BSU News

The Emerging Leaders Institute of Bluefield State College recently delivered over 470 nonperishable food items to the Bluefield Union Mission.

With community and campus support, the Emerging Leaders Institute recently delivered more than 470 nonperishable food items to the Bluefield Union Mission. Pictured (left-to-right) are Bluefield State College Emerging Leaders Institute members Desmond Freeman; Brandon Anyanwu (ELI President), Raenel Crenshaw, Bassy Sissoko, Autumn Miller, and Ashlei Kelly (ELI Secretary). BSC faculty member Linda P. Trigg is ELI’s Director.

The Emerging Leaders Institute of Bluefield State College recently delivered over 470 nonperishable food items to the Bluefield Union Mission.

Bluefield State Partners With Brushfork Elementary in Dr. Seuss-Themed Event that Engages Students and Families

Brushfork Elementary School and Bluefield State College Education faculty and students are pictured just before the start of a recently presented Dr. Seuss-themed drive-by parade for Brushfork students.

Local elementary school students and their parents enjoyed an entertaining and educational Dr. Seuss-themed program recently through the collaborative efforts Bluefield State College and Brushfork Elementary School. The event, “All the Places You’ll Go,” marked the return of the programs between BSC and Brushfork Elementary, the College’s education partner in the Bluefield State Consortium Professional Development Schools.

BSC Electrical Engineering Technology Program Receives Substantial Equipment Donation from American Electric Power

American Electric Power and operating companies Appalachian Power and Kentucky Power recently donated sophisticated wireless telecommunications and radio equipment to Bluefield State College’s Electrical Engineering Technology program. Pictured (left to right) are Nelson Linkous, AEP Telecommunication Lead Field Engineer, James Pruett, BSC Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering Technology, and Ronn Robinson, Appalachian Power External Affairs Manager, with the Wireless Telecommunications Systems

Bluefield State College’s Electrical Engineering Technology (EET) students will benefit significantly through the addition of “real world” test equipment, courtesy of American Electric Power (AEP) and its operating companies, Appalachian Power and Kentucky Power.

BSC Students’ Research Receives Special Recognition During 2021 Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol

The research project of Bluefield State College students Dakota Parnell (left) and Jesse Orell (right) was selected as “First Runner-Up” in the “Biological and Biochemical Sciences Category” at the recent Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol program in Charleston.

The scientific research of Bluefield State College students Dakota Parnell and Jesse Orell received special recognition from judges during the recent Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol (URDC) program in Charleston, WV. Their project was selected as “First Runner Up” in the “Biological and Biochemical Sciences Category” at the annual event.

Emerging Leaders Institute at Bluefield State College Presents “Original Roots”

Bluefield State College students in the Emerging Leaders Institute recently developed and presented “Original Roots, a program that highlighted many underappreciated and underpublicized facts about the history of Blacks in America. Pictured (left-to-right) are Emerging Leaders Institute advisor Jani Springer, and ELI members Autumn Miller, Raenel Crenshaw, Bassy Sissoko, Brandon Anyanwu, Desmond Freeman, Ashlei Kelly, and ELI Director Linda P. Trigg

The Emerging Leaders Institute (ELI) student organization at Bluefield State College recently presented “Original Roots,” an original presentation that highlighted many underappreciated and underpublicized facts about the history of Blacks in America. “The presentation was developed to increase awareness of, and appreciation for, Black History,” noted Linda Trigg, BSC faculty member and ELI Director. The students researched and developed the presentation, then presented the program and a question-answer session afterward.”

BSC Students Attend 12th Annual HBCU Foreign Policy Conference

Four Bluefield State College students attended the 2021 U.S. State Department HBCU Foreign Policy Conference, which was held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pictured at last year's Conference is BSC student Beverly Owensby Briggs (left) with a US State Department representative during the 2020 annual U.S. State Department Foreign Policy. Conference.

On February 25-26, 2021, four BSC students—David Buss, Clayton Chenard, Carly Helton, and Lisa Rasnick—and one faculty member, Dr. Colin S. Cavell, attended the 12th Annual U.S. State Department Foreign Policy Conference. Though normally held at the U.S. State Department in the Truman Building in Washington, D.C., due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, this year’s conference was held online. This year’s theme was “Building Leadership for the Diplomats of Tomorrow.”

BSC Students’ Research Featured in Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol

The research of three Bluefield State College students will be included in the annual Undergraduate Research Day at the State Capitol, March 5. The event, which is typically held at the West Virginia State Capitol Building, will take place virtually this year with opportunities for viewers to interact with student presenters.

Sandra Wynn Appointed to WV Center for Nursing’s Board of Directors

Sandra Wynn, Director of the Bluefield State College Associate Degree Nursing Program, has been appointed to the West Virginia Center for Nursing’s Board of Directors. Wynn, whose appointment was made by West Virginia Governor Jim Justice, is the Center for Nursing’s Board representative from the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses.

BSC Receives $100K Grant from the McGee Foundation for Students’ Scholarships

Bluefield State College has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the McGee Foundation to provide needs-based scholarships to West Virginia residents. At BSC, The McGee Foundation Scholarships will be awarded to as many as 20 incoming, first generation students per academic year for up to eight consecutive fall/spring semesters. The McGee Community Scholars program will serve students with entrepreneurial and leadership potential far beyond what can be measured in the classroom.

BSC’s Dr. Michael Smith Selected as Finalist for Faculty Merit Foundation of WV 2020 “Professor of the Year"

BSC’s Dr. Michael Smith, Finalist for Faculty Merit Foundation of WV 2020“Professor of the Year

The Faculty Merit Foundation of West Virginia has selected Bluefield State College faculty member Dr. Michael Smith as one of five finalists for the West Virginia’s 2020 Professor of the Year"

BSC Announces 2020 Fall Semester President’s & Dean’s List

The Bluefield State College 2020 Fall Semester President’s and Dean’s Lists have been announced. One hundred forty-one students earned President’s List recognition and an additional 231 students merited inclusion in the Dean’s List.

BSC Collegiate Recovery Program

The Collegiate Recovery Program support students inside and outside the classroom and provide space and support for recovery meetings.

BSC and City of Wheeling Sign MOU for College's use of Property at Former OVMC

Robin Capehart, Bluefield State College President

The city of Wheeling entered into a memorandum of understanding with Bluefield State College on Tuesday for the use of property on the former Ohio Valley Medical Center campus, which the city acquired last year. According to the memorandum, Bluefield State College is looking to use a portion of property on the former hospital campus as a newly established engineering and manufacturing center for training of engineering professionals.

BSC Receives, Begins Administering COVID-19 Vaccine to College Employees

Forty Bluefield State College employees were administered the COVID-19 vaccine on December 31. Pictured are Edward Alexander (seated), the first BSC employee to receive the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, administered by Bluefield State Nursing faculty member Sheila Gates, R.N. following BSC’s receipt of the first doses.

Bluefield State College to Acquire Bluefield Regional Medical Center Property

The Board of Directors of Princeton Community Hospital and the Board of Governors of Bluefield State College have agreed that Bluefield State will acquire ownership of the Bluefield Regional Medical Center to expand its Health Science programs, while Princeton Community Hospital maintains its Emergency Division and related medical services at the facility.

BSC Community Pitches In to help Salvation Army Christmas Tree Project

BSC Community Helps 87 "Christmas Angels" Enjoy a Brighter Holiday

Bluefield State College employees and students responded to the Salvation Army Princeton/Bluefield's annual Angel Tree appeal. Through the response of BSC students and employees, 87 "Christmas angels" will receive gift bags of presents this year through the Salvation Army Angel Tree program.

BSC’s Dr. Michelle Taylor and Scott Pitt Participate in “Small Communities, Big Solutions Conference

Two Bluefield State College employees played meaningful roles in the recent Small Communities, Big Solutions Conference, sponsored by the Alliance for Economic Development for Southern West Virginia. Dr. Michelle Taylor (Department Chair & Associate Professor of Business at BSC’s W. Paul Cole School of Business) moderated the Diversity and Inclusion panel discussion, a featured event during the Conference’s third day. Panelists included Scott Pitt, BSC Safe Zone Initiatives’ Director and LGBT advocate (Educational Outreach Counselor/BSC’s Academic Success Center); Jamecia Jones, Director of Black Lives Matter West Virginia; and Aaron Preece, Access Technology Information Specialist at the American Federation for the Blind.

BSC Commemorates National Rural Health Day

National Rural Health Day, celebrated today (November 19, 2020), holds special significance for Bluefield State College. Today, we salute the efforts of everyone serving the health needs of an estimated 57 million people in rural settings across the country.

BSC Student Luke Phillips Elected Mayor of Cedar Bluff, VA

BSC Student Luke Phillips, Mayor-Elect of Cedar Bluff, VA

A few months ago, 22-year old Luke Phillips had decided not to register as a candidate for a seat on the Cedar Bluff, Virginia Town Council. But after receiving encouragement from others he decided to throw his hat into the ring as a write-in candidate for Town Council and, on November 3 he was elected to serve as the town’s mayor. In the process, he became the youngest person to be elected mayor of a Virginia town or city in at least the past 50 years, and perhaps in the state’s history. “I’m really excited by the opportunity to serve the people here,” Phillips, a student at Bluefield State College, said. “I love Cedar Bluff. It’s a great community. Folks get along without a lot of drama and it’s just a wonderful place to live.”

City of Bluefield and BSC Establish the “Bluefield Regional Sports Authority”

Local recreational, athletic, and community activities received timely support through the creation of the Bluefield Regional Sports Authority, following Monday’s approval of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) involving the City of Bluefield and Bluefield State College.