Bluefield University hosted an Open House for the newly restored Alumni Hall on Friday, August 8. Attendees toured the renovated residence hall while celebrating the donors and construction team who made the restoration possible.
Alumni Hall was constructed in the late 1970s and opened as New Hall in the early 1980s. Weather-related damage and a fire led university staff to close the building, severely limiting the campus’s ability to house its growing student population.
University President Dr. Steve Peterson launched a campaign at the beginning of 2025 to fund the infrastructure changes and modern improvements needed to reopen the facility. Originally aiming to reopen the dormitory for fall 2026, the campaign moved much faster than anticipated. A $400,000 matching grant from the Hugh I. Shott, Jr. Foundation, along with many other generous gifts, allowed renovations to begin at the start of summer and finish before the fall 2025 semester.
The campaign initially raised the $800,000 needed to restore the facility, with a later appeal securing $60,000 to furnish the residence hall. The Alumni Hall project not only represents the university’s commitment to serving our students well, it also highlights the strong support our alumni and friends have for our Christ-centered mission.
Though the Alumni Hall campaign has concluded, the mission continues! There are several opportunities to support our students and their academic, athletic, and spiritual growth. Gifts toward scholarships, other facility improvements, and more can be made at bluefield.edu/giving or mailed to the Bluefield University Office of Institutional Advancement at 3000 College Avenue, Bluefield, VA 24605.