Celebrating 125 Years
The Bluffton Spirit
Bluffton University’s institutional saga is 125 years old. Throughout its long history there have been periods of disruption to life and education from World War I in the early years to the COVID-19 pandemic most recently.
However, Bluffton showed resilience in its religious principles and stayed true to its mission. Disruptions like this have given way to growth in the university as it continually adjusts to students’ needs and sense of vocation while remaining true to its mission.
With support from a grant from NetVue, Samantha Shrider ’12, director of institutional research and grants, spent the last two years interviewing faculty, staff, alumni and students. The project was intended to reframe and update our saga through the lens of the people who experienced Bluffton’s rich history and students who lived through a pandemic.
The following are short selections from the original recordings. They have been edited for readability. A full record of all transcripts can be found on Bluffton University Memory.
The Bluffton mission statement
Bluffton University is a liberal arts university in northwestern Ohio founded in 1899 and affiliated with Mennonite Church USA. Shaped by that historic peace church tradition and nourished by a desire for excellence in all phases of its programs, Bluffton University seeks to prepare students of all backgrounds for life as well as vocation, for responsible citizenship, for service to all peoples and, ultimately, for the purposes of God's universal kingdom.
Students have left Bluffton so impacted that they chose to continue to live out principles
of peace and nonviolence in their own lives.
Alumni reflect on peace church traditions >
The one thing that always remains is the quality relationships both in and out of
the classroom between students and faculty.
Alumni reflect on academic excellence >
The student experience at Bluffton allows students to lean into their environment
in preparation for life and vocation.
Alumni reflect on finding their vocations >
While the challenges students have faced may have changed over the decades, each still
find ways to connect their experiences at Bluffton to how they live out God’s calling.
Alumni reflect on unexpected career paths >