General Registration for the the first Summer Session at the Greenbrier Community College Center of Bluefield State College will be conducted May 27-28 (8 a.m.- 4 p.m.). Classes begin May 27, and a May 28 deadline has been established for registration and payment of fees.

The first summer session ends June 26. Additional information and Summer 1997 schedules may be obtained by contacting the Greenbrier Community College Center of BSC at (304) 645-3303.

As part of the "The Reading Process," an education course at Bluefield State College, 30 students majoring in education recently participated in the "Yes! We Read Together" program, sponsored by the West Virginia State Reading Council. The program is a statewide, three-year campaign, in conjunction with the West Virginia Reading Association, dedicated to promoting lifetime readers.

Through this project, BSC students promoted literacy in a five-county region, investing approximately 300 hours' effort in work with 30 children (ages 6-12). Mitzi Litton, adjunct instructor for the course, noted, "Research has shown that a balanced reading program in which both oral and silent reading are practiced in school and out of school develops independent strategies and skills, as well as a love of reading."

"Before starting their student teaching experience, the BSC student participants were given the opportunity to understand the joys of reading to, and with, elementary age children," Litton said. The young children read stories of their own choice, then created and illustrated their own stories. Some made complete books or journals of their works. BSC education majors participating in the program included: Rebecca Bandy, Amee Barrett, Mark Beggs, Linda Britton, Michelle Carosi, Jackie Colobro, Robin Davis, Sharon Davis, Heather Farley, Mellissa Ferrell, Mona Finney, Christy Gleason, James Gray, Brandice Hatfield, Donna Henkel, Mark Jenkins, Ollena Keene, Samantha Keene, Barbara Lane, Charla Maynard, Jody Neal, Mary Rice, Kacey Rohrer, Beki Sharpe, Edwin Stress, Ellen Williams, Shonda Wilson, Kristin Winfrey, and Melissa Wolfe.

Recently, members of the student section/International Society (ISA) for Measurement and Control at Bluefield State College traveled to Chicago to compete with student teams from the United States, Canada, Russia, and Latin America in a day-long international student competition.

BSC's electrical engineering technology students were also involved in seminars designed to provide the opportunity to put their skills to the test. Seminars included a conduit seminar and hands-on tube bending seminar, along with a glass tower demonstration.

BSC's student section team competed in the ISA Bowl, during which they answered questions on basic and advanced instrumentation and control theory and practice. The ISA Practical competition gave students two instrumentation and control exercises developed by local industry professionals.

BSC associate professor of electrical engineering technology Roy Pruett, Student Section Advisor for the Bluefield chapter, noted the BSC team finished fourth in the international competition. "Our students gained hands-on experience from the competition and also had the opportunity to meet exhibitors and potential job contacts in the future," he said. BSC students attending the Chicago program, and team members, included: Sonny Ciampanella, Kenneth Holt, Bryon Bishop, Mike Simmons, Jason Osborne, James Pruett, and Shannon Bowling.

Two hundred thirty-two Bluefield State College students received degrees during the Associate Degree portion of the 100th Commencement Exercises at Bluefield State College's Ned Shott Gymnasium Friday night on the BSC campus.

Jeffery Forlines, a BSC graduate and President & CEO, First Century Bank-Wytheville & Fort Chiswell, VA, delivered the Commencement Address. He told the capacity audience of 1997 graduates, their families, and their friends, "I have gained an appreciation for the rich tradition belonging to Bluefield State College. I ask you to be proud of the education you have received from Bluefield State College. I was prepared beyond my expectation."

Forlines challenged graduates to assist others seeking a college education, to believe in community, and to choose mentors who can help them along life's way. "Finally, I challenge you to understand the value of your reputation," he said. "Please ensure that, when people speak of your defining moments, the words 'integrity, value, fairness, vision, and respect' are used."

BSC President Dr. Robert Moore extended congratulations to the graduates, their families, and friends. He told the graduates, "We are confident that the contributions you will make to your region, society, and to those around you will enhance the lives of those you touch."

The Baccalaureate portion of BSC's Commencement Exercises will take place at 10 a.m. today at the Ned Shott Gym. Two hundred thirty-four students will receive degrees. The 466 graduates of BSC's class of '97 join the ranks of BSC alumni, now numbering more than 14,000.

Bluefield attorney J. Franklin Long, also a BSC graduate, will deliver Saturday's Baccalaureate Commencement Address.

Members of the BSC class of 1947 will be honored during the Baccalaureate Commencement upon the 50th anniversary of their graduation from the College.

Two hundred thirty-five Bluefield State College students received degrees during Saturday's Baccalaureate Degree portion of the institution's 100th Commencement Exercises at the Ned Shott Gymnasium on the BSC campus. Altogether, 465 degrees were conferred during Bluefield State College's Associate Degree and Baccalaureate Degree graduations this weekend.

Bluefield attorney J. Franklin Long, a BSC graduate, delivered Saturday's Commencement Address. A member of the Bluefield State College Foundation executive board and past president of the Mountain State Bar Association, Long's address centered on "failures, experiences, and habits." He told the graduates and guests, "Name and then forget your failures, claim and benefit from your experiences, and ingrain and develop good habits. We build our characters from the bricks of habit we lay, day by day," he noted. "Each brick seems like a little thing, but before we are aware of it, we have built a house we have to live in."

Charles W. Mossor, who received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology degree, was recognized as BSC's 1997 valedictorian and Fred J. Weber, Jr., who received a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy, was honored as the BSC class of '96 salutatorian.

Well-known Bluefield philanthropist and volunteer June Oblinger Shott received an honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Bluefield State College during the program. She is a member and vice-chair of the BSC Institutional Board of Advisors, the BSC Foundation executive board. Two years ago, her gift to the College permitted the establishment of a new scholarship program, and the College, last September, named its new Center for Extended Learning in her honor.

Sheila Parks, Associate Professor of Nursing, received the "BSC Foundation Outstanding Faculty Award." A BSC nursing faculty member, Parks is very active in a variety of HIV/AIDS education programs on a local, state, and national level. Later this month, for the third consecutive year, she will work as a nursing health volunteer at an Indian reservation in South Dakota.

Twenty-seven returning members of the BSC class of 1947 were honored upon the 50th anniversary of their graduation from the College during Saturday's Commencement Exercises.

Two students and one faculty member in Bluefield State College's criminal justice program have been extended special recognition for their involvement in the most recent "in-service" training program presented by the Princeton Police Department.

Students Mildred Maddy and Charles McKenzie, along with William Aldridge, assistant professor of criminal justice, were given "Certificates of Appreciation" for their work during the "Patrol Officer Firearms Basics" training program in April.

"Both Mildred and Charles displayed a genuine interest in the training," noted Sgt. Richard Mann, II, Police Firearms Instructor/Princeton PD. "They were were programmed to react and respond to the actions and mistakes of the participating officers. Not only did they do this well, but they also applied their ingenuity and performed well above what was expected."

In the "Certificate of Appreciation" to Prof. Aldridge, Mann noted, "You are a fine example of the type of individuals we need instructing the law enforcement professionals of tomorrow."

During the week of this in-service training program, the BSC representatives assisted with the training of 58 police officers from six different departments.

Well-known Bluefield philanthropist and volunteer June Oblinger Shott received an honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Bluefield State College during BSC's 1997 graduation exercises.

BSC President Dr. Robert Moore noted, "June Oblinger Shott carries a continuing commitment to education at Bluefield State College through her extensive scholarship support to students in our area in pursuit of a college degree from this institution. Through her gift of the largest individual financial contribution ever received by this institution, a scholarship program in her name was established here in 1995, and has already opened the window of educational opportunity to many students."

Vice-Chair of the Bluefield State College Institutional Board of Advisors, the honoree is a member of the College Foundation's executive board. BSC's new Center for Extended Learning, which provides distance learning electronic classroom instruction to students at the College's Bluefield, Lewisburg, and Beckley campuses, was named in her honor last September.

The BSC President recognized Mrs. Shott's "commitment of service, energy, and enthusiasm to help this community," in awarding the honorary doctorate.

Sheila Parks, associate professor of nursing at Bluefield State College, has been named the recipient of the BSC Foundation's "Outstanding Faculty Award" for 1997.

Parks, who has been a nursing faculty member since 1990, is a member of the West Virginia Higher Education HIV/AIDS Prevention Health Promotion Consortia, as well as the District 1 HIV Prevention Community Planning Committee. She has also served as chair of the Bluefield State College HIV/AIDS Awareness Committee and has taken an active role in HIV/AIDS education, presenting conferences to the BSC community, BSC students, and the community, at large.

A member of the West Virginia and American Nurses Associations, American Association of Critical Care Nurses, and the Mercer County CPR Committee, Parks is a volunteer practitioner at Mercer Health Right, Inc., and is Nurse Practitioner at the Bluefield State College Nursing Health Center.

Parks has developed the course "Health Promotion and Wellness" for nontraditional delivery, including distance learning, and is editor of "Health Link," a wellness newsletter distributed to the BSC community, and to health care providers throughout the region. Later this month, for the third consecutive summer, Parks will work as a nursing health volunteer at an Indian Reservation in South Dakota.

A Bluefield State College graduate, and masters' graduate of the University of Virginia, Parks is a member of Sigma Theta Tau, a nursing honorary.

For the third consecutive summer, a Bluefield State College nursing faculty member will spend four weeks of her summer as a Nurse Practitioner on an Indian Reservation. Sheila Parks (R.N., M.S.N.), an associate professor of nursing at BSC, will provide volunteer health care at the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in South Dakota, beginning May 25.

Krista Richmond, a Beckley resident and president of the BSC Beckley Campus Student Nursing Association, will also participate in the project. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," she said. "I will be working with Prof. Parks in the outpatient clinic and working in the hospital as an lextern."'

Two years ago, Parks worked with the Navajo Nation in Arizona, and last year she spent six weeks as a volunteer health care provider for the Oglala Lakota Sioux Indians at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in Kyle, SD.

"The Rosebud is the second largest Sioux Reservation in the United States (tribal membership 15,438)," Parks noted. "I will be working in the outpatient clinic, located within the hospital." Major health problems faced by the residents of the Rosebud Sioux Reservation include Type 11 diabetes, TB, asthma, poor nutrition and obesity. Fifty-five percent of Rosebud's residents live in substandard housing. After last year's work at the Ogiala Lakota Sioux Reservation, Parks observed, "Many of the Sioux must do without water and electricity. "Their diet does not include many fresh fruits and vegetables, contributing to diabetes within the reservation."

Parks anticipates traveling to the Black Hills of South Dakota to participate in a volksmarch at Crazy Horse Mountain, and view several historically significant sites. "It's almost like living history when you drive through Wounded Knee, Pine Ridge, or watch the re-enactment of the Battle of Little Big Horn," she said.

Parks' sponsor for the Rosebud Sioux Reservation trip is Arrow, Inc., a Washington, D.C.based nonprofit organization that supplements health care to Native Americans.

Bluefield State College extended appreciation to the institution's faculty, classified staff, and administration during its second annual "Employee Recognition Day," May 7. Among the many highlights of the luncheon program--the presentation of the "Bluefield State College Foundation Outstanding Classified Staff" awards, and the announcement of the College's first "Classified Emeritus" and "Administrator Emeritus" awards.

BSC President Dr. Robert Moore presented the College Foundation's "Outstanding Classified Staff" awards to Hilda Cochran, microcomputer specialist, and Remona Finney, records officer/Registrar's Office. Both recipients received a $500 gift from the BSC Foundation in recognition of their selection for the awards.

The first "Classified Staff Emeritus" designations ever bestowed by Bluefield State College were granted to William L. Jackson and, posthumously, Hobart Patterson. Mr. Jackson served the college for 35 years, and Mr. Patterson served the institution for 23 years. Plaques were presented to Mr. Jackson, and to Mrs. Katherine Patterson, who accepted the award in behalf of her late husband.

Recently-retired BSC Director of Financial and Administrative Services S. Randolph Grim granted "Administrator Emeritus" status to recognize his 22 years' service to BSC.

The College also presented special "Certificates of Recognition" to the following employees: William Aldridge, Dr. Thomas Blevins, William Bradberry, John Cardwell, Kathy Epperly, William Goodman, Deirdre Guyton, Dr. Sudhakar Jamkhandi, Cravor Jones, Leila Kennedy, Annette Osborne, Ralph Patsel, Deborrah Pittman, and Greg Shrewsberry.

Thirty-year certificates of appreciation were given to Frank Hart, Rita Hill, and Tom Lafone.

Twenty-five year certificates were awarded to Berreda Ratliff and Issac Strain. Those receiving 20 year certificates' Fred Bandy (state recognition), Thomas Blevins, Terry Brown, Aleta Crockett, Patricia Gilley, Edison Neal, and Roger Owensby.

Fifteen-year recipients included: Don Bury, Carol Cofer, Jerry Conner, Aleta Crockett, Dr. Harriet Duncan, Kathy Hill, Geoff Hunter, Mitzi Litton, Rebecca Martin, Annette Osborne, Joanna Thompson, Sandra Thompson, and Dean Watkins.

Individuals receiving ten year certificates were: Fred Bandy (BSC award), Brenda Bass, Joyce Brown, Lois Brown, Linda Dalton, William Goodman, Sudhakar Jamkhandi, Linda Neal, Dr. Helmut Nienstadt, Julia Pauley, Beth Pritchett, John Sage, Patricia Sluss, Bruce Sneidman, and Allonia Thompson.

Five-year certificate recipients included: N. Lynn Adams, Rick Akers, Regina Arnold, Carol Baldwin, Darlene Buchanan, Kimberly Daniels, Virgil Harden, Tom Harrison, Nora Hensley, Melody Howell, Kenneth Kellum, Leila Kennedy, Angela Lambert, James McGehee, Heather McGonagle, Jim Nelson, Dr. David Perkins, Deborah Reagan, Dorothy Sprain, and Terry Wells.