Spire Spring 2018

ALUMNI I N V I T E D to MENTOR STUDENTS

time, talents and treasures consistently,” said Grubb. “He does all of this while also balancing a very full schedule with family, work, and involvement in his local community.” A member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors since 2014, Caldwell has also served as vice president for two years. As president now, his responsibilities include serving on various committees, such as the Nominating Committee, Alumni Awards Committee, By-laws Committee, and Homecoming Committee. “I think that what I enjoy most about serving as Alumni Association president is getting to work closely with a new group of peers and fellow alum like me,” said Caldwell, “and meeting current students that will one day be alumni themselves. I also enjoy trying to fulfill the mission of the college on both a personal and professional level.” Being Alumni Association president and an active participant at Bluefield College, Caldwell added, requires more than just writing emails and going to meetings. For example, he travels on behalf of the college to engage with past, present and potential students. This includes attending BC Bound events, being a member of Team Dean Dan in the Monument Avenue 10K, participating in summer BC @ the Ballpark alumni reunion events, and going back to campus to take part in Homecoming and Commencement activities. In addition, Caldwell gives back to his alma mater through annual events like BC Giving Day. “I can only hope that my time serving as Alumni Association president has been effective,” said Caldwell. “I have seen the amount of work that our alumni directors put into their position, and I have also seen the amount of work that our Board puts into the Alumni Association. I have seen the early results from it, but I am eager to see what it will look like in the next five, 10 years and

beyond. I can only hope that we can look back on it and say ‘yes, what we did changed lives.’” Caldwell not only makes a difference in Bluefield, but also in his community. He is the president of the Masonic Theatre Preservation Foundation in Clifton Forge, Virginia, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Clifton Forge Development Committee. He has also taught financial classes to the Roanoke Women’s Shelter and has given a financial seminar at an area high school in Covington. After earning his bachelor’s degree in business from Bluefield College in 2002, Caldwell spent the first 10 years of his career at SunTrust Bank as a financial services representative, assistant branch manager, and branch manager. In 2013, he, his wife Kara, and their daughter Amelia moved to Clifton Forge where Caldwell made a career move to Highlands Community Bank. After holding various positions with Highlands, he was promoted to vice president and chief lender, a title which he still holds today. Caldwell’s two-year term of service as president of the Alumni Association will end in November at Homecoming 2018. He will serve one more year on the Association’s Board of Directors as past- president before rotating off the Board. “Because I don’t think I got a chance to give during my time at Bluefield College, and because I value the college and what it is about so much, this (serving as Alumni Association president) has given me a chance to properly give back,” said Caldwell. “It has reconnected me with the college and with a lot of people that I had lost touch with over the past 10 years. Every time I step on that campus, I get a chance to relive what I experienced and what I learned, and that is worth every moment of the service I give.” Story by BC student marketing associate Mikaela Hurst.

Bluefield College has launched an Alumni Mentor Program designed to guide and support current BC students through the professional and personal experiences and expertise of its former students. “Our alumni have the power to inspire, motivate and support our current students,” said Josh Grubb, director of alumni relations. “Their knowledge, experience and insight will help students maximize their Bluefield College experience and open their eyes to opportunities and challenges they will face after graduation.” Alumni interested in becoming a mentor to a current BC student or learning more about the mentor program should visit bluefield.edu/mentors or contact Grubb by email at jgrubb@bluefield.edu or by phone at 276.326.4208 .

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