Bluffton University is welcoming eight new faculty members in 2011-12.
Joining the faculty as assistant professors are Denise Durenberger, in business; Dr. Ross Kauffman, in Bluffton's new public health program; Dr. J. Walter Paquin, in social work; Dr. Jon Peterson, in music; and Jackie Wyse Rhodes, who will begin work in the religion department next spring semester.
The village of Bluffton will see its annual population spike this weekend, beginning Friday, Aug. 26, with about 280 new first-year and transfer students moving onto the Bluffton University campus.
New student move-in, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, will open a weekend on which other Bluffton undergraduates will return to campus for the start of classes Monday, Aug. 29.
Bluffton University's men's and women's soccer teams will hold a car wash fund-raiser from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 27, according to Rick Nussbaum, coach for both teams.
The annual donation car wash hosted by the soccer teams takes place at Springfield Fireworks between McDonald's and Taco Bell on State Route 103.
All donations are appreciated go toward helping with hotel costs in Chicago for the team's season openers with Moody Bible Institute/Benedictine (men) and St. Joseph's College (women) on Sept. 2 and 3.
After a two-year absence, tennis is back as a varsity sport at Bluffton University. J. Ronald Huber, who is also a member of the athletics halls of fame at both the university and Shawnee High School in Lima, Ohio, will direct the women in 2011. Coach Huber has a young team with no seniors, but plenty of enthusiasm.
Embarking on her first season as the Head Cross Country Coach at Bluffton University, Karen Brandt is excited about the opportunity to work with her athletes and lay the foundation for success in the classroom and on the course.
With five runners for the men and six for the women, Coach Brandt's primary goal is to build a solid program based on both academic and athletic success.
The Bluffton Volleyball Team opens its 2011 season Friday, September 3 in Haverford, PA against the tournament host Fords. Coach Yarnell, who will be entering his seventh season as Bluffton's head coach, hopes to start hot again. In 2010 the Beavers went 9 and 0 before falling to NCAA tournament qualifier Otterbein.
