Highlights from the BJU Board Meeting
Online undergraduate degrees, enhanced financial aid packages and the approval of the revised FY 2025 budget highlighted the fall meeting of the Bob Jones University Board of Trustees recently held on the University campus.
The Board granted approval for the BJU School for Continuing, Online and Professional Education (SCOPE) to develop a plan to expand its dual enrollment offerings and launch fully online undergraduate degrees.
The Trustees authorized aggressive financial aid offerings to make BJU’s world-class education more affordable, including free tuition for South Carolina students from households with less than $100,000 AGI. Financial aid packages will be retooled to offset the delay in FAFSA implementation and give prospective students and their parents greater certainty of financial assistance earlier in the application process.
“The fall board meeting is traditionally held the same week as Homecoming. Both events serve as a time to reflect on what God has allowed us to accomplish this year, reconnect with alumni and friends of the University and look toward the future,” said BJU President Josh Crockett. “I appreciate the faithful service of our faculty and staff and all they do to support our wonderful student body. Their joyful resilience in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene enabled us to quickly return to full operations and welcome guests to campus this weekend.”
The Board unanimously added two new members, Carolyn (Mook) Rohrer (‘02) of El Cajon, California, and Deanna (Fitzgerald) Brammer (‘90) of Taylors, South Carolina.
The Board expressed appreciation to BJU’s students, faculty, staff and alumni for the University’s results in the recent U.S. News & World Report’s College Rankings where we were again ranked as one of the Best Regional Universities in the South and recognized as a Best Value University and noted for the social mobility of our students.
They also applauded Dr. Crockett for the formation of an innovation team comprised of faculty and staff which is looking at operations campuswide with the goal of improving effectiveness.
“The Board fully supports Dr. Crockett. We are assured he is the person God would have to lead the University at this time,” said Dr. Sam Dawson, BJU Board of Trustees chair. “We especially commend him for his leadership this semester in making vibrant changes to chapel services and leading through recent financial challenges.”
President Crockett’s State of the University Address
Last Friday, President Josh Crockett delivered the State of the University Address to BJU alumni and friends here for Homecoming. In his address he shares his perspective of the past six months serving in this role and the steps he is taking to accomplish growth and unity within our constituency. As part of his pursuit of growth, he introduced the new appointee leading the Enrollment team and also invited his audience to play a special part in recruiting.
And The Awards Go To. . .
During Homecoming last week, The Alumni Relations Department, on behalf of Bob Jones University, presented the 2024 Alum of the Year award and two Lifetime Achievement awards. Thank you to the many who nominated fellow alumni for these awards ─ we considered each nomination carefully. While only a few recipients were chosen from the pool of nominations this year, your nominations are extremely valuable to us and will be reconsidered next year.
The Alum of the Year award is given to graduates who are at least 15 years post-graduation, have outstanding and recent accomplishments in career and/or ministry, and have given significant service to their alma mater and/or BJU community.
The Lifetime Achievement award recognizes graduates who are at least 30 years post-graduation and whose lives are characterized by outstanding Christian service, accomplishments and impact on their sphere of influence.
Click on the button below to find out the 2024 top alumni award recipients. You won’t want to miss their stories!
Call for 2024 Alumni Giving Tree Nominations
Because of the generosity of BJU alumni and friends, last year’s Giving Tree Recipients received a donation of $33,500! The David and Bethany Wallace family needed our prayer and financial support as they navigated the terminal diagnosis for both their young daughters, Charlotte and Sophie. And our community stepped up. Thank you!
Once again, we need your help in identifying a recipient for this year’s Giving Tree fundraiser. Your submissions should be a BJU alum with demonstrated financial need. Please send your submission by Monday, Nov. 4.
The chosen recipient will be announced in the November edition of The Voice, as well as on the Alumni Relations social media accounts. Thank you.
If you have any questions, please contact us by email at [email protected] or by phone at (800) 320-4383.
Employment Opportunities
BJU Faculty Positions
BJA Positions
Alumni Updates
Future Bruins
Chesebrough, James ‘16 and Jennifer (VerWay) ‘16, Vivienne Maartje, January 29, 2024
Clater, Joshua ‘13 and Kerri (Bush), Vivian Zuri, June 13, 2023
Ross, Ryan and Ashley (Gwillim) ‘16, Amelia James, July 13, 2024
Marriages
Messer: Erin Matthews ‘22 to Jared ‘18, August 17, 2024
Swaffer: Candice Taylor ‘23 to Jonathan ‘23, August 9, 2024
Deaths
Anderson, Loice (Dorwald) ‘58, August 30, 2024
Ashley, Marlene (Sparkman) ‘76, July 17, 2024
Bate, Mary ‘98 FE, July 8, 2024
Bell, Betty (Greene) ‘54, June 9, 2024
Buchanan, J. Richard “Dick” ‘55, August 18, 2024
Bustard, Betty (Walker) ‘57, August 9, 2024
Cloer, Bobby ‘54, July 26, 2024
Conrad, Dorothy (Cobb) ‘55, August 13, 2024
Courteol, Julian ‘52, September 18, 2024
Easton, Gregory ‘85 FE, August 28, 2024
Fields, Gay (Bowgren) ‘67 RFS, September 7, 2024
Gardner, Alice (Rundell) ‘54, June 16, 2024
Glaske, Ibby (Danley) ‘51, July 22, 2024
Griese, Brad Sr. ‘80, September 14, 2024
Grubbs, Peggie “Jody” (Conley) ‘54 FE, August 8, 2024
Hodges, Melodi ‘93, July 26, 2024,
Hollar, David ‘67, July 13, 2024
Ingram, David ‘79, September 15, 2024
Johnson, Sandra (Hills) ‘82, January 2024
Kendall, Paul ‘53, June 18, 2024
Kirn, Alice (Stangland) ‘57, July 21, 2024
Mahler, Timothy ‘92, August 21, 2024
Matthews, Guye Ellen (Johnson) ‘59 RFS, August 29, 2024
McCauley, William “Bill” ‘63 RFS, September 1, 2024
Michaelson, Nancy (Nelson) 1yb, August 14, 2024
Miller, Harry II ‘76, FE, September 12, 2024
Moxley, David ‘78, June 26, 2024
Opperman, Robert ‘81, July 19, 2024
Owens, Philip ‘58 FE, July 31, 2024
Reed, Carrell (Dix) ‘58, July 14, 2024
Reeder, Douglas ‘76, June 28, 2024
Rozell, Jeffrey ‘81, FE, June 30, 2024
Sala, Harold ‘58 FE, August 6, 2024
Seeley, Mable ‘67, July 21, 2024
Skeels, Patricia (Scherner) ‘61, FE, July 1, 2024
Watt, Glenn ‘56, May 29, 2024
Wilchacky, Diana (Perry) ‘61, August 10, 2024
Wolf, Robert ‘69 FE, August 16, 2024
*FE indicates a long-time former employee of BJU.
*RFS indicates a Retired Faculty or Staff of BJU.
Class Notes
Angela (Ashby) Duncan ‘08 owns her own business, “Joyfulnotes Piano for Beginners,” which has enabled her to publish four piano books for kids and launch an online course teaching the books. The books and course are all written from a Christian perspective with the goal of “Teaching Kids About God Through Music” and use a colour-coded method which is ideal for young children as well as students who have special learning challenges.
Dr. Bob Hodges ‘77 is beginning his 49th year as an educator and his 4th at Excelsior Classical Academy in Durham, NC.
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson ‘72 will join the University of Arkansas School of Law as executive in residence during the spring 2025 semester.
Steve LaRocco ‘04 is now pastor at Bible Baptist Church in Madison, Ohio.
Chaplain (LTCOL) Matthew Sprecher ‘90 has been selected by the US Army War College to serve as a Fellow at Notre Dame’s School of International Studies for the 2024-2025 school year.
