Welcome to Bluefield at 100! Bluefield College is celebrating 100 years and has undergone a name change! Each week, in honor of this milestone, The Confusing Middle will shine the spotlight on an individual who spent time at Bluefield University, giving them a chance to fill us all in on where they are and how they’ve been doing since the college years. I hope you’ll join us back here every week as we get reacquainted with some old friends!

This week we’re hearing from Dave Ebert!

1. What have you been up to since your time in Bluefield?
   For a few years I remained in radio and did some part-time work for the Bluefield Daily Telegraph. Mostly bounced around while trying to make it in pro-wrestling (not the first BC alum to wrestle professionally!) Since 2013, I’ve been working to pay bills and pursuing improv comedy as a ministry. 
2. Where are you living now? For how long?
   I live near Joliet, IL, about 35 miles from Chicago. Been here since 2015. 
3. Did you pursue any education after college? If so, what degrees have you obtained?
   Improv classes only
4. Where did you earn your first “grown-up” paycheck?
   First full-time job outside of college that wasn’t a stopgap job was as a houseparent at a group home in Wytheville.
5. Who is your current employer and what is your job title?
   TWiG Technologies, Wheaton, IL, and I am a Project Administrator
6. What are your hobbies? What do you end up doing in your spare time?
   I teach and perform improv as much as I can. I volunteer at Salt and Light Coalition to teach improv to ladies who have survived sex trafficking. 
7. Have you done much traveling? Where have you visited?
   A little bit. I’ve been to Florida a few times, served with Samaritan’s Purse in Colorado in 2014. Our honeymoon was in Niagara Falls, Canada.
8. Are you married? If so, who is your spouse?
   Yes. Married Bobbie (Carroll) Ebert June 27, 2015
9. How did you and your spouse meet?
   She was dating a friend from church while I was dating someone else. It was a group date. Months later, I was actually trying to get them back together, but ended up getting feelings for her and God opened the door. (I was also single, so I wasn’t going out on the girl I was dating when Bobbie and I first met)
10. Do you have children? What are their names/ages?
    No kids yet. Waiting expectantly for God to make it happen. I married into 3 cats, though. They’re hers. 
11. Tell us a funny story about your kids…
    N/A
12. What was your favorite class at Bluefield?
    I think I would have to say the journalism classes with Mimi Merritt or creative writing with Rob Merritt. I had some with Dr. Massey that were really challenging…if I hadn’t been lazy and applied myself, I think those would have made this list. 
13. Which teachers influenced your life and made a lasting impression? Why?
    Dr. Massey. Tough, fair, challenging, but kind. Later, once I really pursued my relationship with God, I appreciated more his heart for God, The Bible, and students. 
14. What was your major and/or minor?
    Major: English-Creative Writing, Minor: Communications
15. What did you want to be when you “grew up?”
    Journalist/Sports Writer
16. What was your funniest moment in college?
    I can’t remember. I know I had some funny moments, but a funniest…can’t think. Maybe the time I let Ty Hollins borrow my cell phone and told her to dial 9 to get an outside line…when I came back she told me my phone was broke because she couldn’t dial out. 
17. What was your most embarrassing moment?
    PA Announcing when the game was well over, and the crowd was dead. One of the opposing players just lost the ball. I said, “Forgot something…” The refs, our coach at the time Jason Gillespie, and several others made sure I knew it was out of line…which I knew the second I said it. 
18. What was the dumbest thing you did in college? Was it worth it?
    I told one of my professors I left my homework in my dorm room on the printer…homework that didn’t exist…and she told me to go get it…I’ve never walked so slow. 5 minute walk became 25 minutes…Not really. I’m not sure of his last name now, but the look on Josh’s face when he realized that I was full of it before leaving the room was priceless. Not worth it. 
19. What is your most vivid memory from Bluefield College?
    Getting my diploma at graduation day…something my 3rd grade teacher told me was impossible because I would be lucky to graduate high school. 
20. Was there ever something you wanted to do during your college days but never did?
    A couple of girls I wanted to ask out…but obviously it’s worked out for the best. In college I should have developed a habit of writing for more than just homework and deadlines. 
21. What was your go-to during Late Night in the Shott Hall dining room?
    Mozzarella sticks
22. Did you play any sports?
    JV Basketball
23. How about intramurals?
    Flag football
24. Did you pledge with a fraternity or sorority?
    Sigma Alpha Alpha. Only because my cousin Mikey Parks was the President at the time. 
25. Were you involved in any other extracurriculars (theater, yearbook, clubs, etc.)?
    PA Announcing the games. That was always fun. 
26. What on-campus events did you enjoy participating in or attending?
    Loved when the Dome was rocking on basketball game nights. 
27. Did you jump into the mud pit on Mud Pig Day?
    Never did. 
28. Did you have a work-study job on campus?
    I didn’t. 
29. Did you have a job off campus?
    Part-time radio announcer on Star95, Part-time freelance writer for the Bluefield Daily Telegraph 
30. Which dorm did you live in? Or did you commute?
    Cruise Hall
31. Tell us your craziest roommate story…
    Nothing sticks out
32. Which classmate influenced you the most?
    What’s sad, really, is this was a time where my depression was really bad, so I never let anyone truly “in” so they could have an impact that would warrant an answer.
33. What personal experiences since college would you like to share?
    As mentioned above, I battled depression, and that lasted from high school through my 3 years at Alice Lloyd College and my 2 at Bluefield, all the way until 2013, 9 years after graduating. 
34. What plans do you have for the next 10 years?
    My hope is to find more opportunities to do improv training like I am doing with the ladies who’ve survived sex trafficking, and to perform comedy wherever to bring people closer to God. I used to use comedy as a way to hide who I was, but I now use it to reveal Who He is.

I want to thank Dave for taking time to answer all these questions and for sharing with us this week! Come back next week when another Bluefield survivor takes the hot seat!

And if you spent time at Bluefield College and want to participate, please reach out to me at confusing.middle@gmail.com and I will send you the full list of questions! Until next time, GO RAMS!