Spire Spring 2017

college news

One hundred thirty-seven Bluefield College seniors accepted diplomas, May 6, during the school’s 95th Annual Spring Commencement, which featured remarks from two distinguished graduates: Breanna Buterakos, a traditional English major from Bluefield, Virginia, and Amanda Heller, an online School of Education graduate student from Chesapeake, Virginia. The program also included a keynote address from Dr. John Yo Han Kim, pastor of Riverside Community Church in South Korea and station manager for the Far East Broadcasting Company. For complete coverage of Spring Commencement, including dozens of photos, speech audio clips and a list of graduates, visit bluefield.edu/spring17grads .

The Lady Rams softball team enjoyed its most successful season in school history, despite an unsettling auto accident near the end of the year. Returning from a doubleheader against Union College in Kentucky, one of the two vans transporting team members was struck by a truck. Nine players, an athletic trainer and head coach Shelley Newton were taken to a nearby hospital and treated for injuries, but all were released and later recovered to complete the historic season, which included a school record 28 wins, a National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Mideast Regional Championship, and a runner-up finish in the NCCAA World Series. Read more at bluefield.edu/softball .

It was a great day for Bluefield College baseball, April 29, as former Rams baseball players returned to campus for an Alumni Baseball Reunion while current Rams took on nationally ranked Tennessee Wesleyan University at Bowen Field. Alumni, including many from the Glory Days of athletics (pictured), enjoyed a luncheon, games, prizes and lots of reminiscing as they watched the Rams secure an exciting come- from-behind 7-5 win over the Bulldogs. It was also Senior Day, and after the game head coach Mike White was recognized for his service and success with the team. View photos from the day at bluefield.edu/baseballreunion .

Bluefield College vice president for enrollment management Trent Argo passed away unexpectedly, April 24. Argo joined BC in 2011 and quickly grew enrollment four consecutive years to the second largest student population in school history in 2014. In 2015, in an effort to make Bluefield College more accessible to families, he spearheaded the creation of the Pathways tuition plan, which reduced tuition by nearly 50 percent for students at the lowest socio-economic level. Argo was 55 years of age. Help preserve his legacy with a gift to the Trent Argo Scholarship for International Students at bluefield.edu/argoscholarship .

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