BSU News

Author Becky Crabtree Salutes History-Making BSC Alums

Rebecca "Becky" Crabtree, author, Monroe County educator, and Bluefield State College alumna, discussed the lives and legacies of Dr. Henry Lake Dickason and Dr. William Robertson during a recent BSC Honors College Speaker Series program.

Rebecca “Becky” Crabtree won’t let the echoes fade. The Bluefield State College graduate and author inspired a B-State Honors College Speakers Series audience with stories of the lives and legacies of Dr. Henry Lake Dickason and Dr. William Robertson. Crabtree, a Monroe County educator, has authored extensively-researched biographies of Dickason, who was BSC President (1936-1952) and Robertson, a BSC alum who served on the staff of five United States Presidents.

BSC Student Patrice Sterling Selected for Prestigious Innovation Academy Internship

Patrice Sterling, a Bluefield State College student from Jamaica, will participate in the 2022 New Technologists innovation academy, sponsored by Microsoft and Cyborg Mobile, this summer.

Bluefield State College student Patrice Sterling has been selected to participate in the New Technologists innovation academy. The virtual academy was developed for first- and second-year college students interested in pursuing degrees in technology. Sterling is one of 100 students chosen from the 2000 plus applicants for this year’s paid internship program, created through a partnership between Microsoft and Cyborg Mobile, a technology solutions company.

BSC Receives $300K To Train Additional Healthcare Workers

Bluefield State College Medical Education Center

Bluefield State College will receive $300 thousand in Community Project Funding to train more healthcare workers. President Biden recently signed the FY 2022 appropriations omnibus package, which included funding for $241 million in direct spending measures across West Virginia. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, voted in favor of the FY 2022 appropriations omnibus package.

BSC Business Majors Can Now Participate in Walmart Management Training Program

Pictured left-to-right are Walmart’s Regional Marketing Manager, Heather Harmon and Walmart Bluefield, VA Store Manager, Jeffrey Bailey, Dr. Ted Lewis, Bluefield State Provost, and Karen Grogan, Dean/W. Paul Cole, Jr. School of Business. The Walmart Management Training Program has created internship opportunities for BSC students majoring in Business at the W. Paul Cole, Jr. School of Business.

An internship program established at Walmart will provide a “living laboratory” opportunity for students in the W. Paul Cole, Jr. School of Business at Bluefield State College. Through the program, BSC students will participate in the Walmart Management Training Program. “It’s a tremendous opportunity for BSC students majoring in Business,” noted Marviene Johnson, the College’s Registrar.

BSC National Women's History Month Spotlights Bluefield State Alumna Sarah Ponder

Sarah Ponder is a trailblazer. The Bluefield State alumna recently shared her story with an audience of BSC students, employees, and community members during the College’s celebration of National Women’s History Month through the “Celebration of Women,” sponsored by WV GEAR UP and the Bluefield State Peer Mentors organization.

BSC Alum Elected President of Virginia Board of Nursing

BHS & BSC alumnus Brandon Jones, President/Virginia Board of Nursing

A Bluefield High School and Bluefield State alumnus, Brandon Jones, MSN, RN, CEN, NEA-BC has been elected by his Board of Nursing colleagues to begin his term as President of the Virginia Board of Nursing.

Bluefield State College awarded $1 Million through Gov. Justice’s Nursing Workforce Expansion Program

Bluefield State College Receives $1M through Governor Justice's Nursing Workforce Expansion Program

Bluefield State College has been awarded $1 million through West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice’s Nursing Workforce Expansion Program, which is designed to address the state’s nursing shortage through a multifaceted approach to attract, train, and retain nurses in the Mountain State. Representing a fundamental part of this approach, an award program was established to fund nursing program expansion projects at colleges, universities, schools of nursing, and career technical education centers across West Virginia. Through BSC’s award, the College plans to provide an accelerated program for highly qualified nursing applicants to complete the degree in 18 months as well as increase the number nursing students admitted to the already-in-place Accelerated LPN-RN program.

BSC invites applications for BA in International Studies

Bluefield State College Baccalaureate Degree in International Studies is accepting applications from students who wish to prepare for careers that are global in their scope. The new degree program was recently approved Baccalaureate Degree by the Higher Learning Commission and the WV Higher Education Policy Commission

BSC Student-Athlete Desmond Freeman’s Project Success Internship Experience

Bluefield State College student-athlete Desmond Freeman, a Project Success paid internship recipient

Bluefield State College student Desmand Freeman, a standout in the classroom and on the basketball court, is actively involved in the Ascendium Education/Project Success paid internship program at the College.

Bluefield State College Now Offering IBM Badge Certification

Partnering with technology giant IBM, Bluefield State College is now offering training and certification in data science. BSC is among the first institutions of higher education in the world to provide students the opportunity to earn IBM badge certification, according to Dr. Bill Bennett, Computer Science Department Chair at Bluefield State. Through IBM’s involvement with Historically Black Colleges and Universities, our students can access valuable resources, including free faculty training software, courseware, and guest lectures,” added Dr. Tamara Ferguson, Dean of the BSC School of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences. BSC students can earn IBM training and badge certification in critically important fields like data science, cloud computing, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.”

BSC Alumni Siblings Pledge $100K in Scholarships for Bluefield State Students

The first recipients of the “Terry Thompson and John Cardwell” scholarships are pictured at the recent Hatter Hall Scholarship Luncheon at Bluefield State College. They are (seated, left-to-right) Damien Lynch, Aziyah Jackson, (standing, left-to-right) Michael Acheampong, Michelle Lawson, Kashif Alston, Terry Thompson (BSC retiree for whom, with John Cardwell, the scholarship was named), Patrice Sterling, Nia Lumpkins, and Desmond Freeman. BSC alumna Tosin and Yesimii Falasinnu pledged $100,000 to create

Tosin (John) Falasinnu and his sister, Yemisi (Josephine) Falasinnu are proud Bluefield State College alumni. Following their graduation several years ago, they have enjoyed productive and fulfilling careers. Tosin is a Manager, iPhone Product Quality, at Apple, Inc. and Josephine is a registered nurse. Both now live and work in San Jose, California. They’ve pledged $100,000 to help other students in their academic pursuits at Bluefield State College.

BSC Nursing Student Emily Martin Wins Aya Healthcare Scholarship

Bluefield State College Nursing student Emily Martin is in select company. The second-year student at the Erma Byrd Higher Education Center is one of only ten students in America to receive a 2021 Aya Healthcare Future Travel Nurse Scholarship.

BSC Alumna Melissa Smith Wins “Excellence in Teaching Award”

Melissa Smith is the embodiment of “passing it forward.” The 2011 Bluefield State College Imaging Science graduate has been named the North Carolina Community College 2022 “Excellence in Teaching” award recipient.

BSC Alumna Spotlight: Emmy Award Winner Melissia Davis

Melissia Davis, 2021 Emmy Award winner and a Bluefield State College alumna

With a 2021 Emmy award on her desk, Springville, VA native Melissia Davis has traveled to the apex of her profession. The Bluefield State graduate (Class of 1992) says the lessons she learned from family, friends, and her years at BSC contributed substantially to her career success.

BSC Student Patrice Sterling Completes Ascendium Education Internship

Bluefield State College student Patrice Sterling--A Project Success Internship Awardee

Bluefield State College student Patrice Sterling is utilizing a Project Success paid internship to develop practical skills that benefit the College now and prepare her for success after graduation. Through an Ascendium Education grant, her Project Success internship took place in the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs & Title III and the Programs’ Director, Timothy McKenzie.

BSC Student Completes Ascendium Education grant/Project Success paid internship at South Central Educational Development

Bluefield State College student Eden Scruggs is pictured at the office of South Central Educational Development, where she recently completed a Project Success paid internship.

Bluefield State College student Eden Scruggs utilized a Project Success paid internship to develop practical skills that enhanced her career preparation and complemented her understanding of the classroom preparation she is receiving at BSC. Through an Ascendium Education grant, her Project Success internship took place at South Central Educational Development, an organization serving southern West Virginia and southwest Virginia by providing services to a diverse population, advocating for the prevention of HIV and reducing poverty.

American Criminal Justice Association Student Chapter Established at BSC

Bluefield State College students pursuing careers in criminal justice and related fields now have a more multidimensional educational experience. In early February, BSC Criminal Justice program faculty received notification that the American Criminal Justice Association has approved BSC’s application to establish an ACJA student chapter at the College.

Bluefield State Establishes Sternloff Center for West Virginia Musicology

Well-known local business man, musician, and civic leader Pete Sternloff (right) is pictured with Bluefield State College President Robin Capehart during Tuesday’s announcement heralding the “Pete Sternloff Center for West Virginia Musicology at Bluefield State College.” The Sternloff Center will archive and promote the unique, diverse history of music created and performed in southern West Virginia.

President Robin Capehart announced today a major gift that fulfills a key measure of the College’s mission to be an active partner with the regional community. The Pete Sternloff Center for West Virginia Musicology at Bluefield State College will archive and promote the unique, diverse history of music created and performed in southern West Virginia. The Center will fill a much-needed gap in the preservation of and education about music that flourished here among the cross-currents of cultures that converged when railroads arrived and the mining of coal exploded. Initial funding for the Center is a $200,000 gift from local businessman and blues musician Pete Sternloff. Additional funding will be sought from supportive individuals, foundations and grants

BSC Nursing and RadTech Students Participate in Simulation Laboratory Exercise

BSC Nursing and RadTech students in simulation lab exercise

Bluefield State College Nursing and Radiologic Technology students recently took part in a simulation laboratory exercise, utilizing an interdisciplinary, collaborative approach. “Our simulation lab illustrates to our Nursing and RadTech students the importance of collaboration, BSC Nursing faculty member Kelli Sarver explained. “They experienced the importance of a team effort between the two studies that produces a continuity of care for patients.”

BSC To Receive $200K COVID-Related Health Disparities Grant

Bluefield State College will receive a nearly $200,000 grant to reduce COVID-related health disparities and promote health equity among Mercer County’s minority populations. Dr. Albert Berkoh, the grant’s author, and the Applied Research Foundation of West Virginia at BSC recently received notification of the grant’s approval from the WV Department of Health and Human Resources, Bureau of Public Health.