Bluffton’s legacy of community spans generations

Senior Claire Clay was four years old when she first stepped foot in Centennial Hall. Tagging along with her mom, Clay’s idea of going to a college classes meant lots of coloring, playing with dolls and meandering up and down the rows of Stutzman Lecture Hall. Little did that little girl know, Bluffton University would become her home 14 years later.

Some students come to Bluffton for the academic programs, some come for the Mennonite affiliation and some come for the chance to continue their athletic careers.

Others, however, come because Bluffton is the alma mater of one or more family members. These undergraduates are known as legacy students.

Some of these legacy student are seniors Tessa Short, Claire Clay, Kenny Beeker and Sarah Barren. Each has their own unique perspective of Bluffton University and their family’s history that is tied to it.

Each of the four have different stories about their relatives and why they chose Bluffton.

Tessa Short, a marketing and business administration double major, is a fourth-generation Bluffton student. She is preceded by her grandparents, her parents and multiple aunts and uncles.

“I chose Bluffton because when I stepped foot on campus, it felt like I was home,” said Short. “I always pictured myself attending [Bluffton.]”

Short recalls being on campus for Lil’ Sibs Weekend and sharing stories with her grandparents and other relatives.

“One of my favorite memories is watching Toy Story with Aunt Tara in Founders during Lil’ Sibs Weekend,” said Short. “She forgot our pillows and had to run all the way back to Ropp.”

Being able to compare stories throughout generations not only impacts our legacy students, it also impacts their parents.

“My parents joke about how the first time mom saw dad across Marbeck she knew he was interesting,” said Short. “Being able to hear their stories and know where they took place is really sentimental.”

Kenny Beeker, a history and communication double major, has a different perspective on being a legacy student. Beeker attended Bluffton while still in high school, as part of a postsecondary education opportunity.

“I took several classes,” said Beeker. “The two most influential ones were the two literature courses I took with Susan Carpenter.”

Beeker’s mother and father met on Bluffton’s campus, and were both members of the graduating class of 1984.

One of the legacies that Bluffton has integrated into their core values is the sense of community.

“The best thing about Bluffton is the community,” said Beeker. “The professors at Bluffton are as kind as they are knowledgeable. They put pride into producing not only the best professionals but also the best people.”

Not all students feel pressure from their parents to attend a certain university. Beeker is one of those students.

“There was never any expectation to come to Bluffton,” said Beeker. “Both of my parents and my aunt and uncle graduated from Bluffton, but there was never any pressure.”

Sarah Barren, a child development and sociology major, hopes that like herself, her children will pick whichever university benefits them the most.

“I would hope they would because this is a great campus and great community, but just like me, I would hope they will go to the college that they want to attend,” said Barren.

Barren is preceded by her grandmother, who was a member of the graduating class of 1965.

“I did not want to go to the same college as either of my parents,” said Clay. “I told them that when I was in high school.”

“But, look how that worked out for me; I’m definitely biting my tongue now.”

Lydia Mendenhall was a member of the graduating class of 2002. Clay was in attendance at her mother’s baccalaureate and commencement ceremonies and is a third generation Bluffton student, preceded by her mother and grandfather, Gary Clay ‘77.

Clay, a public relations major, had planned a college visit to a large state school, but decided it wasn’t the right choice for her.

“My mom had already taken off work, so she suggested we go to Bluffton for a visit,” said Clay. “I only did it to please her, but I ended up loving the campus and the people I met.”

Clay was almost six years old when her mother graduated from Bluffton, and was known to attend classes with her mother during her time on campus.

“The vivid memories I have of going to college as a three- and four-year-old are surreal to me,” said Clay. “I have these odd deja-vu moments on campus all the time now.”

Clay also remembers moving her mom into Hirschy her freshman year. She only lived on campus for one semester, but Clay remembers parking in the front row lot behind Hirschy and just absolutely sobbing when Clay and her grandparents left without her mom.

Professors on campus knew Clay very well and welcomed her in their classes.

“During my mom’s junior recital in Yoder, I was very upset and crying when she went on stage. The late Dr. Adam Schattschneider picked me up and held me and played with me so I would stop crying.”

Ultimately, what convinced Clay to choose Bluffton was the community atmosphere that greeted her during the visit. Meeting with professors like Dr. Zachary Walton, who also graduated with Clay’s mom, made Clay feel like she belonged.

Clay and her mom share more than an alma mater, however. Mendenhall had Dr. Gerald Mast for Becoming a Scholar her freshman year and Clay has had Mast for multiple classes as a public relations major. In addition, both Clay and her mother had Dr. Perry Bush for Christian Values in a Global Community.

If any legacy students wish to share their family’s story with the alumni director they are encouraged to contact Julia Szabo.