Rick Eldridge ’76 and his daughter, Kasey Eldridge Brennan ’04, share many things, a passion for the arts, a love of creative expression, and a deep commitment to what inspires them. Among the most meaningful is the place that helped shape their futures: their alma mater, Brevard College.
The summer before 1974, Rick was traveling with a gospel band, playing guitar and piano. While Rick loved music and life on the road, he knew college was the next step. On a whim, he decided to audition for Brevard College’s Music Department. What began as an impromptu visit quickly became one of the most defining decisions of his life.
At BC, Rick immersed himself in music, played baseball, and continued performing on weekends. He still remembers receiving calls at the pay phone on the first floor of Beam Residence Hall, lining up gigs across the region. It was also at BC where he recorded his very first album, an experience that set the stage for everything that followed.
“BC took a chance on me,” Rick said when reflecting on why Brevard College remains so special to him.
After graduating in 1976, Rick continued his education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte before launching a successful career in film scoring in Orlando. His work led him to Disney and Nickelodeon, and eventually to producing his own films and shows, including one of his favorites, Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius.
When asked to describe his Brevard College experience in one word, Rick chose “enlightening.” “I learned a lot about myself, grew deeper in my faith, built lasting relationships, and had so many opportunities,” he said.
In 2003, Rick was honored with the Distinguished Alumnus Award, recognition of a career shaped by creativity, faith, and opportunity. But even as his professional accomplishments grew, Brevard College would come to mean something even more personal. Years later, the same campus that helped launch Rick’s journey became the place where his daughter would begin her own.
Before committing to Brevard College, Kasey toured many schools, yet she kept coming back to one feeling.
“When I was at BC, I felt something different,” she said. “I had a conversation with my dad about paving my own path, and he told me Brevard College was the best place to do that. Not only could I play soccer, but I could also enjoy the surrounding area and all of the opportunities that come with it.”
Kasey enrolled as an English major with a concentration in communication and journalism. During her first year, she wrote a creative nonfiction paper on the “sound of silence,” an assignment that would have a lasting impact.
“That paper changed my life. I didn’t know it in that moment, but it shaped my entire future. It was about the art of noticing, a space where you can slow down and stay curious.”
She carried that perspective throughout her time at BC, embracing both her academic work and campus life. In addition to playing soccer, Kasey was involved with The Clarion, further developing her voice and storytelling skills.
Reflecting on her time in Brevard, Kasey encourages students to fully embrace the experience. “Take advantage of the time and space that you have at Brevard. Like the sunrises on the Blue Ridge Mountains or studying by Looking Glass Falls. Growth happens in that pause.”
After graduation, Kasey followed her father into the film industry, taking on roles as a producer, voiceover artist, production coordinator, director, and co-producer. Today, she serves as CEO of Work Ethos, a business consulting firm, continuing to build a career rooted in creativity, leadership, and purpose.
When asked what it means to share Brevard College with her father, Kasey said, “It’s so special that BC is a place that shaped both of us in different ways.” She reflected on how they each walked a similar path through the Music Department, just in different eras, a shared experience that continues to connect their stories across time.
For Rick, that connection extends beyond his own experience. When asked what advice he would give to parents sending their child to Brevard College, he shared, “Allow your student to stay on campus, build relationships outside of class, and explore the outdoors.” It is that combination of community and place that continues to define the Brevard College experience for generations.
In addition to his lifelong connection as an alumnus and parent, Rick also served Brevard College as a member of the Board of Trustees and as an officer of the Board for 20 years, including the time when Kasey was a student, further deepening his commitment to the College and its future.
As Rick prepares to return to campus this fall for his 50th Reunion, the milestone represents more than a celebration of years gone by. It is a full-circle moment, one that reflects not only on the path he began at Brevard College, but on the legacy that continues through his daughter.
Though their experiences unfolded in different decades, Rick and Kasey share a common thread: BC gave them the space to discover who they are, the opportunity to pursue what they love, and the community that continues to shape their lives. From late-night music gigs and first albums to quiet moments of reflection and creative discovery, their stories reflect the many ways Brevard College leaves a lasting mark.
Two paths, shaped in different times, yet rooted in the same place. As Rick returns to celebrate his reunion, he does so not only as an alumnus, but as part of a living legacy that proves the Brevard College experience is not just something you remember, but something you carry forward.