The 12 exceptional high school students in Bluefield’s prospective student pool spent an hour and a half developing a written composition during an essay competition portion of the day, then went before a Presidential Scholarship Committee to respond to questions during a interview portion of the event.
To even compete for the Presidential Scholarships, the students had to have a 3.75 cumulative high school grade point average and a 1,100 composite math and verbal SAT score or a 25 ACT score. They also had to submit two letters of recommendation from current teachers.
Following an evaluation period, students Megan Hardison of Yorktown, Virginia, and Allison Spraker of Wytheville, Virginia, were awarded and accepted the school’s most valuable scholarship award, a Presidential Scholarship for a full ride to BC.
“The Presidential Scholarship covers everything — full tuition, room, and board,” said Mark Hipes, BC’s director of traditional admissions. “It’s our most prized scholarship reserved for the most deserving students.”
Based on their essays and interviews from the Presidential Scholars Day, Kalyn Dolan of Gladys, Virginia, Kara Georgiades of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Kimberly Neel of Bluefield, Virginia, Brittany Rhoton of Gate City, Virginia, Kelsee Smith of Saltville, Virginia, Tyler Carpenter of Galax, Virginia, and Melissa Hubert of Smyrna, Delaware, earned and accepted Spire Scholarships to cover half their expenses to attend BC.
BC Presidential Scholarships are worth $26,000 a year for a four-year total award of $104,000. Spire Scholarships, symbolically named to represent the spire on BC’s Harman Chapel, are valued at $13,000 a year for a four-year total award of $52,000.
“The steeple, oftentimes rising above roof tops and tree lines — as does Harman Chapel’s as you arrive into Bluefield — reminds all of us of something beyond ourselves,” said BC president, Dr. David Olive. “It reminds us of Christ’s presence among us in the communities in which we live, work and serve, a presence that we embody through our acts of love, kindness, grace and forgiveness. I believe it is most appropriate that Bluefield College has this prominent, powerful vestige on its campus, for it truly represents who we are and what we aspire to be.”
The Presidential Scholars Day also included a reception and luncheon with Dr. David Olive for the students and their visiting families.
Dedicated to being a nationally recognized Christ-centered liberal arts college, preparing innovative thinkers and transformational leaders to impact the world, Bluefield College offers a challenging, innovative academic and co-curricular experience within a diverse Christian environment.
In covenant with the Baptist General Association of Virginia, the college is committed to developing students’ potential through academic excellence and the integration of faith, the liberal arts, career-oriented programs, and service to God and the global community.
Located in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains of southwestern Virginia and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to offer baccalaureate degrees in 22 majors of study, including business, forensic science, graphic communication, teacher education, exercise and sport science, and Christian studies, Bluefield College is touted for its classroom technology, living and learning environments, personalized instruction, and learning settings on the mission field and in countries abroad.