Spire Summer 2020

the last word In the midst of all that is happening at Bluefield College, a planning committee has begun work to formulate the plans for our upcoming Centennial Celebration! We give thanks for this committee of individuals comprised of faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the College. We look forward to the wonderful year of celebration we will embark on commemorating 100 years of Bluefield College in the near future. In preparation for this celebration, I and others have been rereading Lighthouse on a Hill: The Bluefield College Story by the late Dr. David M. Armbrister to further immerse ourselves in the history of the College. Dr. Armbrister made a great impact on me and countless others within the Bluefield College family in many unique and personal. While reading, I was captivated by his record of inaugural president Dr. R.A. Lansdell’s words to West Virginia Realtor magazine about the construction of the college.

“Dr. Lansdell… asserted that ‘material equipment does not make a college,’ referring to it as simply ‘The shop in which the college works.’ He pointed out that ‘the personnel of the faculty and of the management together with their ideals and aims, make the college. Not only so, but determines its future.’ He went on to add that the ‘type of education which is of greatest value is an education under influences which are positively and avowedly moral and Christian.’” This describes the Bluefield College of yesterday, and today, that we all know and love. It is personal relationships with professors, like Dr. Armbrister, and the care and attention of members of the staff that we cherish in our memories. These men and women invested in us and helped grow us into the people we are today. This is why giving to Bluefield College is not like giving to other entities or causes. Being personal and connected to one another is our hallmark feature. When you give to support Bluefield College, the Advancement team can introduce you to the student you supported. We can connect you with the faculty member or coach leading the program you care about one-on-one. And you can have real, heartfelt conversations about where the College is headed with Dr. Olive and other administrators. Reach out to us today and consider how you can help the faculty and staff at Bluefield College create “a Christ-centered learning community developing servant leaders to transform the world” for our next 100 years.

With thanks,

Joshua D. Cline ‘09 Vice President of Institutional Advancement

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