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| BSC Baseball Program Welcomes 22 New Recruits | Monday, September 08 1997 | BSC Baseball Program Welcomes 22 New Recruits | An outstanding recruiting class will bolster Bluefield State College's baseball program during the new season. BSC baseball coach Geoff Hunter has released the names of the most recent group of recruits. They include (by hometown or high school): Freshmen: Hank Adams (Westminster, MD), Rusty Belcher (Welch, WV), Gordon Boyer (Worton, MD), Billy Carter (Welch, WV), Denny Crane (Alderson, WV),Ryan Encapera (California, PA), Aaron Freeman (Chestertown, MD), Steven Goode (Point of Rocks, MD), Jason Hill (Princeton, WV), J.D. Radnoczi (Mount View HS), Stephen Schlacter (Hines, WV), Micah Skeen (Lynchburg, VA), Frederick Thompson (Greenbrier West HS), and Edward Wills (Glen Morgan, WV). Transfers and other: Michael Calleja, Beau Daquila, Mark Howard, Cory Howell, Miguel Medina, Anthony Riffe, Colin Sweitzer, and Travis Warmock. "I'm very encouraged by the large number of student-athletes who have made the commitment to play baseball at BSC," Hunter noted. "We have nine lettermen returning, so we should have a base upon which to build. We're hopeful this recruiting class will give us a good mix of youth and maturity, enthusiam and experience." | |
| BSC Baseball Team Thrives with McDowell and Wyoming County Talent | Monday, September 08 1997 | BSC Baseball Team Thrives with McDowell and Wyoming County Talent | For years, McDowell and Wyoming County high school baseball has been among the Mountain State's finest. Recognizing this fact, Bluefield State College baseball coach Geoff Hunter is building his team on the foundation of this concentration of talent in the southern West Virginia coal fields. When the 1997-98 baseball roster was finalized, 11 McDowell and Wyoming Countians were included, and many are being counted upon for major contributions. "We've enjoyed a wonderful run of talent from McDowell and Wyoming Counties," Hunter noted. "A lot of baseball programs at the high school level in those counties have experienced a continuity of coaching. Coaches like Nick Shaffron (at Mount View), Mike Vallo (at Big Creek), Dave Chapman (at Mullens), and Ron Mayhew (at Pineville) run serious practices and produce student/athletes who are prepared to play." "These kids are very coachable," the BSC coach continued. "They come to us, ready to play at the college level." This season's BSC roster, with comments by Hunter, includes: Jamie Bailey (Mount View): "He's one of the best players in the (West Virginia) conference. He's a .300 hitter from the clean-up position. He led our outfielders in assists last year, and he struck out only once in conference play all year. He's an outstanding performer." Rusty Belcher (Mount View): "He has an outstanding arm, good size, and the potential to play as both a pitcher and an outfielder. He's a young talent whose best baseball is still ahead of him." Billy Carter (Mount View): "He's a very intelligent player. As a pitcher, he knows how to work hitters. He has a very good curve ball and he will improve as he gains strength." John Ford (Mullens): "John is a proven conference player. He hit .315 last year at the top of the order. He's versatile, can run, and gives us a quality hitter from the left side of the plate." Mike Fowler (Big Creek): "Mike is a great defensive player. He will be a fourth year starter this season. He's played virtually every inning of every game at first base. A hard worker with a great attitude, he's another dependable left-handed hitter with good power." Jason Houck (Mullens): "He is one of our two best starting pitchers. Last year, he added three MPH to his fastball. He was fifth in the conference in strikeouts last year as a freshman, and figures to be the heir apparent to "ace of the staff" next season." Damien Jackson: (Mount View): "He was our starting third baseman last year. He is a very disciplined hitter, leading the team in walks last season. Damien has one of the best arms on the team and could see some time as a pitcher this year." Josh King (Big Creek): "Josh is a left-handed pitcher who returns after a one year layoff. He is a finesse pitcher who had a lot of success as a freshman. If he is able to return to his freshman form, he strengthens us tremendously in our starting rotation." Anthony Riffe (Baileysville): "A left-handed power hitter who can play first and DH, Anthony gives us another RBI bat in the middle of the order, and he's got college level experience." Dusty Sparks (Pineville): "Dusty is returning after a year away from the program. He is a very dependable infielder with good mechanics. He's already an accomplished hitter and gives us some versatility in our lineup." Jared Willingham (Mullens): "He has a lot of talent and potential. If he continues to improve as much this year as he did during his freshman season, he will play a lot as a junior and senior. He has power and can be a dependable DH." | |
| BSC Student Receives $5,000 Underwood-Smith Teacher Scholarship (w/photo) | Monday, September 08 1997 | BSC Student Receives $5,000 Underwood-Smith Teacher Scholarship (w/photo) | Bluefield State College sophomore Shelly Boggess (pictured) has been awarded the Smith Underwood Teacher Scholarship. A member of the Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) program at BSC, Boggess applied for the scholarship several months ago, and was notified recently that she had been selected as a recipient. "I am grateful for the encouragement I received from Sarita Gattuso (BSC EOC program director)," noted Boggess, a Peterstown resident majoring in teacher education. "She suggested that I should apply for the scholarship and encouraged me to follow through with the project." The Underwood-Smith Teacher Scholarship Program is a state-funded program designed to enable and encourage outstanding high school graduates who demonstrate an interest in teaching to pursue teaching careers at the preschool, elementary, or secondary school level. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic qualifications and interest in teaching. The program is designed to enable the recipient to successfully complete a course of study to obtain a teaching certificate and to commit that individual to the pursuit of a teaching career. Applicants must be legal West Virginia residents. | |
| Veterans Upward Bound Counselor Helps Service Veterans Tap Opportunities Through Education (w/photo) | Monday, September 08 1997 | Veterans Upward Bound Counselor Helps Service Veterans Tap Opportunities Through Education (w/photo) | Military veterans living in McDowell, Wyoming, Monroe, and Mercer Counties will find a friend who "speaks their language," when they meet Al Hancock, a Bluefield State College Veterans Upward Bound counselor. The Minority Affairs Chairman for the West Virginia State Council/Vietnam Veterans of America, Hancock uses his 23-years as a service veteran, coupled with his experience as an educator, to assist veterans who seek to improve their lives by pursuing postsecondary education. "The Veterans Upward Bound program is all about opportunity," Hancock noted. "Service veterans can continue their education or pursue their individual goals through the program. Program services include career and academic counseling and testing, short-term refresher courses in computers, math, and sciences, and assistance in completing college entrance applications, SAT/ACT applications, and financial aid forms." Hancock stressed that VUB services are free to qualifying service veterans in the program. "The refresher courses are short-term, 12 week courses that meet once a week," he added. "They are designed to sharpen the service veterans' skills as they prepare to pursue postsecondary education. Veterans Upward Bound is a fantastic program for veterans serious about their education. The program covers the cost of books, paper, tutors, and equipment." VUB is particularly well equipped to help the underemployed, unemployed, or marginally-employed veteran by providing three levels of instruction--pre-GED, GED, and remedial preparation for college. Tentative plans call for Hancock to visit the Saulsville campus of Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College September 18 to present information on the program. "VUB seeks to offer college as a viable alternative for young veterans who would 'automatically' leave the service and seek a job," Hancock stated. "To older veterans who have been displaced in the workforce, VUB offers college as a real option, helping veterans to secure gainful employment through academic achievement and enhancement." Before retiring from the Air Force, Hancock served 23 years, including two tours in Vietnam. Several of his poems about his Vietnam experience have been published. When veterans come through the doors of our offices at Bluefield State College, we speak their language. "We will make them feel comfortable, and we want to help," he concluded. The Veterans Upward Bound office is located in Mahood Hall on the Bluefield State College campus. Additional information may be obtained by calling (304) 327-4288 or (toll-free) 1-888-428-0425. | |
| New BSC Education Faculty Member -- Dr Patricia Hilton | Thursday, September 04 1997 | New BSC Education Faculty Member -- Dr Patricia Hilton | Dr. Patricia Hilton compares her arrival at Bluefield State College to "returning home." The former West Virginia Tech faculty member joined the BSC teacher education faculty at the start of the Fall 1997 semester. A graduate of Kent State University, Hilton received her master's degree and Ph.D. from the University of Akron. She taught at Alice Lloyd (KY) College, West Virginia Tech, and the University of Houston before returning to the Mountain State this year. "My experience with students at West Virginia Tech was a very positive one," she noted. "Students at Tech and at Bluefield State College have a wonderful desire to learn. They're very receptive." Hilton teaches Fall semester courses involving foundations of education, psychology of learning, reading & language arts for the elementary school teacher, and content reading. "There has always been a need for excellent, well-trained teachers," she observed, noting that a "baby boom echo," during which the children of baby boomers are expected to establish families in the near future, should increase the demand for qualified, motivated teachers in the near future. With 20 years' teaching experience, Hilton finds personal and professional fulfillment in her career. "Teaching is fun," she said. "The teacher must have a passion for learning--it's a lifelong learning process. It is very rewarding to have a positive influence on the lives of students." "We have an excellent teacher education program at Bluefield State College," she added. "I'm honored to be a part of it." |
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| Olmsted to be a Featured Presenter at Harvard Conference (w/photo) | Thursday, September 04 1997 | Olmsted to be a Featured Presenter at Harvard Conference (w/photo) | A Bluefield State College faculty member will be a featured presenter later this semester at the Harvard University conference on "Metals in Antiquity." Dr. Garrett Olmsted, Associate Professor of Anthropology and Sociology at BSC, will examine metallurgy, fabrication, and social context in his presentation, "Mint Masters and Metal Smiths--Iron Age Europe." The conference is jointly sponsored by the Department of Anthropology at Harvard and the Department of Archaeology at the University of Bradford, England. Olmsted's paper was one of approximately 30 chosen from more than 150 applicants. A BSC faculty member since 1990, Olmsted received a B.A. and Ph.D. from Harvard. During the 1996 biennial Harvard Celtic Colloquium, Olmsted examined the social evolution theory in his presentation, "A Mechanism for the Spread of Celtic and Indo-European Culture." Last September, Olmsted will investigate the "Origins of the Gundestrup Cauldron" during the "International Congress of Prehistoric and Protohistoric Sciences" conference in Forli, Italy. | |
| Osborne Named New BSC "Lady Blues" Basketball Coach | Thursday, September 04 1997 | Osborne Named New BSC "Lady Blues" Basketball Coach | Veteran West Virginia college and high school basketball coach Kenny Osborne has been named new coach of the Bluefield State College "Lady Blues" basketball team. Osborne succeeds Cary Woods, who accepted the position in June, then resigned for personal reasons one month later. "BSC has the winningest basketball program in the WVIAC over the past nine years, so the challenge will be to sustain that level of excellence," Osborne said. He will take over a BSC program that has posted a 177-85 mark during the past nine seasons under former coach Tom Jessee. After coaching BSC to four WVIAC championships and NAIA national tournament appearances twice, Jessee submitted his resignation earlier this year to move to Florida, where his wife will complete her medical residency requirements after her recent graduation from the West Virginia School for Osteopathic Medicine and he will continue coaching. The Lady Blues posted a 17-win campaign last year, and return several veterans including guards Jennifer Douglas, Wendy Black, and Deneeka Burs, along with baseline players Shelley White and Leslie Roberts. Osborne, a 1985 Glenville State graduate, served as a basketball graduate assistant on the staff of Radford University, an assistant at Cave Springs (VA) High School, and an assistant men's basketball coach on the staff at Glenville State for seven years. Last year, he was head coach of the Gilmer County (WV) High School girls' team. He also served for eight years as a Glenville State faculty member and head volleyball coach. "I know there are some quality players returning to the Lady Blues team, and I believe we can be an effective team this year by utilizing our quickness and pressure defenses," Osborne said. "I'm excited about the opportunity here. I've talked to some high school and college coaches in the region and look forward to working with them in the years to come." Woods will also serve as BSC Director of Intramurals and head coach of the men's and women's tennis teams. | |
| BSC English Faculty Member Involves Students in Active Dialogue (w/photo) | Wednesday, September 03 1997 | BSC English Faculty Member Involves Students in Active Dialogue (w/photo) | When students enter Dr. Frank Ball's English classes at Bluefield State College, they are encouraged to bring an open mind and willingness to participate in classroom dialogue. Ball, a professor of English who received his Ph.D. from the University of Montpellier, France, realizes that the learning experience involves students. "I encourage a dynamic classroom, where students have not only a right but a duty to express their ideas, while the rest of us are challenged to consider them," Ball noted. "Truth and insight result from these exchanges." "I don't want to coach students in how they should answer," he continued. "I can look in the mirror and see myself and know my thoughts. I seek independent thought and feedback from each student." In Ball's Humanistic (Classical) Tradition class, students read some of the greatest works of classical European literature. His goal is for each student to experience the insights of great writers in order to come to their own conclusions about the great truths of all time and how different human communities have dealt with them. Many of his most interested students are those majoring in engineering technology, computer science, or allied health sciences. "Some of our best students are in the technologies," he added. "They are better able to deal with the people of different cultural backgrounds after having had the class." As an undergraduate, Ball spent a semester as an exchange student in the French-speaking African nation of Senegal. The African people have an appreciation for the equality of human beings, he said. "They have a great deal of wisdom when it comes to the spirit and understanding the mystery of creation and the universe." In 1967, he traveled to southern France to pursue postgraduate education at the University of Montpellier. He met his wife, Anne, while he worked as a tutor in France. Their sons Arthur (age 20) and Philippe (1 8) are BSC students. "In France, I developed an appreciation for other social and political stances," he noted. "The French express themselves very freely and honestly. They will respect opinions and positions that they don't necessarily share." He brings that same openness into the "opinion-friendly environment" he seeks to foster in his classes at Bluefield State College. "Students entering my classes tell me they expect the reading to be difficult. However, once they see how the questions relate to their own lives, they start analyzing their values, motivations and attitudes--and those of the people around them," he said. "The excitement and participation keep the class entertaining." | |
| BSC "Going the Distance" by Offering A.S. Degree Program Completely by Distance Learning | Tuesday, September 02 1997 | BSC "Going the Distance" by Offering A.S. Degree Program Completely by Distance Learning | Bluefield State College's associate degree program in general studies is now available completely via distance learning. The program makes it possible for students to complete the requirements for the program through regular distance learning courses at BSC's electronic classrooms, along with PBS Instructional Television (ITV) courses at the institution's campuses in Bluefield, Beckley, and Lewisburg. As a participant in "Going The Distance," a national PBS initiative for the delivery of degree programs through distance learning, BSC will offer at least 10 telecourses per year at the College's three campuses, noted Dr. Tom Blevins, Bluefield State Director of Instructional Technology. "West Virginia needs to expand access to higher education for job training, as well as associate and baccalaureate education, because the state has one of the lowest college-going rates in the nation," Blevins said. "Adopting new technologies is a means of reaching more people who need our services. With less money and increased demand, distance learning permits the development of quality, technologically-driven instruction." "Baccalaureate classes may also be taken by ITV to complete the requirements for a Regents Bachelor of Arts (RBA)," Blevins added. Information on utilization of ITV instruction to meet RBA requirements may be obtained by contacting RBA Director Annette Osborne (327-4502), and additional information on the associate degree general studies program through distance learning may be obtained by calling Dr. Blevins (327-4059). Blevins was also named recently to the "Governor's Information and Technology Council," and has been invited to attend the monthly meetings of the "Governor's Science and Technology Committee." He has also been named to the Instructional Technology Advisory Committee, a committee of higher education representatives dealing with technology issues. | |
| BSC's J. D. Carpenter to Address State College System Central Office Staff (w/photo) | Tuesday, September 02 1997 | BSC's J. D. Carpenter to Address State College System Central Office Staff (w/photo) | J.D. Carpenter, Bluefield State College's Director of Campus Life, will present a "Team-Building Workshop," for State College System central office personnel later this month. The workshop, which Carpenter conducted for this summer's Regional Leadership Student Retreat in Bluefield, focuses upon the "dynamics of adjusting your style of leadership to work with individuals who may not share your professional viewpoints," according to the BSC campus life director. More than 60 central office personnel will attend the workshop, September 30 in Charleston. |
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