Bluefield State College student Todd Atkins was recently awarded a $1500 scholarship the American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE)/North Central WV Section. Pictured at the awards ceremony are (left-to-right) are WV Commissioner of Highways Paul Mattox, Jr., Todd Atkins, and ASHE National President P. Frank O'Hare.

(Bluefield)—Bluefield State College student Todd Atkins was recently awarded a $1500 scholarship by the American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE)/North Central WV Section. Atkins received the scholarship award from P. Frank O'Hare, ASHE National President and Paul Mattox, Jr., WVDOH Commissioner, during a ceremony in at the Bridgeport Conference Center in Bridgeport, WV on Wednesday, April 10.

Atkins also serves as captain of the Bluefield State College student team that won the Virginia's American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Student Conference "National Student Steel Bridge Competition (NSSBC) regional championship. He was joined at the ceremony by Kerry Stauffer, BSC Associate Professor of Civil Engineering Technology.

"I am very proud of Todd's accomplishments and his great work ethic which will take him a long way after graduation," Stauffer commented. "He is an exceptional student in our Civil Engineering Technology program and is a perfect example for anyone who would like to pursue a college degree after being out of school for several years. He continues to excel in his academics while he also works to help support his family. He is a great asset to our college and our community, and it is a pleasure to help him obtain his college degree and pursue his dreams."

Grant's Supermarket co-owner Ron Martin (center) recently presented a donation to Bluefield State College to launch the establishment of an endowed scholarship at BSC. He is pictured with Dr. Marsha Krotseng, BSC President (left), and Betty Carroll, BSC's Director of Institutional Advancement and Planning.

(Bluefield)—Grant's Supermarket has announced its commitment to establish an endowed scholarship that will be awarded to deserving students at Bluefield State College. An initial gift from Grant's Supermarket was received by Betty Carroll, Executive Director of the Bluefield State College Foundation, during a ceremony at the College.

The scholarship, once endowed, will be awarded to Bluefield State College students each fall and spring semester. Scholarship recipients must meet qualification standards for the Neighborhood Investment Program for the State of West Virginia.

"Grant's Supermarket has maintained a long-standing commitment to the area," noted Ron Martin, Grant's co-owner. "It is our hope that this endowed scholarship will open the door to a college education to deserving students from the families and communities we serve."

"Scholarship gifts are so important to our student," added Betty Carroll, BSC's Director of Institutional Advancement and Planning. "Our students depend on scholarship help to begin, then to remain in school and graduate. The scholarship support from the Endowed Grants Supermarket Scholarship will make a significant difference for BSC students."

(Bluefield)—Dr. Paul Hill, Chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, will serve as the keynote speaker for Bluefield State College's 2013 Commencement Exercises on May 18, 2013 at the Brushfork Armory. Degrees will be conferred to approximately 380 BSC students during the exercises.

Chancellor Hill is the former Executive Director of the West Virginia Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (WVEPSCoR). He helped design and manage the West Virginia Research Trust Fund, also known as "Bucks for Brains," the West Virginia Research Challenge Fund, and the West Virginia Eminent Scholars Initiative.

Prior to Joining WVEPSCoR in 2001, Dr. Hill was appointed by President Bill Clinton and confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for the U.S. Chemical Safety Board. His career includes more than 25 years' experience in academic research, grant administration, and public policy development. He has held CEO positions at the private, state, and federal levels. Dr. Hill has also appeared before Congress to provide testimony on science, technology, and education policy.

"Bluefield State College is honored that Chancellor Hill will deliver our 2013 commencement address," noted Dr. Marsha Krotseng, BSC President. "With his vast experience in education and business, he will offer a message that is both timely and inspirational for our graduates, their families, and the Bluefield State College community."

Mrs. Beverly Phelps, a student teacher from Bluefield State College, is currently in her second placement with Mrs. Semonco's 5th grade class at Kimball Elementary School in McDowell County.

Through the EDUC 321 class, Mrs. Phelps had learned of an exciting technology called Glogster, a program used to make electronic posters. On May 1, Law Day in McDowell County, seven of Mrs. Phelps' students used this technology to create poster entries for submission in the contest. Two of those students then went on to place in the contest, and Kimball Elementary received special recognition for being the first school in the state of West Virginia to use digital posters for submission.

In addition, the class performed and won first place with their song entitled "Who I Am." Mrs. Phelps noted, "The song we chose showed that although we are all different, we are all very much alike and we all deserve to be treated and respected equally." The class was also asked to perform their song at the courthouse during the Law Day ceremonies.

Mrs. Phelps was awarded a certificate for her part in preparing the students for this special day, but she is quick to note, "The students did the work and I am very proud of each of them!"

(Bluefield)—Whitethorn Primary School teacher Teresa Guill recently delivered a presentation on “Student Engagement in the Classroom” to BSC School of Education teacher candidates.

“The teacher candidates were able to explore many strategies for keeping students engaged in the classroom,” noted Terene Stiltner, Visiting Professor/BSC School of Education. “The interactive presentation gave teacher candidates the opportunity to see and participate in some of the strategies that Ms. Guill incorporates with very good results in her own classroom.”

Students explored topics such as classroom arrangement, incorporating different modalities of learning, and utilizing resources to benefit all students. This presentation was included as a part of a seminar for all teacher andidates who are student teaching in the spring or fall of 2013.

Bluefield State College Model United Nations club   students (left-to-right) Cassie Smith, Kharles Mwalo, and Amy Pritt are   pictured in front of the New York City landmark, “The Knotted Gun,” a   pro-peace sculpture by Swedish artist Carl Fredrik Reutersward.  The   students and BSC Model UN advisor Dr. Colin Cavell visited several the United   Nations Headquarters, the Museum of Modern Art, the Empire State Building,   and other historically significant locations during their recent trip to NYC.

(Bluefield)--Three members of the Bluefield State College Model United Nations club and their advisor visited the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, as well as other venues in the vicinity, from April 18-22, 2013.  Those participating in the trip included BSC Model UN students Amy Pritt, Kharles Mwalo, and Cassie Smith.  BSC Model UN Advisor Dr. Colin S. Cavell noted, “The group received a tour of the UN Headquarters by a South African guide who explained the goals, structure, and worldwide activities of the United Nations.”

The group traveled by van to Greensboro, North Carolina on April 18 and boarded an AMTRAK train to Penn Station in New York City.  Due to mechanical problems, the train was delayed initially for five hours and arrived in New York City around 3:30 the following morning.  Nevertheless, the BSC team was up a few hours later to begin their tour of the United Nations.

In addition to touring the United Nations Headquarters, the BSC Model UN team also visited the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), the Empire State Building, the Paley Center for Media, and the Central Park Zoo. 

(Baltimore)—The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) has formally announced that Frank Hart,
who retired in 2011 after a very distinguished academic and administrative career at Bluefield State College, has been selected to receive the 2013 James H. McGraw Award.

This award is presented by the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) and recognizes an individual who has displayed outstanding service in the field of engineering technology education. The award draws its namesake from James H. McGraw, recognized as the dean of industrial publishers, who spent 40 years rising from a subscription salesman to lay the framework for one of the largest industrial publishing organizations in the world.

Hart began his career in engineering technology education as a professor at Bluefield State College in West Virginia. During his 44 years at BSC, Hart served in numerous positions before becoming the Dean of the School of Engineering & Technology, the
position he held until retiring in 2012.

Hart has been a long-time contributor to engineering technology education, and ABET is proud to see him honored for his accomplishments.

(Bluefield)—Bluefield State College sophomore Samuel Ouedraogo has been selected as a member of the Burkina Faso Senior Men's National Basketball Team. The team will conduct training camp in France from May 18-26 in preparation for Afrobasket 2013, the FIBA African Basketball Tournament. The tournament will be held  from August 20-31 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

(Bluefield)—"Bonnie's Bus," a state-of-the-art mobile mammography unit, will take part in the Bluefield State College School of Nursing's Annual Community Health Fair, May 4, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., at Mercer Mall. The Health Fair is organized and presented by the BSC Associate Degree Nursing Program.

Bonnie's Bus will deliver advanced digital mammography to area residents attending the Health Fair, and it will be located in the Mercer Mall parking lot, next to K&W Cafeteria. A doctor's order is required for screening. To request an appointment or receive additional information, interested individuals are asked to call 304-327-4170. Medicare, Medicaid, BCCSP and all private insurances are accepted. Organizers note that funds are available so that no woman over 40 is turned away.

The health fair focuses upon patient education, screening and early detection of health conditions of concern. Screenings will be conducted on site for hypertension, diabetes, skin cancer, and eye health.

"Our exhibits will deal with topics including primary and secondary prevention of breast cancer, diabetes, prostate and testicular cancer, lung and colon cancer, stroke, hypertension, skin cancer and endometrial, ovarian and cervical cancer," Sandra Wynn (BSC Associate Degree Nursing Program Director) said. There will be additional exhibits on Hepatitis C, AIDS, and Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Sandra J. Graham, Program coordinator for WV Hepatitis C Program, will give a short presentation on the Status of Hepatitis C in West Virginia.

In addition, there will be several exhibits regarding pediatric health care, such as nutrition, exercise, safety issues related to children, hypertension meningitis. There will also be an exhibit on gun and ATV safety.

Wynn said that 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.

Members of the Bluefield State College American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) student chapter are pictured moments after they won the Virginia ASCE "National Student Steel Bridge Competition (NSSBC) regional championship at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Pictured (left-to-right) are Kerry Stauffer (Faculty Advisor), Andrew Maynor, Austin Harris, Alex Quesinberry, Todd Atkins, Matt Halsey, Kyle Bowling, Adam Cline, Logan Copenhaver, and Amber Fitzgerald. (not pictured—T.J. Knight).

(Bluefield)—A Bluefield State College student team won the Virginia's American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Student Conference "National Student Steel Bridge Competition (NSSBC) regional championship at Howard University in Washington, D.C. As a result, the BSC ASCE Steel Bridge Team will advance to the 2013 National Student Steel Bridge Championship, May 31 in Seattle, WA.

The BSC student team competed against teams from Virginia Tech, West Virginia University, VMI, the University of Virginia, George Washington University, Marshall University, Old Dominion University, Catholic University, George Mason University, WVU-Tech, and Howard University.

During the fall semester, NSSBC student teams obtain a set of well-defined rules and specifications concerning every aspect of bridge design and construction. Over the following months, the teams design and fabricate their steel bridge. The actual competition involves construction and load-testing of the bridge. Teams are judged based on compliance to specifications, construction time, weight, stiffness (i.e., resistance of movement in response to horizontal and vertical loads), and aesthetics.

The BSC ASCE bridge team constructed their bridge in less than 28 minutes. The bridge was tested with a 2500-pound load and deflected less than a half-inch at any point.

"The steel bridge competition provides students with an excellent project that conveys 'real world'
principles into a student competition," noted Kerry Stauffer, BSC ASCE Faculty Advisor and Associate Professor of Civil Engineering Technology. "They are excited about competing and, in the process, they learn about meeting specifications, time constraints, design considerations, budget limitations, and teamwork."

Members of the BSC ASCE steel bridge team included Todd Atkins (Captain), Austin Harris, Adam Cline, Kyle Bowling, Logan Copenhaver, Alex Quesinberry, and Andrew Maynor. BSC students T.J. Knight and Matt Halsey also assisted with fabrication and served as alternate members of the construction team.

BSC team captain Todd Atkins reflected on the team's regional title. "When I think about what we accomplished, I realize how well our team worked together. The competition was a great experience for all of us."

Adkins' teammate, Austin Harris, added, "We worked on the bridge for eight months and there were times when we wondered if it would ever be finished. When we won first place at the regionals, it was very gratifying. Our success was directly related to the amount of time and work we invested in the project."

"I am very proud of our students and their overall performance in the steel bridge competition," Stauffer continued. "They worked very hard on this bridge and their effort was evident at the competition. Several spectators and even some students and faculty from competing universities commented to me about the bridge design, how well our construction team worked together, and their overall poise and composure during the timed competition. The results of this competition show what students from Bluefield State College can accomplish and how they can compete with larger institutions,"

Individuals and organizations wishing to help the BSC ASCE steel bridge team with costs associated with their trip to the national championship can make donations, made payable to the Bluefield State College Foundation, with the notation "BSC ASCE Student Steel Bridge Team" on the check. Donations can be mailed to the BSC Foundation, 219 Rock St., Bluefield, WV 24701. Donations are tax-deductible.