President Livesay and Alumni Director David Tromanhauser are headed your way on Nov. 17, for dinner and an update about the college. Plan to join them at 6:30 p.m. at the SIM headquarters, 14830 Gold Hill Road, Fort Mill, S.C.

“This has been an exciting semester at Bryan,” Mr. Tromanhauser said. “We have another record enrollment, we’re ready to begin work on the new entrance to the college, and Vision 2020—Bryan’s long-range development plan—is ready to blast off. I hope our Charlotte-area alumni will come together for a great evening. Dr. Livesay’s presentation will get you excited about what God is doing at our alma mater, and it will be a terrific time of fellowship with other alums.”

There is no charge for dinner, which will begin at 6:30 p.m., but alumni planning to attend are asked to RSVP to Mr. Tromanhauser by email at davidt@bryan.edu by Nov. 14.

Bryan will celebrate “Christmas on the Hill” with a concert featuring students in the music department and guest performers Dec. 12 and 13.

Music Department Chairman Dr. Mel Wilhoit said the Chorale, Chamber Singers, Women’s Chorus, Brass and Flute ensembles, and student soloists will be joined by the Metropolitan Bells handbell choir from Chattanooga for the concert. The program will feature traditional Christmas favorites.

“Our special guests, the Metropolitan Bells, are back by popular demand,” Dr. Wilhoit said. “This 20-piece group provides a wonderful change of pace for the concert.”

The concerts in Rudd Auditorium begin at 7:30 p.m. both nights. Before Saturday’s performance the college will offer dinner, by reservation. Cost of the meal is $15 for adults and $6.50 for children. Guests who attend the dinner will be offered reserved seating at the concert. For meal reservations, call Tracey Bridwell at 423-775-7323 before Dec. 10, or register online.

More than 120 graduates are scheduled to receive their degrees during Bryan’s second winter graduation Dec. 19, at the Tivoli Theater in Chattanooga.

Thirteen students in the second cohort of the MBA program are to receive their Master’s degrees, while 111 graduates are scheduled to receive their Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degrees. Of that number, 82 are from the Aspire degree completion program and 29 are traditional students.

The commencement address will be given by Dr. David Banks, president of Mpact Concepts, Destiny Institute, and pastor of The Empowerment Church. Dr. Banks, a 1990 Bryan graduate, is a certified behavioral consultant and a certified relationship specialist.

Mr. Charlie Goodman, a 1979 Bryan graduate, will be the alumni representative for the service. He is the father of Drew Goodman, who will graduate in December.

Bryan added a winter commencement service in 2007, in response to an increasing number of graduates each year and to recognize students in a more timely way after their course requirements are completed.

Bryan College students will move beyond information to active responses to the scourge of human trafficking as they present their third conference on the problem Jan. 23-25, 2009.

Dr. Ron Petitte, director of the Center for International Leadership and faculty advisor for the conference, said the focus this year is reflected in the title: “Criminal Justice Response to Human Trafficking.”

Representatives from the U.S. State Department and Department of Justice, Great Britain’s Scotland Yard, and International Justice Mission have been invited to participate. “This is an international problem,” Dr. Petitte said. “There is a problem in the U.S., but it is magnified beyond our borders.”

“If students feel passionately enough about this issue there are agencies into which they can inject their energies,” Dr. Petitte said. “There is training needed in many cases because you can’t just step up to a street corner and do battle; you could lose your life very quickly. This conference is designed to help students understand areas where they can become involved and become familiar with what they need to do to fight this good fight.”