Spire 2022

Contents

Spotlights | 20

2022

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

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 ‘21, 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 | 34 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 | 36 Alumni Serving Their Communities

Rams Spotlight | 38 Athletics Highlights

Into the Next Century | 40

Faculty Professional Accomplishments and Contributions | 41

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

Master of Art in Counseling First Graduating Class | 42

Hello and Goodbye | 43 Welcoming New Faces and Saying Goodbye to Old Friends

Homecoming 2022 | 44

Class Notes | 45

The Last Word | 49 VP for Advancement and Marketing Joshua D. Cline ‘09

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