BSC News

BSC Library Renamed To Honor Alumnus William B. Robertson

At Bluefield State College’s 2019 Commencement, BSC President Robin Capehart (right) announced that the College Library has been renamed in honor of BSC alumnus William B. Robertson (center). The Bluefield State College Board of Governors, whose chairman, the Reverend Garry D. Moore is pictured (left) with Mr. Robertson and President Capehart, voted unanimously to rename the library to honor Mr. Robertson.

Moments after he delivered an inspiring commencement address to Bluefield State College’s 2019 graduating class, BSC alumnus William B. Robertson was honored. College President Robin Capehart announced that the Bluefield State Library has been named the “William B. Robertson Library” to honor the graduation speaker, whose career included service in the administrations of five United States Presidents.

Humphrey Fellow Visiting BSC in Collaboration with College’s Office of International Initiatives

Humphrey Fellow Dr. Kouame Remi Oussou of Alassane Ouattara University-Bouake, Côte d’Ivore, where he is Assistant Professor of Sociology and coordinator of career services, will engage in job shadowing Dr. Sudhakar R Jamkhandi, Coordinator of Bluefield State College’s Office of International Initiatives, May 1 – June 7, 2019 to learn strategies and activities to recruit, integrate, and retain international students and internationalize his institution’s academic curriculum.

Alliance for the Development of Southern West Virginia Meets at Bluefield State College

Bluefield State College’s W. Paul Cole, Jr. School of Business hosted a meeting of the Alliance for the Economic Development of Southern West Virginia’s Entrepreneurship Working Group.

Bluefield State College Signs 50th Academic Articulation Agreement With Education Partners

The recently signed articulation agreement in Criminal Justice between Bluefield State College and the McDowell County Career and Technical Center marked a milestone for BSC. The College now has 50 active articulation agreements with regional community colleges and county high school career and technical centers.

BSC Criminal Justice Program Holds 28th annual Mock Trial Competition in Mercer County Circuit Court Judge William Sadler’s Courtroom

Bluefield State College Criminal Justice program students in Professor Mike Lilly’s “Criminal Procedures and Evidence” class are pictured as they participated in a recent mock trial competition in the courtroom of Mercer County Circuit Court Judge William Sadler (standing center-second row). This year’s competition was the 28th annual BSC CJ mock trial to take place at the Mercer County Courthouse.

The Bluefield State College Criminal Justice program recently conducted its 28th annual Mock Trial competition in the courtroom of Mercer County Circuit Court Judge William Sadler. This year’s competition marked the first time the BSC mock trial event has been held in Judge Sadler’s courtroom.

Bluefield State College’s Raenel Crenshaw Receives “2019 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award”

Raenel Crenshaw (center), a standout scholar-athlete at Bluefield State College, was presented the “2019 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award,” sponsored by the magazine “Diverse: Issues in Higher Education” during the College’s recent athletics banquet. Ms. Crenshaw is pictured with Dr. Guy Sims (left), Assistant to the President/BSC Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Title III, and Andrea “Omi” Oakes, BSC Head Women’s Volleyball Coach.

Bluefield State College student-athlete Raenel Crenshaw was presented the “2019 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award” during the College’s recent athletics banquet. The magazine “Diverse: Issues in Higher Education” sponsors the award to honor undergraduate students who have excelled in the classroom as well as on the athletic field.

BSC News Bits, Bytes, and Teasers, week ending May 4

BSC Criminal Justice students participate in a mock trial in the courtroom of Mercer County Circuit Court Judge William Sadler

BSC News Bits, Bytes, and Teasers, week ending May , a summary of recent events of note at Bluefield State College, as well as programs/activities scheduled for the coming weeks.

Maya Angelou PCS Students Visit Bluefield State College

-Eleven students from the Maya Angelou Public Charter School in Washington, DC visited Bluefield State College campus. Pictured (foreground) is Dr. Jo-Ann Robinson, BSC VP for Admissions & Enrollment Management, who spoke to the students before their tour of campus.

Eleven students from the Maya Angelou Public Charter School in Washington, DC visited Bluefield State College today in an initiative designed to encourage and assist them in the pursuit of a college education at BSC.

BSC President Delivers Program at Princeton Rotary Club

Bluefield State College President Robin Capehart speaks to the Princeton Rotary Club at the organization's April 26 meeting.

Bluefield State College President Robin Capehart told members of the Princeton Rotary Club that higher education needs to be nimble. "We don't want to change for the sake of change, but we want to be able to change for the sake of improvement," he told Rotarians at their April 26 weekly meeting.

Retired BSC Educator Awarded “Faculty Emeritus” Designation

Retired Bluefield State College educator Roger Owensby (right) was awarded 'Faculty Emeritus' designation during BSC's 2019 Employee Recognition & Retiree Celebration program. He is pictured with Bluefield State College President Robin Capehart.

Roger Owensby, whose career as a faculty member at Bluefield State College spanned 41 years, was awarded the designation of Faculty Emeritus during the College's 2019 Employee Recognition Celebration.

BSC Donates Surplus Furniture and Equipment to Bluefield High School

Pictured (left-to-right) are Paul Rutherford (Bluefield State College Purchasing Director), Michael Collins (BHS Principal), and Don Jones (BHS Assistant Principal). BSC recently donated from the College’s surplus inventory several chairs, desks, and laboratory stools that are now used to replace equipment in multiple classrooms and one laboratory.

Bluefield State College has recently donated several pieces of surplus furniture and equipment to Bluefield High School, assisting BHS in upgrades in multiple classrooms and one laboratory. Paul Rutherford, BSC’s Director of Purchasing, collaborated with Bluefield High School Principal Michael Collins and Don Jones, BHS Assistant Principal during the process.

Emerging Leaders Institute's Annual Food Drive Benefits Bluefield Union Mission

The Emerging Leaders Institute student organization at Bluefield State College recently conducted a highly productive food drive, delivering 800 nonperishable food items to the Bluefield Union Mission. Emerging Leaders Institute student members (left-to-right) Tanner Sims, Teyon Henry, Robert Brown, Bassy Sissoko, Shawn Duhon, Adrianne Montgomery, and Raenel Crenshaw joined ELI director Linda P. Trigg in delivering the food.

For the fifth consecutive year, the Emerging Leaders Institute student organization at Bluefield State College conducted a highly productive food drive. This year's drive resulted in the collection of more than 800 nonperishable food items that were delivered to the Bluefield Union Mission on April 22.

State Senator Chandler Swope Speaks at BSC

Bluefield State College. Senator Swope (left) is pictured receiving a Certificate of Appreciation from Dr. Ted Lewis (BSC Provost) prior to his program.

West Virginia Senator Chandler Swope, founder and past president of Swope Construction Company, discussed "Writing Professional Articles" during a presentation to BSC students and faculty.

Dr. James Walters Elected President of the WV Academy of Science; Eleven BSC students present and discuss their research at WVAS annual meeting

Bluefield State College faculty members Dr. James Walters, Dr. Tesfaye Belay, and Dr. Young Kim and 11 BSC students attended the recent 2019 West Virginia Academy of Science annual conference at West Liberty University. Pictured at the conference (left to right) are Dr. Walters, Heather Price, Amber Hartwell, Syed Ali, Stephanie Bryant, Dr. Belay, Kiersten Phillips, Ryan Nelson, Whitney Dotson, Gezelle Brown, Jesse Orell, Tyler Goins, Jordan Smith, and Dr. Kim. The BSC students presented and discussed res

Dr. James Walters has been elected President of the West Virginias Academy of Science. Dr. Walters, Assistant Professor of Biology at Bluefield State College, was chosen by the Academy at its 94th annual meeting, March 30, 2019 at West Liberty University. At this year’s WVAS conference, Dr. Walters, Dr. Tesfaye Belay (BSC Associate Professor of Biology), and Dr. Young Kim (BSC Associate Professor of Chemistry) were joined by 11 BSC students, who presented and discussed research they are currently conducting at Bluefield State College.

BSC President Speaks at Bluefield, VA Rotary Club

Robin Capehart, Bluefield State College Interim President, was the program speaker at the April 18 meeting of the Bluefield, VA Rotary Club at Fincastle Country Club

Bluefield State College Interim President Robin Capehart told Bluefield Virginia Rotarians, "Bluefield State wants to be everybody's learning company and focus on what we do well--we teach people."

West Virginia Poet Laureate Presents Writers Workshop at BSC

(photo cutline)--West Virginia Poet Laureate (2012) Mark Harshman (right) receives a certificate of appreciation from Dr. Sudhakar Jamkhandi (Coordinator of International Initiatives @ Bluefield State College) during his visit to BSC. Harshman delivered a writers workshop at the College, then took part in the sixth annual "Agora, A Celebration of Creative Expression," at the College.

Marc Harshman, West Virginia's Poet Laureate (2012), presented a writing workshop for College and community on April 17. His visit to BSC coincided with the sixth annual celebration of creative expression, "Agora," at the College.

Dr. William Robertson Returns to Alma Mater to Deliver Commencement Address at BSC’s 2019 Graduation Exercises

Dr. William Robertson, BSC's 2019 Graduation Program speaker

Dr. William Robertson, who served in an executive capacity in the administrations of five U.S. Presidents, will deliver the commencement address at Bluefield State College’s 122nd Graduation Exercises, May 11, 2019 at the Brushfork Armory. Nearly 300 students will receive degrees during the program