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Bluefield College recognized service and excellence in its employees during a year-end Faculty-Staff Awards Ceremony, Thursday, May 3, which featured the presentation of the school’s annual Distinguished Staff Award.

Chris Shoemaker

May 3, 2012

Vice President Sarah Beamer welcomed BC employees to the traditional capstone event. She spoke about the accomplishments achieved during the 2011-2012 academic year and thanked those responsible for the success.

“We are blessed to have dedicated faculty and staff who serve our students and each other and help make Bluefield College a better place,” said Beamer. “This ceremony is just one small way to express our appreciation.”
 

Beamer also presented the day’s most notable honor, the 2012 Distinguished Staff Award, to Ann Looney, director of academic programs, for her “excellent work,” “Christian attitude,” and “gracious heart.”
 

“She is a pillar of the college and never ceases to amaze with the tremendous amount of work completed,” said Beamer about Looney. “She’s always willing to help, displays a professional and Christian attitude, and works hard and diligently to ensure that everything is running smoothly.”
 

Looney joined the Bluefield College family in 1999 as an administrative assistant for adult and continuing education before being promoted to an administrative assistant and academic coordinator for degree completion programs and then later director of academic programs. In presenting the award, Beamer spoke specifically of Looney’s contributions this year to the school’s compliance report for reaffirmation of accreditation.
 

“She worked with colleagues a tremendous amount of hours in the final days leading up to the submission of our compliance report,” said Beamer. “She did so with a gracious heart and a loyalty to the vision of Bluefield College.”
 

The year-end employee awards ceremony also included the presentation of several Service Awards, recognizing employees for longevity and loyalty to the school, including a 20-year Service Award to Werner Lind, assistant director of Easley Library.
 

For two decades, Lind has managed the library’s book collection, handled periodicals, provided reference assistance, worked with the vertical file, supervised the interlibrary loan, and served library visitors in a variety of other capacities. Outside of the library, he teaches advanced honor studies, writes scholarly articles, and publishes short stories and novels.
 

Wendy Beavers, an assistant professor of history, received a 15-year Service Award. In addition to teaching European history, world civilizations, and other upper level courses in history, Beavers has studied abroad in England, France, Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany, Italy, Greece, Ireland, and Scotland. She also has participated in workshops and seminars on the ancient Greek world.

Ten-year Service Awards were presented to Dr. Lewis Buterakos, associate professor of mathematics; Robert English, instructor of business communication; Bryant Moxley, assistant professor of music; and Annette Tabor, associate vice president for advancement.
 

And, Five-year Service Awards went to Dr. Robert Boozer, associate professor of psychology; Bryan Frazier, office manager for enrollment management; Kris Hardy, director of creative media initiatives; Mark Hipes, director of traditional admissions; Tabitha Price, office assistant for admissions; Dr. Joe Saunders, associate professor of chemistry; Vanessa Scruggs, administrative assistant for institutional advancement; and Brenda Workman, office assistant for admissions and director of the Fine Arts Community School.
 

“This has been a great year in many ways,” said Dr. Olive, who noted the school’s growing enrollment, new football, nursing and special education programs, yearlong celebration of Appalachia, gifts for a new Campus-Community Wellness Center, and progress on reaffirmation of accreditation, “and today we celebrate as a campus community the wonderful achievements of this year and the blessings God continues to bestow on our college and our lives.”

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