(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.

A Bluefield State College student team was awarded "Rookie of the Year" honors at the recent "Enactus Regional Championship" in Atlanta, GA. Pictured (left-to-right) are BSC Enactus members Sean Cornelius, Feyijimi Adegbohun, Remar Brothers, Dr. Albert Berkoh (faculty advisor), Kim Ross, Kamola Azizova, Jerome Powell, and Justin Joseph.

(Bluefield)—A Bluefield State College student team was awarded "Rookie of the Year" honors at the recent "Enactus Regional Championship" in Atlanta, GA. The competition brought together active Enactus programs from throughout the country to one of ten regional championships.

The BSC chapter of Enactus, a community of student, academic, and business leaders committed to using the power of entrepreneurial action to enable human progress, was established last semester. Competing teams were divided into eight leagues where they were judged on criteria that considered how effectively their projects empowered people in need by applying business and economic concepts with an entrepreneurial approach to improve their quality of life and standard of living.

Accompanied by faculty advisor Dr. Albert Berkoh, the BSC Enactus team of Jerome Powell, Justin Joseph, Kamola Azizova, Kim Ross, Feyijimi Adegbohun, Remar Brothers, and Sean Cornelius competed against teams from the University of Florida, Morehead State University, Georgia College & State University, and Southern Adventist University. At the end of the day, the BSC team was named "Rookie of the Year" for its performance as a first-year Enactus program.

BSC Enactus team member Kamola Azizova observed, "This was an amazing event and a great opportunity for our team. With just nine members and in our first year of existence, we successfully launched three initiatives, and we were recognized for our achievement. Through our Enactus experience, we can clearly see how our hard work and effort are making a positive change in the community."

(Bluefield)—A scholarly paper co-authored by Bluefield State College faculty member Dr. Peggy Johnson was presented at the recent Southwest Texas Academy of Medicine annual meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

"The Collaboration of Not-for-Profit Hospitals and Public Health Departments to Perform Community Needs Assessments that Meet PPACA Requirements, summarized original research conducted by Dr. Johnson (Assistant Professor and Director of the Health Services Management Program at the W. Paul Cole, Jr. School of Business) and Drs. Tina Fields and Jeff Hatala (School of Health Administration, Texas State University.

"The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) has created an opportunity for not-for-profit hospitals and health entities to work together to implement community needs assessments," Dr. Johnson explained. PPACA requirements have served as a catalyst for bringing public health and medical professionals together, she noted. "Additionally, not-for-profit hospitals also recognize the necessity for collaboration because they now must meet PPACA requirements to maintain their tax-exempt status."

"The community health needs assessment may be a successful process that can serve not-for-profit hospitals/organizations and public health agencies to present their unique strengths and develop mechanisms to identify and meet health care needs in a community," she added.

(Bluefield)—A "Transforming Lives, Every Age, Every One" Seminar presented recently at The Erma Byrd Higher Education Center featured the research of Bluefield State College Beckley Campus students. The students, members of Dr. Robert Hayes' Life Span Development Class, explored a wide range of topics related to Developmental Psychology.

"The students conducted research as if they were working with 'real world' clients like those utilizing help from the women's resource center or the homeless shelter," Dr. Hayes explained. The exercise was designed to remind students that, because all human beings are vulnerable, it is each student's responsibility to give back to others, according to Dr. Hayes.

Topics covered during the seminar included "Anorexia," "Drug Abuse & ADHD," and "Prenatal Care and Marijuana Use." Students and peers voted "OCD—Normal or Not," designed by Cassandra Patterson," and "The Effects of Play in Childhood Development," developed by Autumn Smith, as "Best Display, Overall," and "Best Presentation of Facts," respectively. Students explained their research initiatives for a steady stream of observers throughout the seminar.

The Life Span Development class explores the impact upon our lives of biological, psychological, and sociological influences. "Just 'learning the facts' is not enough," Dr. Hayes concluded. "Our goal is to educate well-rounded and dynamically educated professionals.

(Bluefield)—Dr. Peggy Johnson, Director of Bluefield State College's Health Services Management Program will be a featured presenter at the New Frontier in Aging Conference at West Virginia University, June 6.

Dr. Johnson's topic, "Protecting the Elderly in Rural Areas During Disasters," will focus on helping those who deliver care to vulnerable older adults in rural communities during emergency and disaster situations.

"Some characteristics of older adults put them at greater risk of illness and death during many types of emergencies," Johnson noted. "Limitations like impaired mobility and diminished sensory awareness are often more prevalent in the frail elderly. Additionally, emergencies and disasters can disrupt vital support systems that older adults rely upon. This workshop will provide practical strategies for preparedness planning in rural communities."

Topics to be covered during the workshop include developing disaster plans in rural areas, building community partnerships, leveraging the influence of area agencies on aging, and using technology to plan for meeting the needs of older adults.

The New Frontier in Aging Conference is sponsored by the WVU Division of Social Work.

(Bluefield)—Bluefield State College Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (RASP) staff members Lisa Saunders and Julie Kalk traveled on April 5 to Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) in Elizabeth City, NC to observe operations in the highly successful ECSU Office of Sponsored Programs. The BSC delegation was welcomed by ECSU Director of Sponsored Programs Patricia Gibbs and her staff.

The BSC representatives were introduced to how the major components of grant application and management—pre-award services, post-award services, and compliance—are handled at ECSU, after which they met with each of the ECSU sub-units to discuss details.

"It was an opportunity for me to confirm that the issues we have in RASP are universal and to learn some techniques for dealing with those issues," said Saunders. "It was also nice to see that they have been able to grow their office from 2-3 staff and $1.5 million in grants to 10-11 staff and $15 million in grants in the last decade."

ECSU was chosen as a mentor institution because of a broad overlap in mission and activities between it and BSC. Both ECSU and BSC are Historically Black Colleges & Universities that identify themselves as teaching institutions and serve similarly-sized communities. ECSU is a past recipient and BSC a current recipient of the National Institutes of Health Extramural Associates Research and Development Award (EARDA), which is intended to strengthen sponsored programs infrastructure.

Additionally, Dr. Kalk and Dr. Tesfaye Belay are participating in the ECSU Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program (MSEIP) which uses technology and critical thinking to improve student outcomes in science and engineering courses. A delegation from ECSU MSEIP will be visiting BSC on April 19 to provide training in the use of a Smart Board that was purchased for BSC through the program.

"We hope that establishing strong ties with ECSU in a range of areas will make both institutions stronger," noted Kalk. "If the reception and acceptance we experienced at ECSU is indicative of future events, this relationship is bound to be a success."

(Bluefield)—An information session focusing upon career options in psychology will be presented at Bluefield State College on May 2, 4 p.m. in Room 106/Basic Science Building on the BSC campus.

The session, organized by Dr. Robert Lowinger/BSC Assistant Professor of Psychology, features Sandra S. Stroebel, Associate Professor and Program Director of the Marshall University School Psychology Program, Kristi Williams Dumas, Staff Psychologist and Black Affairs Program Director at the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Beckley, WV, and Amy Dent, a 2012 BSC Psychology graduate and West Virginia State University master's degree candidate in Social Work.

"The presenters will cover topics that are extremely relevant for individuals who are, or may be, considering careers in Psychology," noted Dr. Lowinger. The information session is open, free of charge, to both the college community and the public. It provides a wonderful opportunity to learn more about career opportunities and talk to experts in the field. Individuals seeking additional information are encouraged to contact Dr. Lowinger by phone (304-327-4291) or e-mail (rlowinger@bluefieldstate.edu).

(Bluefield)—A scholarly article written by Dr. Robin Ware, Bluefield State College Beckley Campus Coordinator, has been published in the Virginia English Journal.

The article, “Living, Learning, Teaching (with) Language:  An Idiolectical Autobiography of a Lawn Guylander,” was published in the Virginia English Journal’s Vol. 62, Number 2.  “One of the greatest achievements in academia, after receiving one’s doctorate, is getting an article published in a peer-reviewed journal,” Dr. Ware noted.  “I wrote this autobiography about how some people react when hearing my ‘Lawn Guyland/Long Island’ accent.  I hope that this essay will help non-New Yorkers be kinder to those of us who are out of our element!”

The Virginia English Journal is the Virginia Association of Teachers of English refereed journal.  It is published twice each year, and contains articles of interest to teachers of English, those who teach teachers of English, and others concerned with the teaching of English.