(Bluefield)— After winning one of The Home Depot "Retool Your School" campus enhancement grants for 2010, Bluefield State College is once again asking for your vote. BSC has submitted three grants for consideration in The Home Depot "Retool Your School" 2013 competition, and votes are being received in support of the grant application through April 15, 2013.

More than 90 Historically Black Colleges and Universities submitted proposals in last year's competition and more are expected to compete in this year's event. Selection of the winning grants will be based in part on the merit of each grant, and in part on the votes cast for each participating institution of higher education.

One vote per day per computer is permitted. The website for online voting is: http://retoolyourschool.com/ or voters can cast online votes by visiting the Bluefield State College website at http://bluefieldstate.edu

BSC's Major Project ($50,000) grant application involves the development of a series of instructional "How-to" videos related to utilizing material from The Home Depot for gardening, ecology, and outdoor projects. These videos will be developed while projects like tree and flower planting, environmentally friendly gardening, and patio construction are taking place on campus. The Campus Pride Project ($25,000) grant application focuses upon the installation of campus lighting, including solar and battery powered lights in and around campus buildings, to line sidewalks, etc., and the Minor Project ($10,000) grant application concentrates upon landscaping projects at selected locations throughout the campus.

"We are asking our students, employees, alumni, and friends throughout the region to consider taking a moment each day to cast their vote in support of these grants," noted Shelia Johnson, BSC's Vice President for Financial & Administrative Affairs. "Your daily vote for Bluefield State College could make the difference!"

(Bluefield)—The annual Bluefield State College "Blue & Gold Extravaganza" on Friday, April 19, 2013 will bring together residents from the local and College community for a night of spirited fun and generous giving. It begins at 7 p.m. at Fincastle On The Mountain in Bluefield, VA.

The evening will feature an attractive variety of live and silent auction items. Guests will enjoy music, socializing, and hors d'oeuvres by Fincastle On The Mountain's Chef Rick.

Betty Carroll, Executive Director of the BSC Foundation, has directed organizational efforts for the event. "The auction proceeds will benefit the Bluefield State College Foundation's unrestricted annual fund," she observed. "This fund provides emergency loans for students, underwrites employees' participation in professional workshops, and addresses opportunities and challenges for BSC students throughout the year."

Bill Archer will again serve as auctioneer. "The auction is a great way to bring community members and BSC together for an evening of fun," Carroll continued. "At the same time, we are raising funds to help our students, staff and faculty."

Tickets purchased prior to the event cost $20 each (tickets at the door--$25), and entitle the holder to two beverages and an array of delicious offerings. "Fincastle On The Mountain" is a fantastic venue, and we look forward to a good time for all," Carroll noted.

Individuals and/or organizations interested in securing tickets are encouraged to contact Carroll (304-327-4031) or Lala Waters (304-327-4235). Tickets will also be available at the door.

(Bluefield)—At first glance, Regis College in Boston, MA appears to be several hundred miles from Bluefield State College and Montcalm High School. However, for David Gilmore, Chair for Medical Imaging at Regis and Program Director for Nuclear Medicine, his career path would not have been possible without the foundation he received while a student at the Mercer County institutions.

Gilmore, who has been recently named the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs at Regis, returned to the area recently to meet with BSC Radiologic Technology Program Director Melissa Haye and Angela Lambert, Dean of the BSC School of Nursing & Allied Health. Through a series of discussions, BSC and Regis have entered into a memorandum of understanding with intentions to create an agreement by which Bluefield State Rad. Tech students interested in obtaining licensure in nuclear medicine will be able to obtain their Bachelor of Science degree in Radiologic Sciences with a concentration in Nuclear Medicine at BSC and attend Regis in Boston for two semesters beginning in September, participate in clinical rotations at one of the Harvard Medical School affiliated hospitals. BSC will become an academic affiliate of the Regis College Nuclear Medicine Technology program, allowing students to obtain their degree from BSC and have the opportunity to learn, practice, and live in Boston without the expense of New England. Students will finish their clinical rotations after a year in Boston back in southern West Virginia/southwestern Virginia.

"This process has been so exciting from the beginning," noted Melissa Haye, BSC Radiologic Technology program director. "I am always looking for new opportunities for our graduates to gain other certifications, and this was perfect. It also allows our graduates to see that someone from our area can accomplish many things with the foundation that we here at BSC provide to them. Working with David has been a joy and I look forward to a great partnership between Regis and BSC for many years to come."

"There's no way I would be where I am today without the education, training, and encouragement I received at Bluefield State College and at the local hospitals," Gilmore recounted. "When I graduated from Montcalm High School, I was faced with the question of 'what will I do with my life?' and I decided to apply for the Rad. Tech program at BSC. I encountered a great opportunity at both Bluefield Regional Medical Center and at Princeton Community Hospital that created the passion in medical imaging and opened the door to me to do rotations in nuclear medicine. For me, once I rotated in Nuclear Medicine I knew this was a career path for me."

For Gilmore, the closest nuclear medicine program at that time was at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. "I had a great mentor there who pushed me to further my education and become involve in the professional organizations", he continued. After Nuclear Medicine school, I took a job in Roanoke and finished my bachelor's degree. Being involved in the professional societies is what continued to develop my career. I started working at DuPont Pharmaceuticals in the positions of sales and Applications Specialist by which I would work with physicians how to use new radioactive materials in imaging." DuPont gave Gilmore the opportunity to finish my master's degree in education from Virginia Tech.
Gilmore moved to DuPont's worldwide nuclear imaging headquarters outside Boston, coordinating training programs for DuPont's sales force and applications personnel while also developing training modules for DuPont's human resources, leadership, and research & development divisions. Gilmore's passion has been education and, after leaving the corporate world, he moved into education and creating an innovative Nuclear Medicine program in Boston. During this time, Gilmore served as the President of the Society of Nuclear Medicine Technologist Section, the professional society of Nuclear Medicine, representing over 16,000 members and traveled extensively nationally and internationally.

"That's when discussions with Bluefield State College began," he said. "Melissa Haye called and we talked about ways to create a licensing program for nuclear medicine that could be available for Bluefield State College students since the new state law requiring licensure for individuals practicing Nuclear Medicine. Roanoke Memorial Hospital had closed its nuclear medicine program and the only regional option for BSC's Rad. Tech and Radiologic Sciences graduates to pursue nuclear medicine licensure was several hours away."

Concurrently, the new president & CEO at Regis, Dr. Antoinette Hays, was receptive to the possibility of partnering with Bluefield State College. "She decided to give it a try," Gilmore stated. "Meanwhile, Dr. Lewis Jones (BSC Provost) and the stakeholders at BSC continued to work with Regis as we began to think outside the box to develop ways to help Bluefield State students get the proper educational requirements in nuclear medicine for licensure. The result—the new collaborative program between BSC and Regis."

"I received an excellent education from Bluefield State College and it prepared me very well for my future," Gilmore added. "I am example of the fact that you don't have to be from a wealthy background to succeed. There are opportunities for all of us, and this program will provide opportunities for some deserving students from Bluefield State." Gilmore is currently enrolled in a doctoral program at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.

Dr. Robert Lowinger's research initiative, entitled "College Students' Perceptions of Severity and Willingness to Seek Psychological Help for Alcohol Problems" was published in the College Student Journal, December 2012 issue. "This research yielded several interesting findings," noted Dr. Lowinger, BSC Assistant Professor of Psychology. "In the past, drugs and alcohol problems have been linked together. However, our research pointed to the fact that students see drugs as a serious problem, but often view alcohol problems as 'not a big deal.'"

Additionally, Dr. Lowinger's research summary, "The Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for PTSD in New York City Transit Workers: A Preliminary Evaluation," was published in the December 2012 issue of North American Journal of Psychology. It examines the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy, whereby false beliefs and misperceptions held by an individual, when challenged constructively, can help to correct behavior that had been based on those false beliefs.

(Bluefield)—A $12,000 gift from the "Annie and Willie Foundation" will provide scholarship opportunities for two Bluefield State College students, according to Betty Carroll, BSC's Director of Institutional Advancement and Planning.

The Foundation will fund two two-year scholarships of $3,000 per year per scholarship. One general scholarship will be awarded, with the other scholarship to be presented to a physically-challenged, mobility-impaired, or re-entry student.

"Scholarship gifts are so important to our students," noted Carroll. "BSC's students depend on scholarship help to begin, then to remain in school and graduate. The scholarship support from the Annie and Willie Foundation will make a significant difference for the students who receive the scholarships."

Bluefield State College recently received scholarship funds from the Winston-Salem, NC-based Annie & Willie Foundation. Students will be notified of the process and timeline for submitting scholarship applications, according to Carroll.

Bluefield State College senior education students delivered presentations and interactive activities during "Family Literacy Night" at the Wade Center.

Jessica McDaniel, Director of the Wade Center emphasized the contribution of the BSC students to the night's success, adding that it was a great opportunity for parents and families to participate in their children's learning.

Becky Peery, principal of Memorial, also said that it was an excellent opportunity for parents, students, BSC future teachers and the community to collaborate. She added that presentations were designed to enrich and benefit students with engaging hands-on activities.

Family Literacy Night has become an annual event in which area schools and BSC senior education students collaborate to increase literacy awareness for students and their families.

The United Way of the Virginias is partnering with Bluefield State College and Concord University students to provide FREE volunteer income tax assistance. The site at Concord University will open Tuesday, February 5th and will be located in the library. The Bluefield State College site will open Thursday, February 7th and will be located in The W. Paul Cole, Jr. School of Business. The United Way will also be offering the service at other locations around Mercer County, including at its NEW office located inside First Community Bank on Federal Street in Bluefield, WV. The service is available BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Beginning, January 23rd, appointments can be made by contacting the United Way of the Virginias at 304-323-3300 Monday through Friday between 9am and 2pm. If you receive a recording please leave a message and allow at least 2 business days for your call to be returned.

CONTACT:  Michelle Carter, Executive Director of the United Way of the Virginias, 304-323-3300 or 304-952-2848, uwvas@frontier.com

NOTICE::  BSC Spring Semester General Registgration has been extended through Tuesday, January 22, 2013. (Updated January 17, 2013)

(BLUEFIELD)—Spring Semester 2013 general registration will be conducted at Bluefield State College campuses in Bluefield and Beckley on Friday, January 18, 2013 (8 a.m.-4 p.m.). Faculty will be in their offices to assist advisees. There will be no general registration on Thursday, January 17.

BSC features 14 nationally accredited programs of study and a variety of career-focused academic disciplines. Full-time, in-state tuition ($2,590/semester) is the most affordable among all public baccalaureate colleges and universities in West Virginia. For full-time students living in out-of-state counties bordering West Virginia, tuition is now $3,772/semester. Out-of-state tuition for all other full-time students is $4,972/semester.

(Revised January 9, 2013)