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A Life’s Pursuit
Admissions counselor, Prenger,
completes three degrees – one course
at a time
BY KELLEY M. ARNOLD
DIRECTOR OF NEWS AND
PUBLIC INFORMATION
For BPC staff member and
recent graduate, Barbara
“Bobbie” Prenger, earning
a higher education has
been an uphill battle fought
Dana Bailey, center, serves with the Jubalheirs on a recent mission
one class at a time over the
trip to Moldova. (Photo provided) last 25 years.
held at the Cobb Galleria in Atlanta. Hildegard On May 12, 2007, Prenger,
Stanley was there and she had a guest with her. I an external recruiter/
Barbara “Bobbie” Prenger, BPC admissions
didn’t know him at the time, but it was Jon Duncan. counselor in the college’s
counselor and May 2007 graduate, shows off the
admissions office, emerged
photo of her family that she duct-taped to her dress,
He asked me and a group of friends if we knew of
under her gown, during the May 12 commencement.
anyone who would be interested in the secretary the victor as she graduated She said it was important to have her family walk
position. All of a sudden, it dawned on me who he magna cum laude with
across the stage with her when she received her
was. Here he was asking me if I knew anyone three four-year degrees: a
degrees – three degrees, 25 years of school, and one
class at a time. (Photos by Kelley M. Arnold)
interested in the job – the same job I was bachelor of arts in history, a
interested in applying for. It really was God’s bachelor of arts in English and a bachelor of arts in general studies.
providence – His timing.”
“I didn’t ever think I’d finish this,” says the triple major. “But I did, and I
Bailey said her favorite part of the job, though she don’t plan on quitting. I’m going to keep going.”
enjoys “everything (she does),” is serving all the
Baptist ministers of the state. Prenger, 53, who grew up in Jefferson City, Mo., and has been a
resident of Ailey for the last six years, began work on a master’s degree
“One of my spiritual gifts is enjoying helping during the Summer 2007.
others,” she explains. “In this position, I am able to
use those gifts everyday.” “My main thing is to live long enough to get my Ph.D.,” she says with a
conspiratorial grin.
Bailey “stays very, very busy” with work up to this
point in her life. Her family and friends take priority She thanks her friends, family, and co-workers for supporting her over
and she’s often called upon to keep her other the last quarter of a century; who put up with her evening study hours
friends up-to-date with each other because of her and helped her overcome a fear of participating in the classroom. The
Convention connections. mother of two sons, Chris (36) and Kyle (28), and the proud
grandmother of an active two-year-old little boy, says it is for them that
“My college friends are my best friends,” she adds. she earned these degrees.
Bailey, a ’94 graduate of Sandy Creek High School “I really did these degrees for them,” she explains. “I want my kids and
in Tyrone, was involved with the BPC Choir, Baron my grandkids to say that I did something good. It was a long road, but it
Singers and Chi Alpha Omega sorority, where she sure was worth it. It’s my legacy.”
served several different positions including
chaplain and president. She is the daughter of Prenger explains that her parents, her grandparents and her great-
Royce and Linda Chitwood and the late William grandmother, who was the superintendent of the Jefferson City Schools
“Bill” Bailey. in the 1930s, instilled in her the foundation for her love of learning – one
that she never plans to quit using. As a child, she remembers playing the
If you would like to get in touch with Bailey, contact teacher with the school kids of her neighborhood and would spend her
her at the Convention at dbailey@gabaptist.org. summers at the library cleaning the shelves just so she could be around
all “of those books!”
16 THE LAMP FALL 2007
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