(Bluefield)—The Bluefield State College Blue Chicory Players Fall Semester Production, Blood on the Trail, will be presented on November 8-10 at the College. Blood on the Trail, by Dr. Sharon Bebout-Carr/Associate Professor of Speech and Blue Chicory Players Director, integrates factual accounts of some of these incidents within a fictional story frame about some young people camping out along the trail who also encounter the threat of violence and the existence of evil.

Because of adult language, mature themes, and implied and actual violence, this play is recommended for mature audiences only. The play runs November 8 at 10:30 a.m., November 9 at 7:30 p.m., and November 10 at 7:30 p.m. All performances will be in the Basic Science Auditorium. Admission is free, but donations are welcome.

(Bluefield)—Bluefield State College Beckley Campus Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) students partnered with the Beckley Plaza McDonald's during a recent "McNurses Night" at the restaurant.

"BSC student nurses provided free blood glucose and blood pressure checks for the public while other students actually worked behind the counter alongside McDonalds employees to promote the relationship between the nursing program and the restaurant," explained Deborah Tonelli, BSC Beckley Campus Nursing Instructor.

Beckley physician Dr. Kelly Pitsenbarger provided the students and the public with informational pamphlets promoting healthy eating, nutrition, and exercise. The Beckley Plaza McDonald's donated 15% of its sales during the three-hour period program to assist in underwriting costs with the BSC ADN second year students' pinning ceremony next May.

"The students raised $755 while providing an important service in the community," Tonelli continued. "The Beckley Plaza McDonald's owners, Tim and Myra Harper, expressed interest in participating in this type of events with students periodically throughout year to support the BSC nursing program."

(Beckley)—Bluefield State College Beckley Campus nursing students partnered with Raleigh General Hospital to provide several health-related services to the Hospital's Senior Friends' members. The first year students in the BSC Beckley Campus Associate Degree Nursing Program conducted glucometer and blood pressure screenings while also administering flu vaccines on October 17 at the Raleigh County Armory's Convention Center.

Each of the 28 first year students in the BSC Beckley ADN program rotated through all of the sites and gained experience in administering the screenings and vaccines. "This initiative gave the students an opportunity to increase their skills and strengthen their communication abilities while assisting a very worthy cause for the community," observed Debra Vest, Assistant Professor of Nursing.

Two nursing faculty from Beckley and a Master's degree nursing student being mentored by the BSC Beckley ADN faculty were also there to assist. "We received very positive feedback from attendees and organizers at the program," Vest continued. "The students enjoyed the experience and Senior Friends' representative Debbie Peyton has invited our students to be involved in future projects of this type." More than 125 flu vaccines were given during the activity.

(Bluefield)—Dr. Tesfaye Belay, a faculty member at Bluefield State College, has been selected to receive a $25,000 grant award from the Center for Natural Product Research, a research program supported by the West Virginia–Idea Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (WV-INBRE). The grant proposes to conduct research related to the discovery and/or application of natural products to chemotherapy or immunotherapy applications.

"The research involved in this grant will focus upon testing whether the feeding of stressed mice with active hexose correlated compound (AHCC) of Mushroom extract can restore the immune functions in the stress mouse infected with Chlamydia trachomatis,"

Dr. Belay commented. The new immunotherapeutics studies stem from his ongoing work on the "Effect of stress on pathogenesis of Chlamydia trachomatis and immune responses in a mouse model." AHCC is commercially available most commonly in Japan and is used as a nutritional supplement taken orally, the BSC faculty researcher added. The AHCC supply for the BSC research project's experimental purposes will be provided by the Amino Up Chemical Company of Japan.

Dr. Belay noted that the study of immunogenic and immunostimulator compounds as potential countermeasures to infectious diseases is particularly relevant in the current biomedical research realm. "Our research group is interested in studying the usage of AHCC because it has become increasingly attractive, given the limitations of chlamydia vaccine development," he concluded.

(Bluefield)—Utilizing the opportunity to talk directly to National Science Foundation (NSF) program directors, two Bluefield State College faculty members participated in an intensive two-day workshop, "The Mechanics of Developing Competitive Proposals." The program at Saint Augustine's University in Raleigh, NC, was facilitated by the Science & Engineering Alliance (SEA), Inc., and sponsored by NSF.

At the workshop for faculty and graduate researchers, Historically Black Colleges and Universities gathered to learn more about NSF and grant opportunities that are available. SEA was created to help ensure an adequate supply of competitive American scientists and engineers while meeting the research and development needs of the public and private sectors.

"This was my first experience at communicating directly with program directors via web access," explained Dr. Anthony Curtis, BSC Assistant Professor of Biology. "Although SEA is reaching out in a broader sense to encourage grant development and submission, the workshop participants were really involved in communications, support, and networking. We are developing an online space where we can maintain communication with our peers who attended the workshop from other institutions."

"The workshop helped to identify faculty members from complimentary disciplines with whom we could partner on cross-function research proposals," added Dr. Julie Kalk, BSC Assistant Professor of Physics and Co-Director of the BSC Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (RASP). "One of the continuing functions of RASP is to pair up collaborators across campus and eventually across institutions. This workshop gave us insight into how the NSF evaluates those partnerships in awarding funds."

SEA is leading an effort to develop a process and model to include HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions in the NSF's large-scale research initiative called the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON). NEON is a continental‐scale research platform for discovering and understanding the impacts of climate change, land‐use change, and invasive species on ecology.

The workshop certainly provided constructive, practical insight into developing substantive grant proposals," Curtis added. "We look forward to applying the lessons learned as we develop grants for NSF consideration."

The Rising Star Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention will be celebrating its 21st anniversary at the Harris-Jefferson Student Center on the campus of Bluefield State College, Friday evening, October 26 and Saturday, October 27. The event will showcase skill-building workshops in areas as diverse as art, robotics and medieval/renaissance swordsmanship. Fandoms as diverse as horror movies, Star Wars, and My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic will find something of interest throughout the weekend.

Rising Star, which spent most of its history in the Roanoke Valley, moved to the Bluefield area around 2005, when staff membership shifted from the Roanoke Valley to the Montgomery, Giles and Mercer County areas. About that same time, the operation of the convention switched hands to the members of the USS Yeager chapter of Starfleet, which has operated on the Bluefield State College campus since 1984. Changing the venue from the Roanoke County Schools to Bluefield State College seemed a logical idea.

Rising Star takes pride in being a "family" convention. Activities at this year's convention range from a "Making Spacescape Paintings" workshop being led by local artist Mark Davis, to a "Zombie Makeup" workshop, being led by local makeup artist Chris DeHart. Panels and presentations include a discussion of paranormal investigation led by members of the Black Diamond Paranormal Society who have been featured on the Biography Channel series "My Ghost Story,"a panel on creating webcomics featuring Chris Impink and Barb Fischer of Studio Unseen. Entertainment and a workshop on creating "filk" music will be presented by songwriter/musician Keith Brinegar, who performs under the stage name White Plectrum. Other local talents will include authors Stephen Sheets and Dan Catron, comic artist and writer Dan Delby, and author and retired journalist Paul Dellinger.

Ashley Holohan is a popular regional artist and a graduate of Virginia Tech. Though marriage and work have taken her out of the area, she has managed to make time in her schedule to rejoin us once again from the suburbs of Chicago. Her artwork, ranging from keychains and luggage tags to full-sized original pieces is always a popular draw.

Science Fiction fans are also fans of real science, and that interest is well represented by the members of the Bluefield State College Robotics Team. Winners of many awards at the regional and national level, the members of this local undergraduate college team manage to hold their own and then some against teams which are often composed of postgraduate engineering students.

Though they tend to maintain a low profile, there are a number of fannish organizations in the region who are always on the lookout for potential new members. They will have tables in the cafeteria area, and will also be taking part in a "Meet and Greet" on Saturday afternoon. Among the groups expected to attend are Starfleet- represented of course by the USS Yeager, The Imperial 501st (Vader's Fist), Abingdon Historical Combat, Clockwork Command (a Steampunk group), Black Diamond Paranormal Society, and Mysticon, a sister convention in the Roanoke, VA area.

In addition to all this, the convention also features a Dealers' Area, with merchandise ranging from handmade crafts to collectibles; an Art Show where attendees are invited to display their original works for potential purchase; and displays of toys, props and collectibles (dependent on space available).

For those with such interests, there will also be a gaming area available with access to video games, role-playing games and tactical board games, including the newest release of the perennial SF board game, OGRE. The game is preparing for re-release close to 30 years after its original release, and one of its Kick Start contributors will be giving us a look ahead at the system.

For those with an interest, there will be a small dance on Friday evening, and an anime room all day Saturday, with introductions to many classic and new series from Japan. Come whet your appetite, and see what you're actually buying before you drop your paycheck at the video store.

Finally, to wind things down on Saturday evening enjoy our Costume Presentation. Many of our attendees are also brilliant costumers and makeup artists in their own right. Join us for a parade of these costumes in presentations that range from the inspirational to the downright silly. While our judges are sorting out all this, sit back, relax and enjoy the music and comedy of White Plectrum. Keith's songs poke fun at popular movies, television, comics and books, and sometimes an occasional well-deserved jab at the fans themselves.

The evening ends with an auction. Items can range from junk to incredibly rare collectibles, because it's supported entirely by donations. So far, we can promise some neat games, cool toys and
really interesting DVDs.

Membership at Rising Star is free to members of the Bluefield State College community, including students, faculty and staff. General memberships are $5 for Friday evening and all day Saturday. Children under the age of six are free.

Proceeds beyond operating costs are being collected toward the funding of a scholarship at Bluefield State College in memory of Jonathan David "Jonny" Miller. Jonny was a graduate of Bluefield State College in the Computer Science program, and a supporter of USS Yeager from the days when it was still the Bluefield State College Science Fiction Club.

It's a day and a half of entertainment for only five dollars and as Bill Cosby used to say, "If you're not careful, you might even learn something before we're done." So dig out your old cartoon t-shirt and we'll see you there!

Submitted by Jerry Conner

Article from the Bluefield Daily Telegraph (16-Oct-2012)

Article from the Bluefield Daily Telegraph (16-Oct-2012)

Sandra Wynn, BSC Associate Degree Nursing Program Director, was a featured speaker at the annual Memory Walk at Mercer Mall earlier this month. Wynn, who lost her grandmother, Ruby Davis, to Alzheimer's Disease earlier this year, spoke about the impact the disease has on caregivers and family members. The Memory Walk is the Alzheimer Association's largest fundraising and awareness effort.

(Bluefield)—As a nurse and the director of Bluefield State College's Associate Degree Nursing Program, Sandy Wynn has a professional appreciation for the effects of Alzheimer's Disease. When she lost her grandmother and great aunt to Alzheimer's earlier this year, Professor Wynn saw the disease from the perspective of a family member and caregiver.

Wynn was a featured speaker at the annual Memory Walk at Mercer Mall earlier this month. The Memory Walk is the Alzheimer Association's largest fundraising and awareness effort. It supports vital programs and services the Alzheimer's Association provides for families and caregivers facing the disease, while also promoting necessary research to seek a cure.

"My grandmother, Ruby Davis, died of Alzheimer's in 2012," Wynn told an audience of more than 250 walkers at the program. "Within our family, we were looking for a way to honor my grandmother's memory. The Memory Walk became a reunion of sorts for my family to support fundraising to combat the disease."

Noting that her late grandmother was an avid teapot collector, Wynn started a team, comprised primarily of Mrs. Davis' daughters and granddaughters. "We called the team 'Ruby's Teapots,' and we wore team shirts sporting the image of teapots on the front," she said.

"The turnout on Memory Walk Saturday was great," she continued. "We raised about $16,000 and there were so many walkers that we nearly encircled the mall when the walk started."

Wynn said "Ruby's Teapots" will make a return appearance at next year's Memory Walk, and she's inviting other teams and individuals to join in the effort.

(Bluefield)—The West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses formally approved expansion of the Bluefield State College Associate Degree Nursing program to accept ten additional students at the program's Beckley campus. The expansion of the program was approved at the October 18, 2012 meeting of the Board.

"We are excited about the opportunity to expand our program in Raleigh County," noted Angela Lambert, Dean of the BSC School of Nursing and Allied Health. "The Board's action will permit us to address the shortage of qualified nursing education opportunities in the greater Raleigh County region. Lambert noted that BSC's 2012 Associate Degree Nursing graduates from the Raleigh county campus achieved a 96.8% passage rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for Registered Nurses.

Due to the current and projected shortage of RN's into 2020 BSC intends to be a driving force in filling this need," according to Lambert. "The ability to educate future nurses will assist in providing qualified professionals to meet the healthcare needs of southern WV. BSC is proud of their current clinical affiliations in Raleigh County and looks forward to expansion of these relationships," she stated.

BSC is currently in the process of taking applications for the associate degree nursing program on both the Beckley and Bluefield campuses. The application deadline for students seeking to enter the 2013 BSC Associate Degree Nursing program is December 15, 2012. Additional information can be obtained by contacting the college admission office.

The Bluefield State College Associate Degree Nursing Program, Beckley & Bluefield Campuses, is fully accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission and West Virginia Board of Professional Registered Nurses.