(Bluefield)— The Bluefield State College chapter of Phi Eta Sigma, the national honor society for freshmen, inducted ­­19 students and two BSC employees into the Society during a recent ceremony at the College. This achievement places these students in the top two percent of all freshmen at Bluefield State. 

Student inductees, by hometown, included: Ansted, WV (Thomas McVey); Ballard, WV (Kayla Bragg); Beckley, WV (Jon Wray); Bluefield, VA (Jonathan Kinder); Bluefield, WV (Melissa Blevins, Matthew Davidson, Kayla Hazelwood); Fairdale, WV (Brooklyn Paige Pettry); Fayetteville, WV (Ashley Evanne Lively); Maybeury, WV (Katie Perdue); Mount Lookout, WV (Tricia Dawn Backus; Princeton, WV (Jordan Adkins, Jessica Dawn Davis, Shawn Settles, Brianna Michelle Sims, Sarah Webber, Johanna Yongque); Tazewell, VA (James Dawson, Ashley Hancock).

Honorary Phi Eta Sigma inductees, Class of 2012, included Dr. Jan Czarnecki (Associate Professor of English) and Mr. Tom Cook (Associate Dean/Information Technology Center and Interim Chief Technology/Information Officer).

Phi Eta Sigma member Cory Evans (Fincastle, VA) was awarded the annual Phi Eta Sigma Academic Achievement Scholarship Award, which carries a $1,000 scholarship.   Cory is a rising senior majoring in Computer Science. 

The induction ceremony was conducted by Chapter Advisor John Cardwell, Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment, as well as Chapter co-advisors Ralph Patsel and Carolyn Kirby.  Kirby also presented crystal plaques to both Cardwell and Kirby, who are retiring later this year after a combined 75 years of service within higher education.

	Nineteen students and two employees were inducted recently into the Bluefield State College chapter of Phi Eta Sigma, the national freshman honor society. Those present during the ceremony included (seated, left-to-right,) Carolyn Kirby (Advisor), Melissa Blevins, Johanna Yongque, Jessica Davis, Kayla Hazelwood, Kayla Bragg, Ashley Hancock, (standing, l-to-r) Ralph Patsel (Advisor), Tom Cook (Honorary member), Tyler Kinder, Shawn Settles, Jon Wray, Matthew Davidson, Dr. Jan Czarnecki (Honorary member), and John Cardwell (Adviser).
	Cory Evans (second from left) received the Bluefield State College chapter Phi Eta Sigma Academic Achievement Scholarship Award. He is joined by (left-to-right) chapter advisors Ralph Patsel, John Cardwell, and Carolyn Kirby.
	Tom Cook (left), Associate Dean/Information Technology Center and Interim Chief Technology/Information Officer, and Dr. Jan Czarnecki, Associate Professor of English) received honorary membership into the Bluefield State College chapter of Phi Eta Sigma, the national honor society for freshman at the chapter's recent awards ceremony.

(Bluefield)—A four-student team from Bluefield State College earned a "Global Top 100" ranking in GLO-BUS, an international business strategy competition earlier this month. BSC students Lidia Larkin, Larry Lowry, Hassan Alromaih and Garcia Hanna posted a score that tied them for the best overall performance of the week, worldwide, for the second consecutive week.

GLO-BUS is a completely online exercise where teams of students run a digital camera company in head-to-head competition students. Company operations parallel those of actual digital camera companies. Just as in the "real world," companies compete in a global market arena, selling cameras in four geographic regions—Europe-Africa, North America, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America.

"Our students were co-managers, making decisions related to research & development, component usage, camera performance, product line breadth, work force compensation, outsourcing, pricing, corporate citizenship, social responsibility, and more," noted Darrel Malamisura, BSC Associate Professor of Business and Economics. "The challenge is to craft and execute a competitive strategy that results in solid brand image, maintain a viable presence in the global marketplace, and produce good financial performance."

GLO-BUS ranks teams based on four measures—overall score, earnings per share, return on equity, and stock price. The experience is designed to strengthen students' preparation for a career in business and management.

The 26^th Annual Klingensmith Cup Invitational Golf Tournament will be played on Monday, May 14, 2012 at the Wolf Creek Golf Course in Bastian, Virginia. This tournament is sponsored by Bluefield State College’s School of Engineering Technology and Computer Science. All BSC constituents are invited to join in the fun with BSC Engineering Technology and Computer Science graduates and employers. This tournament allows participants to demonstrate their golf skills and provides a unique setting to renew old acquaintances and network with others who share common interests.

The tournament format is set-up as a 4-person “captain’s choice” event and play begins with a shotgun start at 8AM. After your round, enjoy an excellent picnic lunch and the awarding of prizes and trophies.   Entry fee is $50/golfer or $200/team. The entry fee is used to purchase prizes, pay for lunch and drinks, and golfing privileges. You are also invited to purchase a K Cup sponsorship for $100. This entitles you to a sponsor sign at one of the holes on the course and provides support to School of Engineering Technology and Computer Science.

Make checks payable to Bluefield State College Foundation. Receipts are provided. Please mail your check with your teaming preferences to:

Bluefield State College Foundation
Bluefield State College
219 Rock Street
Bluefield, WV 24701

The deadline for entry is May 7, 2012

We encourage participants to enter this tourna­ment as four-person teams, if possible. Individual golfer will be grouped into teams of four as required to fit the tournament format. If you are a single entrant and have playing partner preferences, please identify them when sending in your entry fee. 

Please respond as soon as possible to Elizabeth Pruett (epruett@bluefieldstate.edu) if you plan to participate. Guests are also welcome.

Lance Morgan (lmorgan@alphanr.com) is the tournament chair. Feel free to contact Lance about tournament questions. We look forward to another great tournament.

KLINGENSMITH CUP COMMITTEE
LANCE MORGAN, CHAIR

MEMBERS: Elizabeth Pruett, Joe Kowaleski, David Jones Stevie Steele, Don Shillingburg, Patrick Dove

List team members

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(Bluefield)—A Bluefield State College student team won the "Surveying Category" competition at the recent American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Virginia Conference on the campus of Virginia Tech. The BSC ASCE student chapter defeated teams representing 13 other institutions of higher education from Virginia, West Virginia, and the Washington, DC area.

"The competition enabled our students to showcase their knowledge and skills on an equal platform against much larger schools," observed BSC ASCE faculty advisor, Kerry Stauffer (Associate Professor/Civil Engineering Technology). Other colleges and universities participating in the conference included Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia, Virginia Military Institute, George Mason University, George Washington University, Catholic University, Howard University, West Virginia University, Marshall University, Fairmont State University.

The BSC ASCE student chapter was represented by 15 students, who participated in Mini-Golf Design and Concrete Bowling categories in addition to the Surveying competition. "The ASCE competition allows BSC students to network with other college students having the same academic interests," noted Brandon Huffman, President of the BSC ASCE student chapter, "and it provides a great opportunity to apply what we learned in the classroom."

"There's no doubt that Bluefield State College students can compete with graduates from any university," Professor Stauffer continued. "Our students are making a positive difference in the engineering workforce and in the communities in which they live."

(Bluefield)— Dr. Shelia Sargent-Martin, Interim-Co-Director of Teacher Education/Bluefield State College School of Education, attended the recent Virginia State Reading Association Conference, "Blast Into 21st Century Literacies."

The Richmond, VA-based conference was sponsored by the Virginia State Reading Association and featured presentations relevant to literacy education. During the preconference institute Dr. Sargent-Martin and Donna Savage, Old Dominion University, presented Preparing the 21st Century Student for the Digital Age: Integrating Digital Literacy into Current Classroom Practice. The presentation focused on media literacy including finding, using, creating and sharing information through various digital media formats.

Additional conference sessions included teaching the dimensions of reading, best practices in literacy instruction, developing instructional leadership, planning assessment and accountability, closing the achievement gap, and enhancing the quality of reading instruction.

Nationally recognized keynote speakers addressed problems in reading education, national standards, and differentiation. The conference provides an opportunity to promote literacy, collaborate and provide professional development to educators.

(Bluefield)--The Bluefield State College Jazz Ensemble will present its annual Spring Concert on Monday, May 7 at 7 p.m. in the Basic Science Auditorium on the BSC campus. The Jazz Ensemble is a unique combination of area musicians dedicated to the performance of the finest arrangements featuring the big band sound.

There is no admission charge, and the public is encouraged to attend. Additional information can be obtained by contacting: bscjazz@gmail.com

(Bluefield)—Bluefield State College Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Students will be actively involved in providing a "healthy dose" of information and services to area residents during the Community Health Fair, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., April 14 at Mercer Mall.

In addition to the blood sugar and blood pressure screenings, BSC ADN students will make available information on topics that include health promotion, cancer, dementia and depression, caregiver burnout, ATV safety, guy safety, arthritis, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and eye health.

"Through the Community Health Fair, the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program at Bluefield State College gives back to the community and shares information regarding health disparities in our region," observed Sandra Wynn, BSC ADN Director. "This is a great partnership that Bluefield State College and Mercer Mall started last year and we look forward to many years of community service through events such as this."

The early screenings offered by the BSC nursing students during the Community Health Fair are an effective way to prevent health complications and help individuals enjoy a healthier life.

(Bluefield)— The Bluefield State College National "B" Club will induct 12 new members during a special ceremony and luncheon on July 27 in Bluefield. This year's inductees include four members who will be inducted posthumously. Many of the honorees were All-Americans, All-CIAA, and All-West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selections as student-athletes.

This year's honorees included posthumous inductees Alto Lark (1962), Claude Watts (1962), John L. Washington (1947) and Henry Winkfield (1942), as well as living honorees James Childress (1971), C.Douglas Cobb, J.D. (1968), Joseph R. Fourqurean (1972), Lynne Kelly (1986), Frank Lee (1963), Raymond Reed (1955), Lacy L. Smith (1943), and Preston Watkins (1971).

Orlando Henderson, chairman of the Hall of Fame committee and President/Bluefield State College Alumni Association, observed that this year's honorees are "individuals of distinction on the athletic field, in the classroom, and in the community."

Deirdre Guyton, Bluefield State College's Director of Alumni Affairs, will narrate a "Spotlight Parade of Hall of Fame Inductees," during which each new Hall of Fame member will be recognized for his/her achievements.

The BSC National "B" Club Hall of Fame Induction Luncheon will be held on Friday, July 27, 2012 (during the BSC Alumni Association, Inc. National Reunion), beginning at noon at the Quality Inn Hotel & Conference Center in Bluefield. Luncheon cost is $25/person. Additional information can be obtained by contacting the Office of Alumni Affairs at 304-327-4289 or 304-327-4569.

(Bluefield)—When its Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) licensure passage rate dropped below 80% last year its Bluefield campus, Bluefield State College developed and assertively implemented an action plan for improving BSC students' success rate on the exam. The BSC program was one of three associate degree nursing programs from colleges in West Virginia to be placed on provisional approval for the next year by the West Virginia Board of Nursing at its March 23, 2012 meeting. BSC's ADN program is offered on the College's Bluefield campus and in Beckley, and the Board action affects only the Bluefield campus program.

The plan, approved by the State Nursing Board last September, includes the following strategies:

1) Focus review testing has been implemented, requiring students to take licensure examination review tests prior to completing the program;

2) Review courses administered at the end of students' final semester have been upgraded, and successful completion of these exit exams are required to complete the course, and;

3) All courses are reviewed during each semester, with students receiving specific remediation to address learning gaps.

"It is important to note that the State Nursing Board action granted provisional approval of our Associate Degree Nursing program and does not constitute probationary status, nor does it affect students currently in the program," observed Angela Lambert, Dean of the BSC School of Nursing and Allied Health. "The Board will review our status in one year to affirm that our licensure passage rate has improved."

"The BSC ADN program is fully accredited by the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission, and this status is not currently impacted by the State Board action," Dean Lambert continued. "We recognize the importance of improving our licensure passage rate and our Associate Degree Nursing program director has worked closely with the State Board of Nursing since last September to address this matter."

"The Provost, Dean of the School of Allied Health and Nursing, and Associate Degree Nursing program director have been aware of this challenge since last September and have taken definitive, focused action to improve our students' success rate on the exam," added Dr. Lewis Jones, BSC Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

The Bluefield State College Associate Degree Nursing program has maintained national accreditation on a continuous basis since 1977.