

A Word from the President | 3 President Olive Talks about the Centennial Celebration and the future of Bluefield University The Grand Finale | 6 Centennial Campaign Reaches $25 Million A Legacy Set in Stone | 10 The Easley’s and Beckett’s Service to Bluefield University Reflecting Light | 14 Alumnus Aaron Peck on Sharing Bluefield Stories

Alumni Memories | 16

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Spotlights | 20

Broadway at Bluefield Mindfulness Space Music Alumni and Centennial Concert Retreat on Calling Professor Leslie Floyd CRJ Student Saves Elderly from Home Fire From BU to Disney World Class of 2022 Mission Trips to Ecuador and Spain BU Community Day Morgan Named Director of Alumni Relations

2022

Spire is the official magazine for alumni and friends of Bluefield University. The magazine is published annually by the Office of Public Relations and Marketing. Available at bluefield.edu/spire.

Editors & Contributors Rebecca Kasey ‘17 (Executive Editor),

Gabe Blakman ‘20, Joshua Cline ‘09, Laura Kimzey ‘22, Sherelle Morgan, Daniel Mullins ‘22, and Aaron Peck ‘03 Alumni Board of Directors Mr. Stephen Coffman ‘97

Ms. Courtney Ellis ‘97 Ms. Lydia Freeman ‘13 Mr. Eli Hairfield ‘17 Mrs. Rebecca Kasey ‘17 Mr. Bill Knox ‘12 Mr. Morgan Lloyd ‘13 Mr. Tim Mann ‘88 Mr. Matthew Moore ‘13 Mr. Matthew Mullins ‘18

Guiding Light | 24 Alumnus Bennie White, Jr. on Persevering Through Life’s Challenges While Earning a Degree An Oxford Story | 26 Laura Kimzey on Shedding Light on New Experiences A Light in the Darkness | 30 Alumnus Serving His Home Country in War Time Finding Light | 32 BU New Opportunity School for Women and Director Mily Lusk

Mr. Wayne Pate ‘73 Ms. Sarah Pauley ‘19 Mr. Dennis Peters ‘61 Mr. Scott Polhamhus ‘11 Ms. Olivia Ray ‘18 Mrs. Sara English Rutherford ‘96 (President) Mr. William Michael Rutherford ‘98

Mr. Zachary Smith ‘08 Mrs. Beth Swinney ‘18 Mrs. Allison Tuell ‘18 Advisory Council Dr. Randy Belt ‘94 Mrs. Kathy Berry ‘75 Ms. Cindy Carter ‘75 Dr. Don Caudill Mr. William Gilmer Dr. Bobby F. Griffin Mr. Dennis Harper ‘71 Mr. Mark Hipes ‘03 Dr. Garry Jones ‘74 Mr. Baraka Kasongo ‘16 Mr. Howard Mayo ‘88 Ms. Jennifer Mitchell ‘08 Mrs. Leann Montgomery ‘05 Mrs. Rebecca Peterson Mr. Eddie Rader ‘03 Mr. Nolan Rich ‘52 Mrs. A.J. Robinson Mrs. Cynthia Sheets ‘91 Rev. William P. Tuck ‘55 (Chair) Mrs. Jennifer Turley ‘96 Board of Trustees Mr. C. Todd Asbury ‘93 (Chair) Mr. John Beckett, Jr. Mr. Steve Bickford Dr. Jeff Bloomer Mr. Brandon Caldwell ‘02 Mrs. Teresa Cole ‘85 Mr. Gordon W. Grimes, II ‘94 Rev. Rodney Hale ‘60 Rev. Ron Hall ‘81 Dr. Michael Harris ‘97 Mr. Robert “Bob” Houck ‘67 Mrs. Julie Johnson ‘88 Mr. David Kirk ‘90 Mr. David T. Larimer, II ‘92 Dr. Christopher Lawson ‘01 Mrs. Phyillis Marcom Dr. Dixie Took-Rawlins Mr. Jackson E. Reasor, Jr.

Servant Hearts | 34 Alumni Serving Their Communities

Rams Spotlight | 38 Athletics Highlights

Into the Next Century | 38

Faculty Professional Accomplishments and Contributions | 39

Master of Art in Counseling First Graduating Class | 40

Mr. John Rocovich, Jr. Mr. Thomas R. Scott, Jr. Rev. Craig Stout Dr. Jerry Turley Mr. Michael A. Wade Mr. William S. Winfrey, II Mr. Lamont Woods ‘92 Trustee Emeriti Dr. David Bailey, Jr. ‘60 Dr. Jane Duremedes Dr. T. Keith Edwards Dr. Daniel E. Grabeel, Sr. ‘55 Dr. Charles B. Nunn, Jr. Mr. David Skidmore

Hello and Goodbye | 41 Welcoming New Faces and Saying Goodbye to Old Friends

Homecoming 2022 | 42

Class Notes | 43

The Last Word | 47 VP for Advancement and Marketing Joshua D. Cline ‘09

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CENTENNIAL CAMPAIGN STEERING COMMITTEE Dr. David Bailey ’60 Mr. John Beckett Mrs. Rebecca Easley Beckett Mrs. Peggy Bickford ’71 (Deceased) Mr. Steve Bickford Dr. Thomas Brewster ’91 Mr. Brandon Caldwell ’02 Mrs. Martha Dodd-Slippy ’05 Mr. Gordon Grimes ’94 Dr. Chris Lawson ’01 Rev. Jack Marcom ’62 (Deceased) Ms. Jennifer Mitchell ’08

Historically, approximately $300,000 was raised each year for The University Fund. With an increased importance on scholarships through the campaign, over $524,000 was raised in the 2021-2022 academic year. This, coupled with several new endowed scholarships created by generous families, has provided over $3.2 million in tuition assistance to students over the past five years. The idea everything happens for a reason and always in the right season of God’s timing is commonplace among administrators at Bluefield. This influx of financial support came during uncertain times and events of the COVID-19 pandemic, a shift to online learning, and changing economic and market conditions. “Without the generosity of so many, we would not have accomplished the goals set forth in this campaign,” said Olive. “This campaign has enabled growth and development of our students and in our academic spaces at Bluefield University.” Other highlights from the campaign included the first naming of a college/school with the School of Business dedicated to Dr. Donald Caudill. A longtime benefactor, former professor at Bluefield, and advisory council member, Dr. Caudill was recognized for his generous giving and steadfast support. Renovations to the student activities center were completed providing an updated space for student life. Enhancements to the Dome Gymnasium, alongside the donation of the Keene-Beavers Building with additional workout space and an indoor court space. With a long-term lease of the Herb Sims Wellness Center space for growing athletic programs at Bluefield were attained. Final design plans for South Campus were completed for construction at a later date of a complex containing a multi-purpose field, softball complex, and centralized fieldhouse across the road from campus. “In addition to enhancing current life at the University, this campaign has set up the institution for a future with many opportunities,” said Joshua Cline, Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Marketing. “We are thankful for the investment many families have taken to benefit the institution and future students in years to come.” The University honors those who have established estate plans to benefit Bluefield University, enhance its legacy, and ensure the mission continues to impact future generations of students with a special giving club, The Heritage Society. Through this campaign and its emphasis on creating an ongoing investment in the future of Bluefield, this group added several individuals to its membership roll. Cathy Payne shared her thanks for the many who not only gave to the campaign, but worked to see its success. She noted that, “without a dedicated vision and the work completed each year of the campaign by this team, we would not have accomplished, much less exceeded, our goals.”

Dr. Charles Nunn Ms. Sarah Reid ’68 Mr. Craig Stout Rev. William Tuck ’55

GO FURTHER: THE CENTENNIAL CAMPAIGN FOR BLUEFIELD UNIVERSITY COMMITTEE Mrs. Catherine C. Payne ’92 – Campaign Chair Dr. Garry Jones ’74 – Campaign Chair Mrs. Peggy Bickford ’71 (Deceased)

Mr. Steve Bickford Dr. Donald Caudill Dr. Michael P. Harris ’97 Mr. Robert Houck ’67 Mr. Thomas Scott, Jr., Esq.

ASSISTING STAFF

Mrs. M. Ruth Blankenship Mr. Gabriel Blakman Mr. Chris Catron Mr. Joshua D. Cline

Mr. Joshua Grubb Mrs. Nicole Kaklis Mrs. Rebecca Kasey

Mr. Hal Keene Mr. Jacob Key

Dr. David W. Olive Mrs. Tonia Walker

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THEN &

Lansdell Hall

Shott Hall

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& NOW

Cruise Hall

Science Center

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A LEGACY SET IN STONE: THE EASLEY’S AND BECKETT’S SERVICE TO BLUEFIELD UNIVERSITY By Daniel Mullins

O n College Avenue in Bluefield, W.Va. stands a stone, Tudor style home representative of the Easley and Beckett families and their century-long commitment to Bluefield University. Built for Frank Smoot Easley and Elizabeth Tyler Easley, the home’s first two floors were constructed with stone extracted from the present-day Bluefield University campus. “My husband (John Beckett) and I live in the college,” laughed Becky Beckett, current resident and granddaughter of Frank and Elizabeth Easley. Renowned local architect Alex Mahood designed the house in consideration of the family’s handmade, rosewood furni ture. Elizabeth’s father, Walker Wilson Tyler, saw an auction listing in The New York Times and had the furniture imported from England to Lynchburg for his new wife, Ellen Rucker Tyler. It was later given to Frank and Elizabeth and brought to Bluefield. The house also incorporates a mantel from New England and an antique fountain from Lynchburg. The house includes five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and several closets that put every angle to use. Italian stone masons from McDowell County, W.Va. completed the original stonemasonry, which features a signature grouting style, using around ninety wagonloads of stone brought from the grounds clearned for the future campus. Stone for the third floor quarried from the mountain behind the house. A variety of family heirlooms are displayed throughout the house, including homemade dresses, German dinnerware from the owner of the Matz Hotel, a couch from John and Becky’s courting days, and the bed of which Tyler Easley was born and Elizabeth passed away. While touring the house, Becky has a variety of stories to share, from her grandmother saying, “Don’t ask a Virginia lady her age,” so much that her birth year could not be included on her tombstone to her mother telling the grandchildren, “No, no,” so often they thought it was her name. The Easley and Beckett family has a rich history represented in their stone home. Frank and his brother, Judge David Milton Easley, were instrumental in founding the university. Easley Library was named in their honor, where their portraits and a quilt made by Ellen for Frank from pieces of World War I era dresses is displayed. In 1919, Frank was one of the more than sixty citizens selected by the Bluefield Chamber of Commerce to attend a meeting of the Baptist General Association of Virginia and convince the Committee on a School for Southwest Virginia to locate its college in Bluefield. They offered $75,000 and fifty acres of land, asking that the college give Frank rocks to build his home. The delegation set out to secure the funds offered to the committee and to raise an additional $50,000.

Frank Tyler Easley, outside of the Easley Home, 1940

Becky Easley Beckett, outside of the Easley Home, 2022

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The home is decorated in a peacock motif to commemorate the flock of peafowl that lived there from 1922 until the 1940s. Frank obtained a set of peafowl from a friend in Ohio, and his flock grew to more than twenty birds. When grain was scarce during World War II, he sold most of the peafowl to a man from Tennessee, keeping one pair. The peacock on John and Becky’s stained-glass window is named “Old Joe” after the last peacock to live on the property. The Becketts have peacock decorations from around the world through gifts and connections they made at a Rotary International Convention in Japan. Over the years, the family has welcomed many guests and hosted several events in their home, such as John and Becky’s wedding reception, a fundraiser for the Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc., and annual receptions for trustees each fall before the board’s meeting. In some rooms, John and Becky Beckett maintain Christmas lights and Christmas trees, including one with ornaments exclusively from The White House Historical Association, for guests. Becky will sometimes play Christmas carols on their antique Knabe piano, similar to the one at the Biltmore. During her seven years as Bluefield University’s Spanish professor, Becky often invited her students into the home. She recalled even giving a test to a student-athlete in her kitchen because practice hindered them from attending her evening class. John and Becky’s service to the university continues today. They alternate serving as members of the Board of Trustees, maintaining the tradition of having a family member on the board. The family is passionate about Bluefield University Athletics, Becky shared. John never wants to miss a game, much like her mother, Eva, who believed the men’s basketball team couldn’t play without her in the Dome Gymnasium. Keith Beckett, John and Becky’s son, graduated from Bluefield University in 1999, connecting four generations to the university. “Bluefield University is grateful to the Easley and Beckett families for their faithful dedication over the past 100 years,” said President David Olive. “Their love for Bluefield sets an example for all of us.”

The first two floors of the Easley’s home were constructed with stone extracted from campus.

Groundbreaking for the new Bluefield College, 1920

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Frank Smoot Easley and Frank Tyler Easley

Ole Joe, the Easley's last peacock

Frank Smoot Easley and Becky Easley Beckett

From a young age, I was always fascinated with stories. It really didn’t matter what type of story was being told. It could be fictional, biographical, cultural history… any story can be interesting. It just depends on how that story is being told. As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to embrace writing as a form of personal expression and as a means of sharing my own story with the world. No, it’s not a story that’s caught on or become viral, but it is a story that’s been told day-by-day over the past couple of decades thanks to the blog I keep called The Confusing Middle . It’s blogging that has allowed me to not only tell my own story, but to explore the stories of others. Last year, as we approached the 100th anniversary of Bluefield University, I thought it might be interesting to reach out to fellow Bluefield alumni and ask them each to share their stories on my blog. As of this writing, there have been 27 individuals who were willing to share their stories to celebrate Bluefield. For several months, once each week, I was able to share the stories of former Bluefield students. While it’s true I wanted to share these Rams’ stories with the world, selfishly I wanted to read their stories for myself. I wanted to know how life at (then) Bluefield College impacted them. I wanted to know if Bluefield’s influence was as profound on the lives of others as it had been on my life. Honestly, my first days in Bluefield were nothing special. I began life as a freshman with no idea what life had in store for me. I had come from a somewhat large high school where I had been able to blend into the background. I never made waves and was no one important. And I liked it that way. Despite the drastic change in school size, life at Bluefield College in the fall of 1998 proved incredibly similar to life in high school. And that was 100% my doing. Sure, I attended a few activities that had been put together by the Student Union Board, but I never really put myself out there. For an entire semester, I never made myself vulnerable enough to form relationships with the people around me. Reflecting Light: Alumnus Aaron Peck on Sharing Bluefield Stories

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That all changed when I was convinced to join the Baptist Student Union (BSU) for a spring break mission trip to New England. Looking back, it’s easy to see that is when I came out of my shell. Well, as much as a born introvert can come out of one’s shell. From then on, I was intent on getting involved in as much as I could possibly involve myself in. Life in college wasn’t just about going to class, studying, writing papers, and taking exams. Yes, it was still about all those things. But it was also about building relationships with the guys that lived across the hall on the first floor of Rish. It was about figuring out a way to tell that one girl I had a crush on her while preparing myself for the inevitable blow to my ego when she revealed she just wanted to be friends. It was about playing Spades until the sun came up the next day. It was about choir tours to Washington, D.C. and Florida with Variations and Praise Singers. It was about mission trips to Brazil and worshiping God in Portuguese. It was about comedy acts and concerts and game shows in the SAC. It was about forming the friendships that would prove to last a lifetime. That’s my Bluefield story. It’s one I look back on with incredible fondness. I constantly find myself wishing, just a little bit, that I could somehow recapture that magic… the unique opportunities that those years represented. But I have to be content with memories. Which, again, brings me back to that blog I’ve been keeping and my desire to share others’ stories. Bluefield College… Bluefield University touched my life in a profound way. And thanks to that simple list of questions, I was able to see just how much Bluefield touched the lives of countless others. In a time when life can so easily crumble into confusion and chaos, Bluefield represented a light that has drawn so many of us in. It has been so gratifying to be a part of this school’s legacy and to know that this institution has proven to be such an inspiration to so many individuals and will continue to inspire students and graduates long into the future.

Check out alumni stories and submit yours at confusingmiddle.com

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ALUMNI MEMORIES

"Thanks to Bluefield University, I was able to serve on three mission trips and participate in a month long internship abroad. I loved every second! I am so happy that I got to meet and work with kids all over the world. I love seeing Jesus move in the nations. Thanks to my time at BU, I feel called to become a missionary and spread the gospels." - CameronWest, '21

"The professors!! Dr. Kim Farmer and Dr. Kelly Walls were absolutely amazing. They took me in like family, taught me the ins and outs of the criminal justice system and were just overall great people. The things they taught me I use regularly in the my career now as a patrol deputy. Bluefield's Criminal Justice program is an extremely good program and has so many opportunities that prepare you for a career after graduation. Bluefield's community as a whole is great and every professor there wants to see you succeed and will do everything they can to help you!" -Travis Reynolds '19

"One of my favorite Bluefield memories centers around the FAMOUS Mud Pig Day! I had the joy multiple times to be the person running around in the suit throughout the day. But the BEST memory was definitely attempting to ride the mechanical bull in the suit..." - Sharon Cobbler '19

"Dr. Anderson’s Basic Programming class was one of my favorite classes! He helped me to have a positive attitude towards technology, which has helped me in my profession." - Yvonne Sigman '11

"Mud Pig Day!" - Kristie Ferguson '95

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"For me, it was the people. Throughout your life you will meet lots of people. But the people I met through Bluefield, whether it was during my time as a student (1999-2003) or my tenure as a staff member (2005-2017), the people made a lasting impression on my life. My friends, my residents, my RA’s, my SUB members, my Alpha Delta sisters, my colleagues all became an extended family to me. While social media is a lot of things, I’m thankful for it in that it keeps me connected to my Bluefield family and the new chapters of their lives. The chapters of my life that involved Bluefield College, I think of fondly and am so grateful God led my steps to the lighthouse on a hill. Also, I met my husband at Bluefield and he is a treasure!

- Kelly Bittler (Somers) '03

"Community. A word that never meant much to me until I went to BU and gained a community of Christian friends that changed my life. The friends I gained during my time in college changed my life and still encourage me in my relationship with God. Bluefield really is a small family that you can rely on during college and after. Not to mention meeting my husband at BU which definitely is my greatest blessing I gained during my time in college. You never know how four years can change your life and the community I gained at BU impacted my life forever." - Ashley Bauer '20

"Bluefield brought me together with people from all over the world. I was about to build relationships with them that will last for the rest of my life." - Eli Hairfield '17

“Looking back, I realize the education was helpful in my journey in retail. I may not have been as successful without my Bluefield experience. The friendships made 45 years ago still stand today, as 19 of us, made the journey to Bluefield for the 100 anniversary. I wish all 300+ could have been there, and I’m looking forward to the next trip.” -Stanley Klich '75

"Bluefield University brought me to my best friends showing me my strengths and weaknesses. I love the school more than I thought, the little school tucked in the mountains, showed me that I can achieve more than I thought. I loved playing soccer, running cross country, and a member of the track and field team. One of my most fave memories is when Dr. (Marshall) Flowers and his wife (Linda) would come to cheer us on!! You can't forget Mud Pig Day, I loved it!!" - Samantha Dickens '21

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MUD PIG D

DAY 2022

Bluefield University’s Center for Counseling and Wellness unveiled a new space for the campus community, the Mindfulness Space, with the help of the Virginia Counselors Association (VCA) Foundation. The space, located on the second floor of the Science Center, is designed for the campus community to learn healthy coping strategies for stress and to practice mindfulness.

Broadway touring show performer Shaun Moe returned to Bluefield University for a fourth season to engage with BU students in a Musical Theatre Showcase. Titled Broadway at Bluefield, students were given songs and scenes to rehearse in the weeks leading up to the showcase, held on November 12, 2021, in Harman Chapel. This year’s showcase also featured students from Graham High School and Mercer Christian Academy.

In celebration of a century of Christian higher education, the Bluefield University Department of Music presented the Music Alumni and Centennial Gala Concert featuring the premiere of BU’s centennial anthem titled “Darkness to Light” on Saturday, April 23. BU welcomed Dr. Chris Sheppard, former BU music professor, as the guest conductor.

Bluefield University students developed their strengths and sense of purpose during the Retreat on Calling at Camp Eagle, March 31 - April 1, 2022. In sessions with Dr. Drew Moser and Dr. Debby White, students discussed identity, purpose, direction, and completed the CliftonStrengths assessment. There were also opportunities for ziplining, basketball, paintball, and other outdoor activities. The retreat was funded by the Eli Lilly Endowment, Inc. through a grant initiative by the Council of Independent College’s Network for Vocation in Higher Education (NetVUE).

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Bluefield University student and Honaker police officer, Noah Ball, saved the life of a local resident from a home fire on February 8, 2022. He was called to a structure fire, where he heard the resident of a burning home calling for help. Ball then went inside the flame-engulfed home and discovered the resident unable to move from the couch. Officer Ball evacuated the resident to safety, who was then transported to a local hospital for treatment for severe burns.

Supporting young children has always been a passion for Leslie Floyd, chair of the Early Childhood Education (ECE) department at Bluefield University. Floyd began at BU in 2019 as an assistant professor while the ECE program was being restructured. She was offered the position of department chair soon after her arrival and set out to align the program to the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) standards to ensure students were learning current research and data.

Bluefield University sophomore Abby Gasperson, from Bluefield, VA, has been accepted to the Disney College Program and will complete a paid internship at The Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida during the Fall 2022 semester. Participants in Disney Programs, known as cast members, network and develop skills by filling roles at Disney resorts and participating in Career Connection and Exploring Disney courses and seminars.

One hundred forty-five Bluefield University students accepted diplomas during the annual spring commencement and the school’s centennial year on May 7, 2022. Graduates Laura Kimzey and Nathan Cline gave student addresses. Rev. Dr. John V. Upton, Jr., retiring executive director of the Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV), delivered the Commencement address.

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Members of Bluefield University’s Missions Club shared their light on international mission trips after the conclusion of the Spring 2022 semester. Students and alumni spread the Gospel—one group in Spain and another in Ecuador— May 9 – May 16. Read more about their mission experiences at bluefield.edu/news-archives/.

One hundred and one students accepted diplomas on May 14, 2022, during Bluefield University’s Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences Commencement. Widad Salah and Grant Hagglund gave the student addresses. Dr. Emily Lambert, BU’s professor of biology, delivered the keynote address. Four graduates were offered commissions and military scholarships for medical school.

In celebration of a century of Christian higher education and the continued support from the Greater Bluefield Community, Bluefield University hosted BU Community Day on Saturday, April 30. The event-filled day featured the Annual Jason Elswick 5K Challenge, Appalachian Music Festival, a community Mud Pig Day, and Bluefield Youth Theatre’s production of Frozen, Jr.

A familiar and friendly face to the BU campus, Sherelle Morgan, a 2021 MBA graduate, joined the Office of Institutional Advancement as the Director of Alumni Relations. Morgan previously served on the online admissions team and most recently with the traditional admissions team. She will continue to serve as the Coordinator for Belonging at BU.

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sideline.bsnsports.com/schools/virginia/bluefield/bluefield-university

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A native of Henderson, N.C., Bennie White, Jr. grew up knowing he wanted to make a difference in the lives of others and his community. Through various challenges and setbacks, he learned, with the help of his mentors, how to be a guiding light for others. After graduating from Southern Vance High School, he went on to become a member of the football and track and field teams at Concord University in Athens, W.Va. While working to earn his Bachelor’s in Social Work, Bennie’s mom passed away in 2017 during his sophomore year. “It was hard to handle because she was my best friend,” shared White. “She could almost predict my life before it happened. When I lost her, I lost a part of myself in physical form. This impacted me as an undergraduate student as it left me confused and hurt because this life mentor and best friend had been taken from me.” Despite a life-altering loss, he persevered and graduated with his bachelor’s dgree two years later. He knew he wanted to go further in his education and looked into pursuing a master’s degree. “I wanted to make sure the role I played, at the companies I would find future employment with, had a significant enough impact to allow me to help everyone involved,” shared White. “I wanted to get an MBA because of what I had learned through research. Having a knowledgeable background in business could open doors for me to be able to make a greater impact on people. I wanted to come to Bluefield University because it offered the opportunity and a chance to start over, creating a different path for myself through Christ.” In the fall of 2020, after applying to the master’s program, White joined the coaching staff at Bluefield University. Not able to transfer his red-shirt year to BU, he became one of the assistant coaches. “It felt like a family,” shared Bennie. “I was also invited and able to participate in tryouts for both the National Football Leauge (NFL) and the Canadian Football League (CFL).” Bluefield University prides itself on offering academic assistance for every student, no matter the degree program. Needing some assistance with his business courses, he was connected with Dr. Darrin Martin, Dean of Academic Center for Excellence. After hearing of his need, he connected him with a recent MBA graduate, Corey Mullins, BU Director of Athletics. “I had the chance to work with Bennie through a number of his MBA courses,” shared Corey Mullins. “The growth that I saw in him both academically and professionally was incredible. He is driven and thoughtful which made the projects we worked on enjoyable. The opportunities that he is now experiencing professionally is a testament to his hard work.”

White faced even more challenges on the way to earning his degree. While navigating his online courses, he was involved in a car accident and got COVID-19 during the pandemic. “Bennie used his life’s adversities, challenges, and obstacles to strengthen him,” shared Dr. Darrin Martin. “Instead of them being stumbling blocks to overcome, they seemed to be the fuel to help him achieve his goals.” White also credits Dr. Sharon Perot, retired business professor and dean of the Caudill School of Business, during his educational journey. “Working with this wonderful trio has been the ultimate reason for my success at Bluefield University,” shared White. “Dr. Martin and Corey helped me put a plan together that I could execute for Dr. Perot. During this time, Dr. Perot would meet with me individually and give me feedback. I am glad this was able to turn into something as beautiful as it did and I was able to network and make long-lasting relationships.” On May 7, 2022, his dream of earning an MBA came true. Lining up for the processional before the start of the commencement ceremony, he unknowingly found himself standing beside one of his mentors, Dr. Martin. Ironically, over the past months the two had only spoken over the phone. However, looking at one another, in that moment, they knew who the other was and embraced with tears in their eyes. Also by chance, Director of Public Relations and Marketing Rebecca Kasey, was taking photos of graduates as they entered the ceremony and captured the moment (left photo). “Bennie is one of those special students who works hard and excels because of his commitment to do his best,” shared Dr. Perot. “He strives to do his best and is able to receive and appreciate feedback and embraces learning.” With degrees in social work and business, he now serves as the program director managing staff and clients at Southern Highlands Community Mental Health Center in Princeton, W.Va. Southern Highlands offers a variety of addiction services, including outpatient, detoxification, long-term residential treatment, and DUI classes. White is also involved with his business venture, Sweet Feetz, which provides the lastest and trendy items such as shoes, games, and consoles and is a brand ambassador for Goorin Bros., a creative and expressive hat company that has been in operation since 1895. “Getting my degree through Bluefield has opened up so many doors,” said White. “I just want to thank BU. It helped mold me into who I am and help me reach my dreams and goals. It wouldn’t be possible without the people I had around me.”

Bennie is a brand ambassador for Goorin Bros., a creative and expressive hat company.

Bennie and his mother

An Oxford Story Shedding Light on New Experiences By Laura Kimzey

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The Beginning | A Brief Introduction

As I moved past the first look, I grew to see Oxford and the suburb of Headington, where I lived, as my home, at least for a while. I started learning directions and memorizing Oxford’s unsystematic street names. I made my bicycle my primary means of transportation, taking it up hills, alongside the double-decker buses, and to our tiny grocery store in Headington. I became quite efficient at converting pounds to U.S. dollars and Celsius to Fahrenheit (simply multiply by 9/5 and add 32), although I never fully felt comfortable with weighing items in grams. Despite the sometimes-difficult newness, Oxford offered some fun new experiences! I got to see Timothee Chalamet in person as he filmed Wonka right outside my library window. SCIO offered a weekly tea time, a wonderful time of chatting with professors and fellow students while balancing a mug in one hand and a plate of cheeses, nuts, fruit, and slices of far too many miniature cakes in the other hand. Take it from an American: of all the food to eat in England, tea time is certainly the meal the British do the best. In January, we SCIO students even joined our English colleagues in celebrating Robert Burns Day in a traditional Burns Day celebration, complete with tartan, bagpipes, and haggis. Somewhere in helping set up, I was chosen to read the closing poem in a Scottish accent, which I did amidst laughter and applause. (As I did so, I thought of BU professor Dr. Joshua Pittman, who had first introduced me to the holiday in literature class the year before!)

Oxford. The name originally meant just what it sounds like – a place where oxen forded the River Thames. But, as it has for millions of people, Oxford came to mean much more for me when I studied abroad there this spring. Before arriving in January, I was fortunate to have a few personal connections to Oxford. I grew up as an avid reader and admirer of many historic figures from England and specifically Oxford – theologians like John Wycliffe and Charles Wesley, authors like C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, etc. In 2016, my two older siblings and dad had a chance to go and take a creative writing masterclass in Oxford, and I – who wasn’t allowed to go under what seemed like Mom’s unjust rule – stayed behind as a jealous 14-year-old, counting down the days until I could go, too. In summer 2019, due to winning a hymn writing contest, my time came, and I spent some of the best weeks of my life in the city of Oxford and the surrounding areas. I loved every minute, and I wanted to go back before I flew out of the London airport. In the fall of that same year, I started at BU, where, at the time, I didn’t consider their study abroad opportunities, even after various faculty members recommended them to me. Thankfully, my mom and faculty like Dr. Flowers and Dr. Zalduondo wiser than I was, and they encouraged me to look into making Oxford more than a pipe dream. I could be a reality as a study abroad opportunity. At their prompting, I researched BU’s partnership with the Scholarship and Christianity in Oxford (SCIO) program, applied, and waited to see what would happen. Excitingly, I was accepted and, with some changes to the timetable due to the COVID-19 pandemic, prepared to go to the University of Oxford from January to April in 2022. The city of Oxford spreads between the Thames and Cherwell rivers, forming a semi-orderly conglomeration of colleges, libraries, shops, churches, houses, and ivy-covered walls. It displays the hallmarks of most English cities – plenty of pubs, double-decker buses driving on the left side of the road, dogs walking without leashes – but adds nearly a thousand years of history, meaning that there isn’t adequate parking space and that nearly every building boasts tales of famous people and events within its walls. I loved the city at first sight – its golden sandstone walls, stunning buildings, abundant book shops, and historical richness. Where I Was | The City

Laura Kimzey ‘22, visiting Scotland during spring break at Oxford

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What I Did | Academics

As a program group, we went on day trips to Winchester, Bath, and Salisbury, seeing impressive cathedrals, Roman-era baths, and historical gems like Jane Austen’s gravestone, an original copy of the Magna Carta, and Stonehenge itself. Over spring break, three of the girls from the program and myself formed a cohort, affectionately known as the Butter Scots, and travelled to Scotland. We spent two days on a bus tour that visited Loch Ness, Eilean Donan Castle, and the beautiful Northern Highlands, and then explored the capital city of Edinburgh for two days. While we didn’t see the Loch Ness monster itself (not for lack of looking!), we got to climb castle stairs, visit the seaside, walk the Royal Mile, listen to bagpipes, and get muddy climbing a mountain in the rain – a bunch of memories that made the Scotland trip one of my favorite memories of the semester! At the end of the term, my family also came to visit me, and we got to spend some time seeing the sites in London itself: Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, the British Museum, West End, Hyde Park, Padding ton Station, etc. The ubiquitous London Underground carried us everywhere and I loved sharing the English culture with my family. Even the less exciting, Instagram-worthy moments in Oxford brought their own gifts and memories. I loved getting to know the 40 SCIO students who journeyed alongside me, and I loved the old Victorian house in Headington where most of us lived. I enjoyed the things we shared together: feeding pigeons, ice skating, missing American snacks, watching movies, crying over essays, throwing a black-tie pizza gala for Valentine’s Day, biking uphill, evening prayer in one of the girl’s rooms, etc. God provided a beautiful, gospel-focused local church where I attended Sunday services and a student Bible study. I was able to join the C.S. Lewis Society at their weekly meetings – a dream come true for a Lewis nerd like me! I got to see March in Oxford – a slow and absolutely magical transition from the gray of winter to the loveliness of spring.

Notwithstanding cycling and festivities, I spent most of my days doing what I had come to the University of Oxford to do: studying. At Oxford, I didn’t really take classes, as that’s not how their university system functions. Instead, they offer lectures and teach largely through tutorials, a series of one-on-one meetings between the subject’s instructor/ tutor and the student. I took tutorials on the writings of C.S. Lewis, Jane Austen, and Anglo-Saxon archaeology, meeting with experts in each of these fields to discuss what I had read, researched, and written that week. That rotation of reading, researching, and writing became my daily experience, involving many hours in Oxford’s various libraries and culminating into an undergraduate thesis on a topic of my choice in my major. Over the 14-week semester, I read over 20 books (not counting secondary research sources) and wrote over 35,000 words of scholarly essays – a bigger academic push than I had done before! I didn’t always love that workload; towards the end, I tearfully told Mom I felt like my writing had sunk to a fifth-grade level under all the pressure. However, I did truly appreciate and enjoy both what I studied and the individually-focused, self-motivated system of learning Oxford offers. My favorite academic moments were either the hours spent reading everything from Surprised by Joy to Pride and Prejudice to Fahrenheit 451 or my weekly discussions with my tutors – hours of thought-provoking questions, shared laughter, and exploring ideas with someone who cared about the subject even more than I did. While Oxford’s educational model doesn’t work well for everyone, I really relished it, even with its difficulties. For Fun | Travel and Other Experiences Amidst the ever-present reading and writing, SCIO made some time for us to squeeze in some amazing and educational traveling.

The Royal Crescent in Bath, England

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The End? | Coming Home

Leaving all this behind when I came home in April was hard. I’m glad to be home; I like driving, being with my family, and not having to convert every price tag and size label. However, I miss Oxford dearly – the close friends I made, the beautiful streets, the libraries, my church, even my daily walks and bike rides to and from my house. I once again long to return, and I’m hanging onto a fact an English friend told me: that “Oxford has a way of bringing people back to it”. From back home in the U.S., I can look back on all I’ve learned: both concrete knowledge about literature and archaeology, life hacks for bicycling and grocery shopping in England, and all kinds of insights into myself and the people around me. I can see how I’ve grown, from confidence to writing abilities to trip planning. I can laugh (and cry) over all the amazing memories I’ve made and the people I met. SCIO wasn’t an easy program, but it was incredibly worth it, and I’m so thankful for everyone and everything at BU that made it possible! My time at the University of Oxford will forever be one of my most treasured and life-shaping memories, and I hope others can get to experience it in their own right.

Addison’s Walk at Magdalen College, Oxford, England

A city view from the top of Weston Library, University of Oxford, England

Read more about Laura’s journey to Oxford at bit.ly/Laura_Oxford

Visiting Holyrood Palace in Scotland with SCIO students

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A Light in the Darkness: Alumnus Serving His Home Country in War Time

Photo by Trey Musk

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A ccording to the UN Refugee Agency, over seven million citizens are displaced inside Ukraine and around 13 million are unable to leave due to immediate life threats, destruction of infrastructure, and lack of resources to travel. Since the Russian invasion, BU alumnus Yaroslav (Yaro) Hnatusko ‘20 has found ways to be a light to those in his home country in need of food, shelter, and resources. Yaro graduated from Bluefield University in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in business management and is a current MBA student and graduate assistant in career services at East Tennessee State University (ETSU). On February 24, 2022, Yaro’s family evacuated their home in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, just north of Crimea, after they were awakened by the sounds of explosive missiles from the Russian invasion. Since then, Yaro and his family have been working tirelessly to help those who have been displaced. Yaro and his brother Stan, who is in Ukraine, immediately started a relief effort alongside Stan’s employer Atlant, Ukraine’s largest distributor of wholesale building materials. Working with Atlant, Yaro and Stan helped converted the company’s warehouses into shelters and food banks for the city’s homeless and displaced residents. The relief effort continued to grow and the two brothers founded a nonprofit organization, Restore Ukraine, a dual country nonprofit that helps provide aid and shelter to Ukrainian victims of the Russian invasion. Yaro works around the clock to accommodate the seven-hour time difference from Johnson City, Tenn., raising funds to keep Restore Ukraine’s warehouses full in Kharkiv, the epicenter of the war. The organization has already prepared and distributed more than 540,000 pounds of food supplies. Currently, Restore Ukraine estimates a cost of $2,000 to provide repairs and to insulate one house for the upcoming winter months. Since the beginning of the war, at least 480 million square feet of housing, 256 enterprises, 656 medical institutions, 2,420 educational institutions, and 668 kindergartens have been damaged, destroyed or seized.

Yaro Hnatusko ‘20

The organization is already starting a large construction project to renovate 60 households, one collective center, and to distribute 5,000 shelter kits for light repairs. “Altogether, the Restore Ukraine’s team consists of more than 20 members,” said Yaro. “As the devastation continues to mount, we were faced with an urgent and immediate need to develop partnerships with recognized nonprofit organizations in the U.S. to help more Ukrainian families.” In the U.S., Restore Ukraine chose to operate under the umbrella of Humanitarian Social Innovations, a U.S. nonprofit with federal tax-exempt status. This alliance assisted Restore Ukraine to become a dual-country nonprofit that resulted in the development of partnerships with organizations like International Justice Mission, International Organization for Migration, Shelter Cluster, Project Dynamo, Fight for Freedom, and United Help Ukraine. “Restore Ukraine had one case in March when one of the volunteers was delivering baby diapers and baby food to families across Kharkiv communities,” Yaro shared. “On that day alone, the volunteer was under fire twice. Once he arrived back at the warehouse, it took two hours and the whole team to help the person ‘come back to life.’ He was shaking and he knew that one of those rides to deliver humanitarian help could be his last one. He could see his whole life pass by in split seconds.” The operations on the ground in Ukraine undertake many risks.

Volunteers loading the truck with supplies Photo by Restore Ukraine

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As of today, Restore Ukraine has prepared and distrbuted more than 250 tons of food across Kharkiv while developing winterization projects for family households. Restore Ukraine is also forming partnerships with global organizations in order to offer permanent living accommodations for small and large families by reconstructing damaged households. “The plan for future is to prepare our warehouses with the supplies that can last an entire winter,” Yaro said. “...which is incredibly hard to do since the resources are limited. That includes long shelf-life foods because there will be massive food shortage in winter.” “Restore Ukraine faces a near-overwhelming challenge as it strives to expand its humanitarian and reconstruction operations,” shared Yaro. “But with a substantial increase in funding from global donors, Restore Ukraine can – and will – deliver Kharkiv nationals from poverty and hunger.”

The employees of Atlant spent ten days transforming the exterior of a Kindergarten building in the Kharkiv region. The team brought building materials, painted, and planted trees and bushes to turn the playground area into a beautiful space for children.

“Currently, we cannot enjoy our life to the fullest. But we remember it is temporary. Thanks to our friends and to the wonderful people who support our initiative all around the world. Step-by-step, we are getting closer to our victory. We know we will win and this idea drives us every day.”

- Restore Ukraine

To learn how you can help Restore Ukraine in the relief efforts, visit restore-ukraine.org.

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