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Alumni Newsletter - July 2007


Volume VII, Issue 10
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I. FROM THE OFFICE OF ALUMNI RELATIONS

ONLINE POLL: AFFINITY OR CLASS REUNIONS?
Would you be more likely to attend an "affinity" reunions (for an athletic team, major, club, organization, dormitory, etc.) or the traditional class year reunions? Click here to take our online poll and register your opinion.

ALUMNI SERVICE PROJECT: 2007 EAGLES WE-HAUL

The BC Class of 2011 will be moving to campus on Friday, Aug. 31, from 8 a.m. until noon. As in years past, the BC Alumni Association will provide a warm welcome and some move-in muscle power as "Eagles We-Haul." Join us in this important service project as we help new students and their parents get all their "stuff" moved into the residence halls. Then, stay for a free lunch compliments of the Office of Alumni Relations. FREE lunch for all volunteers and also FREE "Eagles We-Haul" T-shirts for the first 50 volunteers to register! To register for this service project please call the Office of Alumni Relations at (540) 828-5451 or e-mail shottel@bridgewater.edu.

CALL FOR ALUMNI AWARD NOMINATIONS

The BC Alumni Association annually presents alumni awards during the spring Alumni Weekend. To nominate someone for an award, please review the criteria below and submit your name along with the name and class year of the nominee, the award they are being nominated for and details that will assist in the decision process. Email your nominations by September 1, 2007 to alumnews@bridgewater.edu.

The Distinguished Alumnus Award was established to annually recognize one alumnus/a of Bridgewater College for his or her vocational and/or professional achievements. Attention is also given to recognition the individual has received in his or her given profession.

The Young Alumnus Award was established to annually recognize one or more alumnus/a of Bridgewater College, who has not yet reached the age of 40, for his or her vocational and/or professional achievements alumni. Attention is also given to recognition the individual has received in his or her given profession. In that regard, the award also is intended to identify and affirm the potential for even more remarkable achievements.

The West Whitelow Humanitarian Award was established to annually recognize one alumnus/a who engages in volunteer acts of service that fall outside the requirements of their vocation. This award has been created to honor those who improve their communities - and we define community broadly to encompass global issues as well -- without consideration for remuneration or recognition.

The Ripples Society Medal was established to annually recognize one or more members of the Ripples Society -- a 50 or more year alumnus of the College -- who has expressed loyalty to the college while demonstrating significant lifetime vocational or professional achievements and/or exemplary involvement in humanitarian endeavors.

ROANOKE ALUMNI EVENT ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25

Alumni in the Roanoke, Va. area mark your calendars now and plan on attending the alumni gathering on Thursday, October 25! Event details are being arranged. A postcard with more information will be mailed in early September so be watching for it.

SEPT. 8 -- BC TAILGATE AT SHENANDOAH UNIVERSITY

Come join alumni and parents at the away football game vs. the Shenandoah University Hornets at 7 p.m. There are two ways you can tailgate with the BC fans. You can get food from the BC "Stone Station" (by donation) or bring your own grill and fixings and setup with BC fans by the "Stone Station" tailgate area -- look for the BC Football flag. Parking is $5/vehicle; first come first served beginning at 5 p.m. If you choose to take advantage of the food offered at "Stone Station," please RSVP to the Office of Alumni Relations with the number in your party and bring a side dish/snacks to share with other BC tailgaters and your own beverages. Watch the Alumni Relations website at www.bridgewater.edu/alumni for further details. GO EAGLES!!

45th REUNION FOR THE CLASS OF 1962

The Class of 1962 is planning its 45th reunion the weekend of September 15. BC will host the Ferrum College football team that Saturday afternoon. The class is planning a pre-game buffet and also an informal post-game event at the North River Grill. A get-together and service are also in the works for Sunday morning. In mid-August, class members will receive a letter with more details and registration information. Mark your calendar now and plan to attend your 45th reunion!


BECKY HYLTON JOINS BC ALUMNI RELATIONS STAFF

Becky Hylton has joined the Office of Alumni Relations as the new assistant director on July 18. She has over 14 years experience working in alumni and parent relations at James Madison University and, most recently, was employed in the JMU Foundation Office. She lives in Grottoes, Va., with her husband, Randy, and two sons, Josh and Brady. Please join us in welcoming Becky to the Bridgewater community. She can be reached by emailing rhylton@bridgewater.edu.

BCAA BOARD OF DIRECTORS - NEW MEMBERS AND OFFICERS

Five newly elected members of the BC Alumni Association Board of Directors started their three-year terms on July 1, 2007. These new members include:

Susan Billhimer Phillips, '77, of Harrisonburg, Va.

Megan Orndorff Huffman, '03, of Charlottesville, Va.

Nina Miller Arnett, '69, of Martinsburg, WV

Martha Kline Allen, '84, of Warrenton, Va.

Bruce K. Hart, '69, of Harrisonburg, Va.

In addition to these newly elected members, April Miller was elected by the class of 2007 as its permanent class president and will serve a three-year term on the board. James H. (Hal) Duff Jr., '84, of Winchester, Va., is a BCAA presidential appointee and will serve a one-year term on the board.

The 2007-2008 officers for the Executive Committee of the board of directors are as follows:
President: Robert E. Thurston, '81

President-elect: Eric R. (Randy) Gehr, '72

Secretary: Krista Kerns Shonk, '98

The BC Alumni Association is an incorporated charitable and educational organization whose purposes are to promote the interest and welfare of Bridgewater College and to foster beneficial relations between the college and its alumni. The association is governed by its elected officers and the board of directors, comprising of 15 members at-large, who meet three times annually. Click here to see the full board of directors roster.

HOMECOMING 2007 - "BRINGIN' SPIRIT BACK!"

Be sure to mark your calendars for Homecoming 2007 on Oct. 12-14. Contact your friends and make your plans now to return to campus to be part of this fun-filled weekend featuring the annual alumni and friends golf tournament, Hall of Fame Banquet followed by pep rally and fireworks, Young Alumni Tailgate, parade, football game vs. Guilford College, and Alumni Party at North River Grill. Class years in reunion are: 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997 and 2002.



II. CAMPUS NEWS AND UPDATES

BRIDGEWATER TO PARTICIPATE IN PRIVATE COLLEGE WEEK

Bridgewater College is one of 24 colleges and universities participating in the annual Virginia Private College Week, Monday, July 30, to Saturday, Aug. 4. The program, launched in 1997, is sponsored by the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (CICV) to promote educational opportunities available at the commonwealth's private colleges. Each college or university will host two open houses daily for prospective students and their families and will include campus tours, financial aid and admissions workshops and curriculum/program overviews. Each prospective student who visits three of the 24 participating CICV institutions will receive three application fee waivers for Virginia private colleges. Besides Bridgewater College, other schools participating include Eastern Mennonite University, Lynchburg College, Mary Baldwin College, Randolph College, Roanoke College and Shenandoah University. Click here for the complete story.

KLINE CAMPUS CENTER RENOVATION

Immediately after the last meal was served this spring in the Kline Campus Center, construction crews moved in to completely gut the dining hall and kitchen for a $4 million makeover. Outdated equipment in the kitchen is being replaced with modern appliances, and the former cafeteria-style dining hall is giving way to a food-station arrangement in which students and employees can select the type of meal they want, such as pizza, stir-fry, sandwiches, grilled foods or standard meals. "This complete redesign is a fast-track project that took a lot of coordination by a lot of people," said Anne Keeler, BC's vice president for finance and treasurer. "Coming on the heels of last summer's redesign of the Eagle's Nest, this project caps much-needed improvements and, we feel, will greatly enhance the dining experience at Bridgewater for students and employees alike." Keeler noted that the KCC project includes an upgrade of the furnishings and interior finishes in the lobby area outside the dining hall. Click here for complete story.

DR. BRAZILL PARTICIPATING IN SEMESTER AT SEA PROGRAM

Dr. Timothy Brazill, assistant professor of sociology: criminology and criminal justice, is on a two-and-a-half-month voyage aboard the Semester at Sea program through most of the Pacific Coast countries of Central and South America. The ship left San Diego on June 14 and has made stops in Mexico, Panama and Ecuador, and will soon be in Chile. Stops on the way back to the U.S. include Peru, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Guatemala. Interested parties can follow his progress at www.semesteratseasummer2007.com or www.tim-and-dawn.blogspot.com.


III. ATHLETIC NEWS AND UPDATES

SOFTBALL STAFF RECEIVES REGIONAL HONOR

The BC softball coaching staff has been named the Atlantic Region Coaching Staff of the Year, sharing the honor with Emory University staff. Head coach Donnie Fulk led the Eagles to a college record for victories with a 40-8 overall record and the program's first-ever trip to the NCAA Division III playoffs. Pitching coach Priscilla Halterman and assistants Danny Conley and Skip Eger shared the award with Coach Fulk. Halterman just completed her second season on the Eagles' staff and the pitchers posted a 1.66 ERA, the best in college history. The Eagles ranked No. 17 in the nation in ERA. Conley assists Fulk with the team's hitters. This season, Bridgewater led the nation in scoring with an average of 8.48 runs per game. Eger works with the Eagles' outfielders.

SOFTBALL RANKED NO. 19 IN FINAL POLL

The BC softball team was ranked No. 19 in the nation in the final NFCA 2007 Division III Top 25 poll. The Eagles posted the best record in college history with a 40-8 mark. The team also made the program's first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division III playoffs, losing in the round of 16 to DePauw.



IV. ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

FRONTIER LEAGUE PURCHASES BROOKS' CONTRACT

Jono Brooks, member of the Class of 2007, was a player in the first-year New York State Professional League of Baseball, but it turned out to be a short stint. After hitting .455 in four games for the Rome Coppers, Brooks received the news that his contract had been purchased by the Rockford RiverHawks in the Frontier League. Brooks survived tryouts to earn a spot in the New York State League and was the second player selected in the league's four-team draft. The Bridgewater graduate then became the first player in the upstart league to have his contract purchased by another league. The Frontier League played its first season in 1993 with eight teams. The team now features 12 teams and last year the league drew more than 1.3 million fans to its ballparks. Rockford, the second-largest city in Illinois, moved into a 3,000 seat, state-of-the-art ballpark in 2006. The Frontier League just completed its first half of the 2007 season with Rockford posting a 21-25. Brooks joined the team on Friday, July 13. For more information click here to visit the RiverHawks website

If you have an interesting story idea to spotlight the achievements of an alumnus/a or perhaps an interesting alumni human interest piece, please email it to wesbensh@bridgewater.edu for possible inclusion in an upcoming issue.

V. UPCOMING EVENTS

Aug. 12 - PICNIC IN THE PARK AT CAMDEN YARDS, Baltimore: Picnic in Garden Terrace at noon; Orioles vs. Boston Red Sox, 1:35 p.m. - Sold Out!

Aug. 31 - EAGLES WE-HAUL (freshman move-in day.)

Sept. 4 - FALL SEMESTER BEGINS

Sept. 8 - BC AWAY FOOTBALL GAME TAILGATE AT SHENANDOAH UNIVERSITY

Sept. 15 - CLASS OF 1962 REUION

Oct. 6 - SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ALUMNI GATHERING, at the home of Dr. Wilma Livingston Ferguson, '64, Huntington Beach, CA

Oct. 12-14 - HOMECOMING WEEKEND

Oct. 25 - ROANOKE ALUMNI GATHERING


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