“You never stop learning. And if you do, you’re in trouble.” Bridgewater College alumnus Jeffrey Heppard ’74 lives by these words and gives to his alma mater to support future generations of students in doing the same.
The native of Pitman, N.J., ran track and cross country for BC and graduated summa cum laude with a degree in history. After Bridgewater, Heppard attended the University of Virginia for graduate school and then went to Rutgers Law School. He worked in BC admissions for two years and then as a lawyer for 25 years. He now works for Chaslyn Financial Group as a wealth advisor.
Heppard has been a donor to BC since the 1970s but is particularly proud of a role he took on in the lead-up to his 50th college reunion in 2024. He co-chaired the Class Gift Subcommittee of the Class of 1974’s 50th Reunion Planning Committee, which raised funds to create and name the Digital Media Lab in Bowman Hall.
“I had heard the lab was something they needed,” Heppard says. “It heartened me greatly to go up there and see two students working in the Digital Media Lab on a Friday evening.”
Kiya Whitaker ’26 is one of the BC students making use of the Digital Media Lab. A senior digital media arts major and professional writing minor, Whitaker came to Bridgewater because she wanted a small college where she could build strong connections.
Whitaker found just that at Bridgewater. She says she has been able to build close relationships with professors like Ron Alabanza, Senior Practitioner in Residence in Art, with whom she worked on a research project this summer. Whitaker says that Alabanza also helped her network and earn an internship with BC’s Office of Alumni Relations.
“I have learned a lot about branding, specific photos, marketing, social media and poster designs for events,” Whitaker says of her coursework at BC. “I then got to apply what I have learned in class to a professional setting in the Alumni Relations office.”
Thanks to the donations from Heppard and the Class of 1974, a Digital Media Lab is now housed on the third floor of Bowman Hall for students to use. The lab has a variety of professional equipment.
“It is truly such a great resource,” Whitaker says. “We get to use industry standard technology and equipment, as well as experiment with 3D printers, better quality cameras and Adobe platforms that we get for free.”
After college, Whitaker says she plans to stay in the area and find a job in graphic design. She hopes to bring ideas to life and publish something with the tools from the Digital Media Lab.
“I wish I could express my gratitude for this opportunity to use this professional equipment to build our portfolios as professionals,” Whitaker says. “I feel confident and prepared to enter the digital media field.”
Heppard says he is glad to hear that the Class of 1974 donation is being put to good use.
“One thing that I left Bridgewater with was a love for learning,” Heppard says. “I want these students to leave with that same lifelong love for learning.”
– Gracie Moyers
12/1/25
