Spire Summer 2020

Spire is the official magazine for alumni and friends of Bluefield College, 3000 College Avenue, Bluefield, Virginia 24605. The magazine is published annually by the Office of Marketing and Public Relations. Available online at bluefield.edu/spire. S P R E a magazine for bluefield college alumni and friends EDITORS Rebecca Kasey (executive editor), Josh Cline, Nicole Kaklis, Josh Grubb, Hal Keene, and Vanessa Scruggs ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OFFICERS Mr. Zachary Smith (’08) – President Mr. Brandon Caldwell (’02) – Past-President Mrs. Sara English Rutherford (’96) – Vice President Mr. Joshua Grubb (’07) – Secretary

contents A Word from the President | 3

SPRING 2018

President David Olive Talks about the Future of Bluefield College

Vision-Mission | 4 From Skyline to Frontline Clarke Makes His Mark BC Professor Recognized as Fulbrite Scholar Restoring Hope One Cup at a Time

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Mrs. Valerie Burrell (’09) Ms. Allie Campbell (’18) Ms. Hallie Elder (’13)

News | 9 Matthew Hamilton Dancing for a Good Cause Dr. Irene Rieger wins 1st Place in 88th Annual Writer’s Digest Poetry Awards Center for Counseling and Mental Wellness BC Celebrates 28th Annual Duremdes Christian Emphasis Week 2019 Donna Watson Goodness and Light Alumni Award Sons of Serendip Concert 18th Annual Golfer’s Challenge Joshua Cline Named BC’s Vice President of Institutional Advancement Mary Draper Ingles Live History Performance Alfonso Alvarez Named New BC Men’s Volleyball Coach Bluefield College Acquires Herb Sims Wellness Center Jack Marcom Student Center BC’s First Marching Band Wimbush Named NAIA All-American Community Forum on Racial Injustice 12th Annual Jason Elswick 5K Challenge O’Donnell Honored by The Touchdown Club of Richmond 8th Annual Day of Giving Special Delivery of Celebration Boxes 97th Winter Commencement Features | 14 Bluefield College Joins VCOM Family of Schools COVID-19 Response Outcomes | 16 Scruggs Sets the Bar High On a Mission: Alumna Whitney Browning on Her Path in Ministry Gilberts Honor Tradition of Higher Education

Ms. Courtney Ellis (’97) Mr. Morgan Lloyd (’13) Mrs. Fran Webb Louthan (’60) Mr. Tim Mann (’88) Mr. Matthew Moore (’13) Mr. Wayne Pate (’73) Ms. Sarah Pauley (’19) Mr. Denny Peters (’61) Mr. Sammy Poindexter (’86)

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Mr. Scott Polhamus (’11) Mr. Robert Ratcliffe (’09) Ms. Alexis Thompson (’17) Mrs. Courtney Robertson Tucker (’10) Mr. Steve Underwood (’17)

ADVISORY COUNCIL Mr. Randall Belt (’94) Mrs. Kathy Berry (’75) Mr. Robert Bickford (’71) Mrs. Glenda Camp (‘71) Ms. Cynthia Carter (’63) Mr. Donald Caudill (’75) Mr. James Dill (’75) Mr. William Gilmer (’75) Mr. Bobby Griffin (’75) Mr. Dennis Harper (’71) Mr. Garry Jones (’74) Mr. Baraka Kasongo (’16) Ms. Jennifer Mitchell (’08) Mrs. LeAnn Montgomery (’05) Ms. Rebecca Peterson (’08) Mr. Eddie Rader (’03) Mr. Robert Ramey (’98) Mr. Nolan Rich (’52) Mrs. Cynthia Sheets (’91) Mr. Peter Taylor Mr. William Tuck (’55) Mrs. Jennifer Turley (’96) Mrs. Lisa Yost (’07) BOARD OF TRUSTEES Mr. Christopher Asbury (’93) Mr. John Beckett Mr. William Bloomer Mr. Brandon Caldwell (’02) Mrs. Terri Cole (’85) Mrs. Martha Dodd-Slippy (’05) Mr. Gordon Grimes (’94) Mr. Rodney Hale (’60) Mr. Michael Harris (’97) Mrs. Julie Johnson (’88) Mr. David Kirk (’90) Mr. David Larimer (’92) Mr. Christopher Lawson (’01)

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Alumni | 20 Celebrating the Class of 2020 from Afar BC Helpers Homecoming 2020 Schedule 2020 Alumni Awards Recipients Snapshots from Homecoming 2019 Class Notes | 28 BC Mourns Loss of Leading Figures

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The Last Word | 35

Ms. Phyllis Marcom Mr. Jackson Reasor Ms. Sarah Reid (’68) Mr. Thomas Scott

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Mr. Craig Stout Mr. Jerry Turley

Mr. Michael Wade Mr. William Winfrey

Cover photo by Mily Lusk

* Deceased