Spire Spring 2018

vision mission

BC’s Ellen Johnson Uses Volleyball to Mentor Youth

“Ellen’s very encouraging, and she also pushes you to the best of your ability,” said Lady Rams teammate Victoria Chapman. “Her belief in Christ and her quotes before the game really encourage us to be better as athletes and people. She is very reliable and very consistent. I don’t think there’s any better person we could have chosen to be our captain.” However, it was Johnson’s trip abroad last summer that showed as much about her servant leadership as anything. While in San Jose, Costa Rica, with Beyond Sports, a company of former college athletes, educators, coaches and international adventurers, Johnson competed in three volleyball matches against a university team, a semi-pro squad, and a Costa Rican national team, but more importantly she helped lead two volleyball clinics – one sponsored by Special Olympics for special needs children and another for at-risk kids from the inner cities of Panama. “The clinics were undoubtedly my favorite part of the trip,” said Johnson, who graduated in May with a triple-major in criminal justice, psychology, and forensic science. “There are few things that bring more joy to one’s heart than seeing a smile light up a child’s face. To hold a small role in brightening those children’s days is something for which I am grateful. Having to overcome a language barrier and still be able to communicate enough to play with each other made the experience all the more rewarding.” Johnson’s Beyond Sports volleyball team traveled with a soccer group on the tour, and during the clinics the teams would divide the children into two groups to work with them on each sport. The first clinic, she said, they worked with special needs kids who were interested in athletics. “I think the kids benefitted the most from these clinics because it allowed them to be kids and to enjoy being carefree, if only for a short time,” said Johnson, a native of Little River, South Carolina. “Special needs and at-risk children don’t have the luxury of being able

Graduating senior Ellen Johnson (right) receives the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award for exemplary service and character.

Bluefield College student-athlete Ellen Johnson is making a difference in more than just her play on the court for the Lady Rams volleyball team. Johnson is using her volleyball gifts to serve and mentor youth with Beyond Sports, a world leader in international sports tours that took Johnson and other college athletes to Cosa Rica this past summer to offer service- learning volleyball clinics to local youth. Already known around campus for her leadership, Johnson has served as vice president of BC’s Student Government Association, treasurer of Alpha Delta sorority, a member of the Honors Program, a study leader for Pursuit Women’s Ministry, and a member of Psi Chi and Alpha Chi national honor societies. On the court, she is co-captain of the Lady Rams volleyball team, a three-time National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) First Team All-Mideast Region selection, a two-time NCCAA Scholar-Athlete, a two-time Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) All-Academic Team member, and a Second Team All- Conference choice.

developing servant leaders

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