Jaxon Bast: From BU Student to BU Employee

Photo provided by Rampage student photographer Abby Gasperson.

Jaxon Bast is a December 2023 Bluefield University graduate who earned a bachelor’s degree in Sports Communication and who wasted no time landing his first job after college…at his alma mater, BU.

Bast spoke about his journey from being a BU student to becoming a BU employee. He said he was hoping to find a job opportunity in the area, so before graduating he asked BU’s Karl Hatton, vice president for admissions and student development, if there were any job openings in the Admissions Office.

“He told me that he would look into it and let me know,” Bast said. “I was actually at the cafeteria during the last week of school when I bumped into him, and he told me there was one (a job opening). I was running a little behind schedule on my last day here before I was going home, and they called me to set up an interview and within the hour, I had my interview.”

And soon after the interview, Bast had his job offer. He said he wanted to stay in Bluefield because he fell in love with the community while here as a student.

“I really love the community that (exists) in a small place like Bluefield,” Bast said. “As a starry-eyed big boy from Birmingham, Alabama, I felt very welcomed as soon as I stepped on campus.”

Bast completed his Sports Communication studies early in just three and a half years. He said the Communication Arts program prepared him well for his professional life. A former member of the Rams wrestling team, he also spoke about how his advocating for that program will serve him well in Admissions.

“The biggest thing that translated over (to his new work) was helping the wrestling program with recruiting over the years,” Bast said. “I had a passion to see that program succeed. I want to see the university flourish, and that is where a lot of my drive comes from.”

Bast spoke about other influences, including Bailey Angle, former BU sports broadcaster and assistant sports information director, who taught Bast during his freshman year how to do broadcast play-by-play.

“Bailey Angle was a mentor who had finished his undergrad a few years prior and knew the landscape,” Bast said. “He taught me play-by-play for every sport and how to tell the story as to engage the viewer.”

Bast said he was blessed during his sophomore year to watch a “master craftsman” at work in the field of videography by working under BU’s Rodney Kasey.

“After I had shoulder surgery (from a wrestling injury), I was not in a good headspace, and a very ‘woe is me’ kind of person,” Bast said. “Rodney saw my potential and showed me some tough love. He was hard on my work and on me, but he did exactly what I needed him to do. He got me out of that funk and led me to see another avenue within the same passion in working in sports media.”

Bast added wrestling coach Jason Waelti, sports information director Bob Redd, and professors Allen Roberts, Chris Shoemaker and Kevin Downer to the list of BU employees who helped prepare him for life after college.

“All these men did a huge service in caring about me,” Bast said. “Bluefield University employees are some of the best people on the face of the earth. I tell everyone I come into contact with about Bluefield. I have yet to meet a soul on this campus who has their own self-interest above the people they serve.”

Now, as an admissions counselor recruiting prospective students to BU, Bast wants to have that same kind of influence. He’s thankful for what Bluefield gave him, and he hopes to give back as a BU admissions counselor.

“Bluefield gave me opportunities that I would not have gotten anywhere else,” Bast said. “God was at every turn.”