luefield College’s Alumni Association conducted its annual meeting, October 21, during Homecoming and Family Weekend 2017.
More than 240 alumni and friends registered to attend Homecoming this year, and more than 300 total guests were projected to participate. Dozens of those BC grads took part in the Annual Meeting of the Alumni Association, which included the approval of the creation of a new alumni chapter in the New River Valley of Virginia. Alumni and friends from that area met in Dublin this past summer to discuss the revival of a New River Valley alumni chapter. The Association made it official by approving a charter and bylaws during Homecoming weekend.
The Association also elected four new members to serve on its Board of Directors, including Frances Webb Louthan (’60) of Dublin, Virginia (pictured above center; Valerie Washington Burrell (’09) of Richmond, Virginia (pictured above left); Hallie Elder (’13) of Virginia Beach, Virginia (pictured above right); and Stephen Underwood (’17) of Vinton, Virginia (not pictured). Four outgoing Alumni Board members were recognized for their service to the Association: Scott Polhamus (’11) of Roanoke, Virginia; Jennifer Mitchell (’08) of Richmond, Virginia; Dennis Harper (’71) of Roanoke, Virginia; and Shannon Wall Willett (’06) of Bristow, Virginia.
“I encourage you to get involved with the Alumni Association,” said Harper. “We need people like yourselves who are here today that are willing to make a sacrifice, that are willing to make a contribution. You came to Bluefield College because God had a purpose for you on this campus. He still has a purpose for you, and we can use your talents to serve in any way, shape or form. Get involved in the Alumni Association. You won’t regret it.”
During the meeting, alumni director Josh Grubb (’07) also announced the creation of an endowed scholarship by the class of 1967. Celebrating their Golden Anniversary during Homecoming 2017, members of the class collectively donated $50,000 for the purpose of creating the Class of ’67 Endowed Scholarship Fund to provide financial aid to current and future BC students so that they might have the same experience the Golden Grads had at Bluefield.
Grubb also recognized alumni who had significantly contributed to the Bluefield College Fund during the 2016-2017 fiscal year, including members of the class of 1949 who had the highest giving participation rate for the year and the class of 1960, which gave the largest cumulative contribution to the Bluefield College Fund.
“The Bluefield College Fund is our annual fund program, and it’s the most popular way to give back to Bluefield, because it is unrestricted dollars that help offset the costs of educating and supporting our students,” Grubb told the BC grads. “We need help from alumni and friends, and if you’re looking for a way to make a financial impact at Bluefield, then the Bluefield College Fund is a good place to start.”
In other business, the Alumni Board recognized the leadership and service of Grubb, acknowledging the increase in engagement and participation for alumni events.
“We’re really excited about what is coming out of the Alumni Association and the work Josh is doing in the Alumni Office,” said Board president Brandon Caldwell (‘02). “It’s a great time to be a Ram and to be an alumnus.”
Homecoming 2018 has been set for Friday through Sunday, November 2-4.
HOMECOMING 2017 – ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Meeting of the Alumni Association, where BC grads were elected to serve and recognized for service.