The Trent Argo Service Award

Honoring a Legacy of Service & Student Success.

Presented annually at the NABEP Conference to recognize an individual who has demonstrated extraordinary passion for students and selfless service to the enrollment profession.

About Trent Argo

Trent Argo was a beloved figure in the Baptist enrollment community — a past president of NABEP whose influence, warmth, and decades of expertise left a lasting mark on the profession and on every student whose life he touched. His passing came as a profound loss to his family, to Bluefield College, and to all who were fortunate enough to know him.

Trent’s career in enrollment management was remarkable in both its breadth and its results. He served 13 years as Director of Admissions at Campbellsville University in Kentucky, where enrollment grew from 500 to more than 2,000 students under his leadership. He then spent six years as Dean of Enrollment Management at Oklahoma Baptist University, reversing a decade-long enrollment decline while restructuring financial aid to reduce the discount rate and grow net revenue.

He later served as Chief Executive Officer of the International Education Group, consulting with liberal arts colleges across the country on marketing and enrollment management strategy. Trent ended his career at Bluefield College, setting several enrollment records there until his sudden passing.

Beyond enrollment metrics, Trent and his wife Sondra shared a deep heart for international students. After his passing, a scholarship was established in his memory at Bluefield College to continue his legacy of supporting students.

Why This Award Was Established

The leadership of NABEP wanted to continue Trent’s legacy by establishing an award in his memory to be presented every year at the NABEP Conference. This award recognizes an enrollment leader who has demonstrated the kind of service to and passion for students in the same way that Trent did; selflessly, joyfully, and with unwavering commitment to student success.

Trent was blessed with a rich career in enrollment management and a long association with NABEP. He will always be remembered as one of our past presidents, and through this award, his spirit of service will continue to inspire our members for years to come.