top image

Alumni Newsletter - April 2008


April 2008 | Volume 8, Issue 7
____________________________________________

I. FROM THE OFFICE OF ALUMNI RELATIONS

THE OFFICE OF ALUMNI RELATIONS HAS MOVED

The Office of Alumni Relations recently moved in to a renovated house at 112 College View Drive on the edge of campus. The house was built in 1956 by long-time alumni director, Jacob F. Replogle, and his wife, Thelma Snader Replogle. The next time you are back on campus, please drop by and see us in our new space!

COMING SOON: THE BC ONLINE ALUMNI COMMUNITY…

The Office of Alumni Relations is proud to announce that we will soon be launching an online alumni community! This robust tool will allow you, as an alumnus, to perform social as well as career networking online. Similar to MySpace and Facebook, you will log in to the community and update your personal profile with current contact information and career information; upload class notes and even photos; search the alumni profiles for classmates, roommates and teammates; search for alumni to assist with career opportunities and mentoring; and even upload your resume. STAY TUNED…More information to come.

SAVE THE DATE: PICNIC & ORIOLES GAME – JUNE 1, 2008

Mark your calendars for Sunday, June 1, and plan on joining us for our annual noon picnic in Camden Yards followed by an Orioles vs. Red Sox game at 1:35 p.m. Cost: $37/person (includes picnic and game ticket). RSVP: by Monday, May 5, by contacting the Office of Alumni Relations at 540-828-5451 or email shottel@bridgewater.edu.

COME FOR LUNCH IN RICHMOND

The annual luncheon for Bridgewater College alumni and friends during the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference will be held at noon Sunday, July 13, at the Marriott Richmond Downtown Hotel. The program will include a campus update from President Phillip C. Stone and an introduction by Dr. Stephen L. Longenecker, professor of history, of a new book published by the Church of the Brethren colleges in commemoration of the denomination’s 300th anniversary. The Merlin E. and Dorothy Faw Garber Award for Christian Service will be presented to Dr. Dale Ulrich, former provost, dean and professor of physics, emeritus, and his wife, Claire, and to Dan Rudy, a senior philosophy and religion major from Mt. Airy, Md. Shirley Fulcher Wampler, a member of the West Richmond Church of the Brethren, will preside at the luncheon. Tickets are $17 and may be ordered online through the Annual Conference link at www.brethren.org or by sending your order and a check payable to Bridgewater College to Office of Church Relations, College Box 186, Bridgewater College, Bridgewater, VA, 22812. Questions? Contact Ellen Layman at elayman@bridgewater.edu.


II. CAMPUS NEWS AND UPDATES

CEREMONY TO RENAME BUILDINGS AT BC, HONOR WAMPLER FAMILIES

Four buildings at Bridgewater College known simply as the Student Apartments were renamed in a ceremony that honored members of several Wampler families who have long supported and sustained the College. The dedication, April 3, was moved indoors due to inclement weather and held in the McKinney Center for Science and Mathematics beside the student apartments.

· Wampler Tower A was dedicated in honor of life trustee and former chairman of WLR Foods William D. Wampler (class of 1950) and his wife, Bonnie Lou May Wampler, who was recognized as an honorary alumna of the College in 2005.

· Wampler Tower B was dedicated in honor of former WLR Foods chairman and Virginia House of Delegates member Charles W. Wampler Jr. (class of 1937) and his wife, Dorothy Liskey Wampler.

· Wampler Tower C was dedicated in honor of life trustee J. Paul Wampler and Priscilla Wakeman Wampler (both class of 1954). The couple received the College's Outstanding Service Award in 1991.

· Wampler Tower D was dedicated in honor of the Frederick and Anna Driver Wampler family, which has been continually intertwined with the history of Bridgewater College.

"The Wampler families honored made significant contributions to the life of Bridgewater College and, through their lives and work have brought distinction to themselves and the College they love," said Bridgewater College President Phillip C. Stone.

BC STUDENT-FUNDRAISER TO HELP BUILD LIBRARY IN POOR ZAMBIAN VILLAGE

On Saturday, April 12, the Bridgewater College Student Senate hosted "Gifts for Africa" in Cole Hall. The event raised money to help complete the construction of a Zambian Knowledge Bank (ZANOBA) library in the village of Nkhanga, in the Lundazi district of the country. The project to build the library is spearheaded by Mwizenge S. Tembo, a native of Nkhanga, Zambia, and associate professor of sociology at Bridgewater College. ZANOBA, a non-profit, charitable organization, was founded in 1995 by Tembo and Wyndioto Chisela. Its mission is to encourage all Zambians to document, preserve, and enjoy traditional and modern Zambian culture. Click here for complete story.

BC SYMPHONIC BAND GIVES FINAL CONCERT OF ACADEMIC YEAR

The Bridgewater College Symphonic Band will present its final concert of the 2007-2008 academic year at 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, in the Carter Center for Worship and Music. The concert, under the leadership of Dr. Timothy Weir, visiting assistant professor of music and director of instrumental music at Bridgewater College, will demonstrate the Symphonic Band's versatility and musicianship as the program draws on music from a wide variety of sources. The concert is open to the public at no charge. Click here for complete story.

CLIMATE IS FOCUS OF NASA SCIENTIST ON EARTH DAY AT BC

A NASA scientist who helped build the space-based Earth Observing System and has spent the last 27 years measuring the Earth using orbital technology will speak at Bridgewater College in observance of Earth Day. Robert Wolfe, a 1980 alumnus of Bridgewater College, will speak on Monday, April 21, at 7:30 p.m. in the Spoerlein Lecture Hall in the McKinney Center for Science and Mathematics. His talk, which will focus on global measurements of Earth from space and how they help us understand climate, is free and open to the public. Click here for complete story.

THE BRIDGEWATER FUND COUNTDOWN

Just a couple months are left until the end of our fiscal year, June 30, 2008. That means there is still time to help Bridgewater College meet this year's alumni participation goal of 28 percent by making a gift to the Bridgewater Fund. Meeting this goal is important because these gifts, regardless of size, are used for BC's highest priorities. Click here to see how your class is doing. Once there, you can use the Click & Pledge button to make your own gift and be counted with your classmates who have already made a gift. Thank you!


III. ATHLETIC NEWS AND UPDATES

BRIDGEWATER’S WINNINGEST COACH CALLS IT QUITS AFTER 32 SEASONS

The most victorious coach in Bridgewater College history has announced she will step down from coaching and return to full-time teaching after 32 years at the helm of the College's volleyball program. Mary Frances Heishman is a professor of health and exercise science who came to BC in 1970 as head lacrosse and assistant basketball coach. She started the volleyball program in 1975 and, in 1976, the program became a varsity sport for Bridgewater. Since then, she has molded the program into one of the most respected teams in Division III. Heishman finishes her career with 653 wins and 270 losses. Entering this past season, she ranked No. 5 in total victories among active Division III coaches. "I feel very fortunate to have worked with the quality of athletes that I have," Heishman said. "People will mention the 653 wins and what an accomplishment that is, but that was earned by my players." Click here for complete story.

BC MEN WIN AT MESSIAH; WOMEN FINISH FOURTH

04/12/2008 - The Bridgewater College men’s track team scored 151 points to win the 18-team Messiah Invitational on Saturday, and the women finished fourth in a field of 16 teams. Melvin Queen won both sprints, running a 10.79 to win the 100 and a 21.77 to win the 200. His time in the 200 set a Bridgewater College record in the event. Nathan Turner continued to dominate the throws with two firsts and a third. Turner won the shot with a throw of 15.92 meters and the hammer with a throw of 51.77 meters. Nathan Rittenhouse also picked up a first for the Eagles by winning the 1500 meters with a time of 4:02.19. JT Painter won the 110 hurdles with a time of 15.27 seconds to lead a 1-2-3 sweep in the event for the Eagles. The Bridgewater women's 4x100 relay team broke the BC record for the second week in a row, running a 48.54 at Messiah. The time also met the NCAA provisional qualifying mark for the event. Click here for complete story.

RIDERS TAKE RESERVE CHAMPIONSHIP AT ODAC SHOW

04/11/2008 - Hollins University edged Bridgewater College for the championship Friday at the ODAC Horse Show held at the Bridgewater College Equestrian Center. Hollins finished the show with 17 points, one more than the Eagles.The Eagles won both Equitation Over Fences classes to hold the lead entering the final class, but BC finished fifth in the Equitation on the Flat to finish as reserve champion overall. For the second consecutive year, the Eagles took home ODAC Rider of the Year honors with Patti Ann Thornton earning the top award. Thornton turned in the highest score of the show with an 89 average in the second Equitation Over Fences class.

COPELAND, CARTER WORKS OUT FOR PRO SCOUTS

03/20/2008 - Two Bridgewater football standouts had the opportunity to impress scouts from the NFL’s New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles at the James Madison University pro day on March 19. Brandon Copeland (WR/PR) and Phil Carter (RB/KR) registered some of the more impressive times and distances on the day. Copeland posted the top broad jump and vertical, while Carter ran the fastest 3-cone drill. Copeland ran a 4.44 time in the 40 while Carter posted a 4.50 time. The two former BC players were joined by seven other graduating seniors from JMU, Ferrum, St. Paul's, VMI and Virginia Union.

IV. ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

EPPES CHOSEN AS BILLY VIZZINI SCHOLARSHIP WINNER

Courtesy: CSVA (Collegiate Sports Video Association) http://www.csva.com/

The CSVA Executive Board announced the first Billy Vizzini CSVA Conference Scholarship winner. Andrew Eppes, ’01, was selected by submitting an essay of 250 words that explains the circumstances for the need of the scholarship and why he was the most deserving candidate. This scholarship will provide airfare and hotel stay for Eppes during this year's CSVA convention. A Lynchburg, Va., native, Eppes graduated in 2001 with a degree in business administration. He played soccer at Bridgewater all four years and was a captain his senior year. After college he interned with Athletes in Action and also volunteered with the University of Virginia football video department. In 2007, he went to work with the NFL’s Miami Dolphins and was in charge of special teams video. Andrew just finished working with the University of North Carolina football video department. Click here for complete story.

V. UPCOMING EVENTS

April 18-19 – ALUMNI WEEKEND, on campus

April 30 – LAST DAY OF CLASSES

May 1-6 – FINAL EXAMS

May 11 – BACCALAUREATE (10 a.m.), COMMENCEMENT (2 p.m.)

May 16-30 – ALUMNI TRIP – ITALY

May 27 – SUMMER SESSION 1 BEGINS

June 1 – PICNIC AND ORIOLES GAME VS. RED SOX, Camden Yards in Baltimore

July 13 – CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN ANNUAL CONFERENCE LUNCHEON, Richmond, VA

Click here to view the Office of Alumni Relations Calendar

Click here to view the BC Campus Calendar

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BACK ISSUES OF EAGLE CURRENTS AND BRIDGEWATER MAGAZINE
Were you too busy at the time to read an issue of Eagle Currents or maybe you deleted the email by mistake? Click here for online back issues of Eagle Currents.
Misplace an issue of the Bridgewater magazine or want to share an article with a friend? Back issues of Bridgewater are available online by visiting:
Click here for online back issues of Bridgewater.


This electronic newsletter is published by the Bridgewater College Office of Alumni Relations. Comments and suggestions are welcome. If you know of someone who is not receiving the publication but would like to, please ask them to email alumnews@bridgewater.edu

The electronic mailing list is restricted so that only the BC Office of Alumni Relations can post to the group. You will not receive broadcast replies to these messages from other recipients. If you do not want to receive Eagle Currents, simply email alumnews@bridgewater.edu and type “unsubscribe” in the subject header. Be sure to include your name and class year so we can suppress your email address on our database.


For more information, check the BC Office of Alumni Relations’ Web site at www.bridgewater.edu/alumni or call 540-828-5451.