Story and photo by Abby Rosengarten

Bluffton mom, mother of three, grandmother of four, and college mom to many, Marcia Gallant plays an important part on the Bluffton University campus.

Since 1984, Marcia Gallant has served as Bluffton University's Marbeck Center secretary. She is responsible for the campus space reservation system, Marbeck student employee training, answering phones calls and ensuring that campus mail is delivered and metered each day.

However, Gallant goes outside of her job requirements and opens her heart and home to students attending Bluffton University. She gives students advice, wisdom and someone to talk to, when their "real" mom isn't there.

At Christmas time, she hosts a party at her home for the Marbeck Center employees to visit, socialize, and eat home-made food. Currently, Gallant can name all the faculty and staff on campus along with their mailbox numbers.

"When the university was only a college and had approximately 500 students, I also knew every students' name on campus," said Gallant. Her favorite thing about Bluffton University is the people. "The people here make my job truly enjoyable," said Gallant.

Gallant loves sports; in fact in 1996 she won Bluffton University's Larry W. Jones award. According to the Bluffton University website, "The Larry W. Jones award is presented to a non-athlete (student, faculty/staff member or citizen) 'in recognition of interest, support and significant contributions to Bluffton University Athletes'." Gallant's favorite sports to watch at Bluffton University are basketball and football.

Aside from Bluffton, she is a die-hard Ohio State University football fan.

"I love Ohio State so much, I have Ohio State decorations in every room of my house," said Gallant. Her favorite OSU player is number51 Ross Homan, native of Coldwater, Ohio, because he is "a good kid from a good local community." Gallant hopes to get to an OSU game yet this year. "I bleed scarlet and grey," said Gallant.

Gallant wouldn't miss a Bluffton game for the world, nor would she miss an OSU game. "I don't want to miss out on either game so when they play at the same time, I wear my headphones to the Bluffton University game and listen to the OSU game," said Gallant.

When Gallant isn't watching sports she enjoys reading, sewing, and traveling. She and her husband, Darryl, hope to travel to all 50 states someday.

"We only have a few left...Louisiana, North Dakota, Alabama, and Arkansas. Seeking things to do in these states is the hardest part," said Gallant.

Abby Rosengarten is enrolled in the Introduction to Feature Writing course this semester at Bluffton University. Her instructors are Mary and Fred Steiner.