Bluffton University

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Deogratias "Deo" Niyizonkiza, who escaped genocide in Burundi and later returned to found a health care organization there, will be the featured speaker Tuesday, Aug. 30, as Bluffton University welcomes the class of 2015 to campus at its annual opening convocation.

With faculty in regalia looking on, about 280 new first-year and transfer students will be introduced during the ceremony, which begins at 10:45 a.m. in Founders Hall.

Stacy Taylor is a believer in what she calls "karma credits," and based on her career odyssey of late, with seemingly good reason.

The 2004 Bluffton University graduate is convinced that helping others, whether receiving something in return immediately or not, will be rewarded eventually.

A successful fiscal year that ended June 30 helped Bluffton University to a groundbreaking start for 2011-12.

During the 2010-11 year, the university surpassed its goal of $30 million in gifts and pledges to Extending Our Reach-The Campaign for Bluffton, with nearly a year left to go.

The more than $30.5 million that has been raised to date during the multiyear campaign includes $14 million-plus for Bluffton's planned Health and Fitness Education Center (HFEC). Groundbreaking was celebrated on campus July 12, and construction is under way.

Bluffton University's Institute for Learning in Retirement (ILR), an educational program for retirees, is offering 10 courses between Sept. 19 and Nov. 10.

The fall term costs $80, which allows participants to take as many courses as they wish and to join in other ILR activities. Individuals may take one or two courses for $30 each. Registration and course fees, if applicable, are due at the time of registration.

Unless noted otherwise below, classes will meet in the ILR classroom, located in Shultz Hall of Riley Court on campus.

Single-event tickets go on sale Monday, Aug. 1, for the 2011-12 Bluffton University Artist Series, featuring The Four Freshmen and The Ohio State University Flute Troupe, as well as the Chamber Orchestra Kremlin, the Pridonoff Piano Duo and juggler-comedian Mark Nizer.

Bluffton University's 14th annual alumni and friends golf scramble on July 16 raised more than $8,000 for university athletics through TEAM (Together Everyone Achieves More) Bluffton.

Harrod's Colonial Golfers Club hosted the event, which drew 122 golfers from Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and Florida.

The winners of the scramble received monetary prizes. Richard Bindernagel '79 of Middlebury Heights, OH teamed with Dennis Thompson '78 (Elida, Ohio), James Frisk '78 (Wooster, Ohio) and Jeffrey Deyling '78 (Parma, Ohio) all took home first-place honors.

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