Editor’s Note: The Annual Bridgeport High School Alumni & Friends Foundation, Inc.’s Hall of Fame Dinner will be held on Saturday, October 20, 2018 at the Bridgeport Conference Center. Social hour/reception will begin at 6:00 p.m. with the dinner program following at 7 p.m. This year’s Hall of Fame inductees are Alan Dye, Jane Conley Riley, Laura Stevens Aliff, and Norman Tolley (posthumously). Tickets are $30 and may be purchased HERE. Below is our final inductee, Laura Aliff.

 

Laura Stevens Aliff is a 1978 graduate of BHS who obtained her bachelor's degree from West Virginia University in 1982, graduating magna cum laude from the School of Dentistry, Division of Dental Hygiene. She is a lifelong resident of Bridgeport, more specifically, the Maple Lake community (one of those lake kids). Laura is also a lifelong member of Bridgeport United Methodist Church, which has and continues to mold her foundation throughout her life.

Laura's passion for giving back are a direct reflection of her upbringing. Her parents, Marian "Mim" Stevens and the late Frank "Doc" Stevens, were active participants in church, community, and education endeavors. Her childhood memories include her two brothers, Phil (BHS 1974) &Jeff (BHS 1975). In 1983, she married Billy Aliff (Oak Hill HS). They have two daughters, Natalie Aliff Foley(BHS 2005) and Stacie Aliff (BHS 2007).

 

Laura's professional career has seen various endeavors in the dental world. She began as a chair-side dental hygienist where she loved treating and encouraging her patients to conquer the iroral health issues/fears. When her daughters arrived, she switched to office management duties that allowed for a flexible schedule. That schedule also opened the opportunities to volunteer on various fronts. Her love of schools led to a position as oral health educator for three WV counties (Harrison, Marion and Taylor). Then, her love for helping others presented itself in the form of an opportunity to serve as the Dental Advocate for Milan Puskar Health Right, the free clinic in Morgantown. The previous jobs enabled her to network with many individuals who have enriched her life, including the WVU School of Dentistry, the WV Free Clinic Association, and various other organizations/groups. Laura also spent time in an administrative role with the Chanticleer Children's Chorus of WV.

 

Her love of children and helping others led to many volunteer opportunities on various fronts. Her school and church involvement include too many areas to list, but her nature of helping wherever needed led her path. She often says she follows the spirit of the phrase made famous by Gale Sayers, "God is first, my family and friends are second, and I am third".

 

Laura says she has been so blessed to have always had groups of individuals that were part of every "adventure" in which she participated. Her previous recognitions include a Michael Benedum Fellow for the city of Bridgeport and a School of Dentistry Distinguished Alumnus from WVU. She often wishes these awards could be shared because she recognizes the impact of community involvement. This has always been one of the characteristics that make Bridgeport and specifically Bridgeport High School a fantastic community that, while competitive, also has a moral compass that embraces the positive inclusiveness that life presents.

 

Her hobbies include family events, sports (WVU/Bridgeport/Steelers), and community/church events. She also loves spending time on the Greenbrier River at the family's cabin enjoying nature. Her love of sports comes from years of attending football/basketball games in Bridgeport/Morgantown since her dad was the longtime public address announcer for both BHS and WVU. She loved spotting for her father at WVU football games – which she did for 30+ years