Bluffton University news
Alumni discount
A 20 percent tuition discount on a MBA, MAOM, MAEd, MSW or Master of Dietetics degree is available to all alumni who earned an undergraduate degree at Bluffton.
Changes to the Board
Following best practices for an engaged board, the Board of Trustees changed its bylaws, reducing the number of members and standing committees. Retiring trustee Mitch Kingsley was also recognized.
Invasive plants
A $25,000 Cenovus grant will fund the removal of invasive plants from the Bluffton University Nature Preserve. This work will allow native plants to thrive.
Commencement 2023
More than 200 students received degrees on a beautiful Saturday morning. Commencement speaker Kathy (Gaines '78) Carr encouraged them to "Have faith in how far you can go."
Dean's Reception
Faculty members were recently recognized at the annual Dean's Reception, an academic year-end event honoring faculty who have been awarded grants and other scholarly endeavors.
Academic excellence
Student scholars were recognized at the annual Academic Awards and Honors Forum.
Pottery sale
Students will be selling original pieces of pottery outside of Sauder Visual Arts Center April 28-30 from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. each day. Profits from each sale will be given to the artist.
Burrow philosophy
Coach Jimmy Burrow, aka "Joe Burrow's dad," shared his "Plan to Win" at the Athletic Awards Forum. Outstanding senior athletes and supporters of Bluffton athletics were also recognized.
Spring Fling Concert
Bluffton University's music ensembles will come together for a spring concert featuring fun and familiar tunes on Sunday, April 23 in Yoder Recital Hall.
Spring choral concert
Camerata Singers and University Chorale will perform a spring concert at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 16.
Lifetime of activism
Rev. Valerie Bridgman looked back on her 50 years of experience as a peace activist during the annual Keeney Peace Lecture.
Civic Engagement
Styled like a conference, Civic Engagement Day sessions ranged from sociology students presenting about YikYak to interactive theatre workshops on conversations on race and gender.
Athletic awards
During the presentation, the football coach will discuss lessons learned from a career in coaching such as how to be successful and persevere through adversity.
Oratorical contest
Payton Stephens '22, a writing and communication and media double major from Lebanon, Ohio, was named the winner of the annual C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest.
Juried Student Art
The best visual arts pieces created this academic year in university art classes or supervised independent studies will be displayed in the 55th Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition.
Oratorical contest
Bluffton's annual C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest is on April 5 at 7 p.m. Participating students will prepare an oration that applies a peace-church perspective to an issue of contemporary concern.
Let's Listen
Georgia Metz '13 returned to campus for spring semester's Spiritual Life Week. The theme, "Let's Listen," reflects conversations around the polarization of society and the ways technology shapes us.
Welcome Coach Clark
Seth Clark, former assistant men's basketball coach at Manchester University, will serve as the next head men's basketball coach at Bluffton University.
Student musicians
The varied program will include an arrangement of "It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing," "Mas Que Nada," and an arrangement of "The Incredibles."
Path to publication
New York Times Bestselling Author Rae Carson shared a few lessons she learned on her journey to becoming a full-time author during Bluffton University's 38th English Festival.
Full-circle musical
The spring musical "Quilters" features a quilt created for a previous performance at Bluffton. It has been taken out of the archives to be featured once again on stage.
Alumni travel
Join President Jane M. Wood and fellow travelers in Scotland and Ireland. Tour participants will visit small villages, enjoy the beautiful countryside and view seaside cliffs.
Ambassadors named
President's Ambassadors for 2023-24 have been named. They will receive professional development training and will engage with prospective students, alumni and donors.
Presidential Scholars
Logan Daugherty and Abbigail Martin, incoming students at Bluffton University, have been awarded the full-tuition Presidential Scholarship, valued at nearly $140,000 for four years.
Senior art exhibit
The exhibit opens March 13 and runs through March 25 in the Grace Albrecht Gallery of Bluffton University's Sauder Visual Arts Center.
'Quilters' musical
Through music, story and dance, the challenges and joys women faced on the North American frontier will be performed as the spring musical "Quilters."
Commencement speaker
Kathy (Gaines) Carr, a 1978 Bluffton graduate, long-time educator and community advocate, will address the 2023 graduating class during the May 6 Commencement ceremony.
A look into the past
History students “put their fingers on the bones of Lima’s historic African American neighborhood” in Perry Bush’s Theory and Application class. “What they found is significant,” said Bush.
Cross-cultural
Immersed in new environments, participants experience diverse lifestyles, make new friendships and learn respect for other heritages all while meeting personal challenges which build character.
Board action taken
The Board of Trustees approved a new construction project and a grant for students, recognized retiring faculty and welcomed a new board member during its annual winter meeting.
Fischer Press Box
Construction for the Coach Kim Fischer Softball Press Box will start in May 2023. Former student-athletes, fans and friends contributed toward the two-story building.
Bluffton Bread Company
Students are gaining hand-on learning experiences with the Bluffton Bread Company. Triple Chocolate, Birthday Bread and Asiago Cheddar bread are available through Feb 28.
Sustain leadership
President Dr. Jane Wood was one of just 15 college presidents selected for The Council of Independent Colleges' Presidential Renewal Program.
Citizenship for COs
Following World War I, prospective US citizens were asked: "Are you willing to take up arms in defense of country?" The impact of this question on pacifists was discussed at Forum.
PAX presentation
The public is invited to watch two presentations of the World Friendship Center's Peace Ambassador Exchange (PAX) at The Lion and Lamb Peace Arts Center.