Greetings from Bryan College.

Students returned to campus this week, and the semester began with the biennial missions conference. The conference opened with a session on “Our Journey of Faith,” and wraps up today with a session titled “Faith in Action.”

In addition to academics—the reason students are here—the semester will be filled with special events, ranging from next Monday’s MLK Service Day to groundbreakings for the new entrance.

We invite you to visit campus when you are able and join in the excitement, fun and challenges that are part of life on the hill as we work to “educate students to become servants of Christ to make a difference in today’s world.”

January

Jan. 19

Martin Luther King Service Day – Faculty, staff, and students do community service.

Jan. 23-25

Scourge Conference: Criminal Justice response to human trafficking. Rudd Auditorium.

Jan. 25

7 p.m., Chamber Singer Concert. First United Methodist Church, Dayton, Tenn.

Jan. 26-31

7 p.m. nightly except Friday at 6:30 p.m. (dinner theatre), Hilltop Players Dessert Theatre production of “Lost in Yonkers.” Reservations, 423-775-7500.

February

Feb. 3

Noon – 2 p.m., Summer Camp Fair. Latimer Student Life Center.

Feb. 4

4 p.m., Senior recitals by Brittany McGehee, piano, and Bryan Rudolph, guitar. Rudd Auditorium.

Feb. 6-7

Presidential Scholarship Weekend

1:15 p.m., Phase I groundbreaking for new entrance. Richland Street.

8 p.m., Music Concert Series: Showcase, featuring students  from the Music and Theatre departments. Rudd Auditorium.

Feb. 13

7:30 p.m., Music Concert Series: Duo Pianists, featuring Ann Pope and Valrie Kantorski. Rudd Auditorium.

January 16, 2009

Bryan sets MLK Service Day Jan. 19

Some 600 Bryan College students, faculty and staff will lay down their books and pick up mops, rakes and chain saws Jan. 19, as the college celebrates its fifth annual Martin Luther King Service Day.

Ben Norquist, assistant director of spiritual formation who is coordinating planning for the event, said the theme this year is “The Least of These.” “Scripture talks about orphans and widows, and we’re trying to figure out who are the orphans and widows among us today. We as a body of Christ are called to be like Christ. He went into the towns and countryside and got into people’s lives.

“We’re trying to pull off an event that is designed to show what service looks like for a lifetime.”

Danielle Rebman, associate for spiritual formation in the Office of Student Life, is directing arrangements for MLK Day. She said some 75 work sites have been identified from Chattanooga to Spring City.

“We have had students sign up according to their areas of interest,” she said. “For example, the baseball team will be working with construction at the youth baseball and softball fields. Computer science students have signed up to work in the IT area, and the Nicaragua Break for Change team will be working with Hispanics in the area. Groups from residence halls, student government and others will be working together.”

Tasks to be tackled include cutting brush, raking leaves, painting, house cleaning and tutoring children, she said.

The day will conclude with dinner and a program presented by the Student Government Association, Miss Rebman said.

Semester opens with missions conference

The biennial missions conference, an in-depth look at human trafficking and an overview of Christian interaction with Darwin’s theory will highlight the early part of Bryan’s spring semester which opened Jan. 14.

The Proceed Missions Conference, with featured speakers Julyan and Ellena Lidstone of Operation Mercy, includes representatives of more than a dozen mission agencies.

From Jan. 23-25, “The Criminal Justice Response to Human Trafficking” focuses on what is being done to combat this modern-day evil. It is designed to give students and others practical insights in how to confront the problem.

At the end of February, The Center for Origins Research will present “War and Peace: 150 Years of Christian Encounters with Darwin.” This conference Feb. 27-28, is part of the CORE 20^th anniversary celebration.

Even as 22 new students enrolled, a number of their classmates were preparing to take advantage of Bryan’s study abroad opportunities, including the Italy Abroad semester at Saints Bible College in San Lorenzo, Italy.

Academic Vice President Dr. Cal White announced two faculty appointments, Dr. Gary Fitsimmons as director of library services and Dr. Kevin Clauson as professor of government and director of the William Jennings Bryan Center for Law and Public Policy. Dr. Fitsimmons comes to Bryan from Sisco Junior College in Sisco, Texas, where he was director of library services. Dr. Clauson was president of the Patrick Henry Institute in Lynchburg, Va., after serving as a professor and head of the government program at Liberty University for 22 years.

127 receive degrees in December

The location was different, but the results were the same as 127 graduates joined the ranks of Bryan College alumni on Dec. 19.

Bryan’s second fall graduation was moved to Chattanooga’s Tivoli Theatre to accommodate the number expected to celebrate with the 13 MBA and 114 Bachelor’s degree candidates. In all, nearly 1,400 friends and family gathered for the event, which featured a challenge from Bryan alumnus Dr. David Banks.

Dr. Banks, president of Mpact Concepts, Destiny Institute and pastor of The Empowerment Church, told graduates, “I challenge you not to graduate and find a job, but to find something that can allow you to live with purpose, passion and potential. You were created not just to make a living but to have an impact, to make a difference.”

President Dr. Stephen D. Livesay congratulated the graduates for completing a course of study that was not easy. He added, “My enduring prayer for you is that you keep in mind the mission of the college, to see Jesus Christ at the very center of your lives. If you do that, we will have done our job well.”

During the ceremony, Dr. Robert Andrews, dean of graduate and professional studies, presented the award for the best Aspire research project to Jennifer Saunders of Chattanooga. Dr. David Luther, chairman of the Bryan faculty, presented the award for the traditional student with the highest academic award to Bethel Ragland of Hodgenville, Ky.

Hudson new VP for Advancement

W. Blake Hudson has been named vice president for advancement at Bryan College, President Stephen D. Livesay has announced.

Mr. Hudson will lead the advancement department’s efforts in fund-raising, alumni relations, public relations and publications, Dr. Livesay said.

Before coming to Bryan, Mr. Hudson served as vice president for advancement at Patrick Henry College in Purcellville, Va., and was director of development for the Bagley College of Engineering at the Mississippi State University Foundation.

He is a graduate of Mississippi State University with a degree in industrial engineering. He worked as an industrial engineer with the Memphis Light, Gas and Water Co. before serving as associate director of fund development for the Southeast region for Campus Crusade for Christ.

“Blake brings a strong record in the development field and shares a passion for high-quality Christian higher education that defines Bryan College,” Dr. Livesay said. “I believe he will provide leadership in the advancement office that will help us take critical steps toward reaching our campus development goals as well as enhancing current initiatives at the college.”

Mr. Hudson said, “I am excited by the opportunity to join with Dr. Livesay and others at Bryan College to achieve the goals of Vision 2020.” Mr. Hudson may be contacted by phone at 423-775-7323 or by email at blake.hudson@bryan.edu.

Mr. Hudson and his wife, Karla, are the parents of five children.