SwVCC

SVCC will be offering working adults the opportunity to complete an Associate of Applied Science degree in Information Systems Technology (IST) in three (3) semesters. The program will be the first step in preparing individuals for careers in the information technology field.
With the recent location of CGI and Northrop Grumman to the southwest region, individuals are seeking ways to increase their chances for employability or opportunities to re-career. The accelerated IST program will be offered two (2) nights weekly, Tuesdays and Thursdays, beginning January 10, 2008.

Interested individuals should complete the admissions application to college online (no application fee). Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. Individuals are encouraged to complete the federal financial aid form at www.FAFSA.ed.gov .
For additional information about the program or to register contact Dr. Barbara Fuller by email or by phone at 276.964.7278 or Margaret Dye by email or phone at 276.964.7277.

Saturday, November 10, Veterans Breakfast
8:30 am, Gene T. Dye Armory

Sunday, November 11, Pianists Valjarevic and Trivette, 3:00 p.m., SwVCC King Community Center

Local Professor to Publish Biographies

On Monday evenings during fall semester at Southwest, thirteen students, all of whom are employed at various companies throughout the college service region, are learning how to use version 2007 of Microsoft® Office Excel.

Pictured first row, left to right: Debbie Rohrer, Misty Owens, Teresa McCowan, Gasco Drilling, Inc. Second row, (l to r): Jackie McGlothlin, Ken’s Construction; Iris Webb, Liberty Mortgage Brokers, LLC; Jeff Nehrkorn, Consolidation Coal Co. Third row, (l to r): Carolyn Colley, SwVCC Grundy Plaza Training Center; Diana Stinson, SwVCC Business Division Instructor; Lynn Matney, SwVCC Financial & Administrative Services; Donna Dotson, LBL & Associates, PC. Last row (l to r): Freda Rasnake, Gasco Drilling, Inc. Not pictured: Debbie Hager and Lisha Ratliff, Gaso Drilling, Inc.; Phyllis Harris, AT&T Mobility. more....

The 10th Annual Pinning and Awards Ceremony for the Occupational Therapy Assistant graduates was recently held at the Southwest Virginia Community College Community Center auditorium to recognize the students for their dedication and hard work during the program.

Pictured (left to right, seated): Evelyn Belcher, Kimberly Mullins, Amberleigh Davis, Emily Manier, Claudia Grizzle, and Lisa Deel.

Standing (left to right): Annette Looney, program director; Donald Griffey, Dennis McGlothlin, Tonya Johnson-Clark, Christine Bryant, Sarah McGlothlin, Joshua Bowman, Scott Hardy, Sharon Bowman, Wanda Johnson, and John Hartlen, Fieldwork Coordinator.    more....

SwVCC and the Southwest Virginia Historical and Preservation Society recently presented former Virginia Governor James S. Gilmore, III (1998-2002), as a speaker in the Virginia Governors' Series.

Pictured (left to right) are: Barenda Baldwin, Southwest Virginia Historical and Preservation Society; Dr. J. Mark Estepp, president of SwVCC; former Virginia Governor James S. Gilmore; Victoria Osborne, Southwest Virginia Historical and Preservation Society, and Dr. Robert Tomlinson, vice president of instruction, SwVCC. more....

Southwest student and Phi Beta Lambda member, Dreama Campbell (center), placed ninth in the Word Processing category at the Phi Beta Lambda National Leadership Conference in Chicago, Illinois.

She is currently employed as a data technician/office manager with the Southwest Regional Adult Education Program. Pictured with Campbell are Patsy Hankins (left), professor of administrative support technology and Paris Lester (right), professor of accounting and PBL adviser.  more....

The Earl E. and Dorothy J. Dellinger Learning Resources Center is now under construction on the campus of SwVCC. The groundbreaking ceremony for the building took place recently with remarks made by several, including the Chairs of the SwVCC Local College Board and the State Board for Community Colleges, as well as members of the legislature and others. View a photo gallery of the groundbreaking ceremony or learn more about the Learning Resources Center.

Pictured above are (left to right): Dr. J. Mark Estepp, SwVCC President; Mary Lawson, Executive Director of the SwVCC Educational Foundation; Dr. Bob Sutherland, Dean, Learning Resources; Earl E. Dellinger; Dr. Charles R. King, SwVCC President Emeritus.

Guaranteed admission agreement with Randolph College

SwVCC Becomes Test Site for Virginia Insurance Licensure

After working in banking for 20 years, Kimberly Hagerman (far right) decided to enroll in the Virginia Appalachian Tricollege Nursing Program (VATNP) at Grundy.

Also pictured is Tommy Mahon, nursing student, and Christine Hobbs, assistant professor of nursing (standing) at Southwest.

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SwVCC sincerely appreciates the support of BB&T for the successful Rock the Mountains Battle of the Rock Bands on September 15. Chris Hess (center), vice-president, BB&T sales and service leader for the region of Tazewell, Russell, Wise, and Dickenson counties, is shown presenting Dr. J. Mark Estepp (far left), with a sponsorship check. Also pictured is Terry Long (far right) instructor and coordinator of the event.

“BB&T is proud to partner with SwVCC to reach a younger audience and expose them to the SwVCC experience. Part of BB&T’s corporate mission is to support the community and make it a better place to live and work. I think the Rock the Mountains concert is a great example of that commitment. Our young people need constructive things to do. They also need to be exposed to a college environment. They need to know there are choices for them,” said Hess. BB&T is regionally headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia. The bank operates 12 full-service branches in far southwest Virginia and employs over one hundred people in this region. Photos by Rachel Stump, SwVCC PR Office Photogallery #1 - Photogallery #2

Five scholarships are being awarded to Southwest Virginia Community College students with funds provided by the Credit Bureau of the Virginias Foundation, Inc. SwVCC’s Rod Moore (second from right), associate vice president of student development services, is shown accepting the gift of $5,000 from Jimmy Welch (second from left), executive director of the Credit Bureau Foundation. They are joined by Danny Coulthard (far right), Credit Bureau of the Virginias Foundation, Inc. board member and Rebecca Guess, secretary in student development and SwVCC’s Veteran’s Affairs Officer.

The students who receive this scholarship must reside in the Virginia counties of Tazewell, Bland or Giles and the West Virginia counties of Greenbrier, McDowell, Mercer, Monroe, Summers or Wyoming. Southwest Virginia Community College has been awarding these scholarships for several years, thanks to the generosity of the Credit Bureau of the Virginias Foundation, Inc.

Delores Blankenship, of Thompson Valley, is the happy winner of the SwVCC scholarship awarded recently at the Tazewell County Fair. Individuals were able to register for the drawing at many events in the region over the summer months.

She is shown receiving the 14-college credit hour scholarship from Dr. J. Mark Estepp, president of SwVCC and Terry Long, admissions counselor.

“I am elated about winning the tuition scholarship to attend Southwest,” said Blankenship. “I’ve taken numerous personal interest classes at the college and am registered for several classes this semester. For me, learning is an exciting and rewarding adventure as I pursue knowledge and life skills. I appreciate this opportunity. . . Thank you Southwest!"

Graduates Told They Have Begun a Lifelong Journey

Dr. J. Mark Estepp (center), SwVCC president, is shown with graduates from the summer 2007 class. Estepp gave a message of solidarity to the graduates, outlining ways in which he and the graduates are alike.
Estepp jokingly quoted Gary Trudeau, the famous columnist and creator of Doonesbury, "commencement speeches were invented largely in the belief that outgoing college students should never be released into the world until they have been properly sedated." He also informed the graduates that the word “commencement” was appropriate as it meant that they were at the crux of commencing a lifelong journey.  More....
Graduation photos by Alumni Office

realplayer video: Commencement Speaker and Graduates

Pictured are the 2007 graduates of Southwest Virginia Community College’s Science Learning Community (SLC), left to right: Shane Peck, Zane McReynolds, Traci Edwards, Benjamin Price, Blake Musick, and Marika Graziano.

All of the students graduating from the community completed the two-year science curriculum, graduating Summa Cum Laude (with highest honor) with an Associate in Arts and Sciences degree. Any student interested in a career in science can join the SLC. For more information, contact Jason Osborne at 276.964.7309 or, Georgia Householder at 276.964.7397.

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Career Switchers Are Getting Schooled at SwVCC!

Accelerate Career Path with  IST Program

Master of the Virtual World

Southwest Virginia Community College graduate, Brian Presley (middle) is the Network Administrator for the Appalachian Law School in Grundy where he ensures the internet is working, checks e-mail, and maintains phone systems. He completed an associate degree in computer electronics at Southwest and earned his CISCO Certified Network Associate Certification before transferring to Bluefield State College to earn a bachelor’s degree in computer science.

He is pictured with computer electronics professors Dan Bowling (far left) and Vaughn Lester (far right). For more information about the Computer Electronics program, contact the Engineering Division at 276.964.7555.
Read more about Computer Electronics at SwVCC...

Available in July - Citizen Water Quality Monitoring Classes (pdf)

Learning Community Students Focusing on Appalachian Culture

Famed musician Dr. Ralph Stanley (center) is shown with students and faculty from the Southwest Virginia Community College General Studies Learning Community. The group is pictured during a recent visit to the Ralph Stanley Museum in Clintwood, Virginia. Students taking fall semester classes in General Studies at SwVCC can become part of a learning community focusing on contemporary culture of Native Americans by registering for the Humanities Seminar (HUM 198-01) or Topics in Honors (HUM 195-01). A trip to the Native American Museum of Culture in Washington, DC, is being planned by faculty teaching classes for the Learning Community. For more information contact the SwVCC Humanities Office at 276.964.7205.
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Qualified applicants must have all application materials submitted to the Southwest Admissions Office by Friday, July 20th. Current students can login to MYSwVCC and check their academic background. Materials needed for application may be requested by calling 276.964.7300 or 1.800.822.7822.  Learn more about criteria...

SwVCC Excels in the Microsoft Office 2007 Beta Testing

Dr. Betsy Summerfield, Human Resources manager at Southwest Virginia Community College, has been awarded the Risk Management Certificate from the Virginia Risk Control Institute (VRCI). VRCI is a partnership between the Department of Human Resources Management’s Workers’ Compensation Services, Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Business and the Department of Treasury’s Division of Risk Management. Pictured from left to right are: Don LeMond, Director of Risk Management - Virginia Dept of Treasury; Dr. Betsy Summerfield, holding the certificate; Dr. R. Michael McDonald, Virginia Commonwealth University's College of Business. Read more about it...

Dr. Mark Estepp Named President of Southwest Virginia Community College

A college leader from Boone, North Carolina will become the second president to lead Southwest Virginia Community College.
Dr. J. Mark Estepp will assume his responsibilities as President of Southwest Virginia Community College on July 1, and will arrive on campus Monday, July 2, announced Glenn DuBois, chancellor of Virginia’s Community Colleges. Dr. Estepp is currently dean of the college of fine and applied arts at Appalachian State University in Boone, a position he has held since 2003. Read VCCS News Release

College Plus Learning Community Offers Step-up

Medical Lab Technology Program Available Fall Semester

Pictured is Dr. Charles R. King (far right), president emeritus of Southwest Virginia Community College, being congratulated by former Vice President Al Gore and Rod A.Risley (far left), executive director of Phi Theta Kappa, for his receipt of the 2007 Michael Bennett Lifetime Achievement Award from Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society of the Two-Year College.  
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Former Governor Gerald Baliles honored Earl Dellinger (pictured) and 22 other outstanding benefactors at Virginia’s community colleges as recipients of the 2007 Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy. The Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy is designed to recognize the vital role of community college supporters. Individuals eligible for this annual award include current and former foundation board members, community volunteers and benefactors. Each college foundation determines the criteria for the selection of the nominee. Above all, these individuals demonstrate a passion for the mission of community colleges—to ensure that deserving people receive the advantage of a college education.  Read more...

Photography Students Win Awards

Southwest Announces NISOD Award Recipients

Southwest Gazette- Spring Issue

Get your copy of the SwVCC Charter, Spring '07 edition

Project ACCESS Offers Topics of Employability Class

Stephanie Davis (right), director of Project ACCESS, is shown working with a local high school senior as a part of the Topics of Employability class. The course is designed to help ease the transition between high school and the workforce for disabled students. For more information about Project ACCESS, contact Stephanie Davis at 276.964.7314.

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SwVCC’s Phi Theta Kappa and Library Participating in Operation Green

Pictured are Southwest Virginia Community College Phi Theta Kappa students who are participating in Operation Green. The goals of the project are to help save the environment by recycling bottles and cans and to promote ways to combat global warming.

The SwVCC Library is also participating in the environmentally friendly project. For additional information contact Brady Surles at 276.964.7210, brady.surles@sw.edu, or Diane Phillips at 276.964.7617, diane.phillips@sw.edu.
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Lynchburg College Signs Guaranteed Admission Agreement With Virginia’s Community Colleges

Lynchburg College has signed a guaranteed admission agreement with Virginia’s community colleges that will make it easier for students with two-year degrees to transfer to the private college. Glenn DuBois, chancellor of Virginia’s community colleges, and Lynchburg College President Kenneth Garren inked the deal in a ceremony on the Lynchburg campus Wednesday.

“Establishing this articulation agreement between the Virginia Community College System and Lynchburg College creates a new partnership that will better serve the academic needs of Virginia students,” LC President Kenneth Garren said. “Lynchburg College is currently the largest private college educator of Virginia students in the commonwealth, and this new agreement is expected to further increase the number of Virginia students enrolling at Lynchburg.” Read more about it....

A Nursing Career in Her Future
Chris Horne decided to enroll at Southwest Virginia Community College to fulfill the criteria needed for entrance into the Registered Nursing program so that she could continue to advance in the medical field.

For additional information about a career in nursing, contact the college at 276.964.7341.

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Forged Ironwork and Mixed Media Sculpture Exhibition at  Appalachian Art Center

Southwest Virginia Community College’s Appalachian Arts Center will display “Singular + Plural”, an exhibition of forged ironwork and mixed media sculpture by Marc Maiorana and Robyn Raines from March 2 through April 30. An opening reception will be held on Friday March 2 from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The Appalachian Arts Center is located in the Old Archie Helton Store on Rt 19, 2.7 miles south of Claypool Hill. For more information, please call Sarah Darpli Romeo at 276.596.9188.

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Southwest Virginia Community College is hosting an art exhibit entitled “Tazewell County: There’s No Place Like Home” featuring the digital photography of G. Michael Alford. The photography is on exhibit from February 20 through March 29 in the college’s King Community Center Gallery. The public is encouraged to view the artwork Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Pictured is one of Alford’s digital photographs. For additional information on this exhibit, please call Ellen Elmes at 276.964.7205 or Rhonda Whited at 276.964.7228. Read more about it...

The U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors to Perform

The internationally acclaimed U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors of Washington, D.C. will continue its long history of presenting free public performances when it appears at Southwest Virginia Community College on February 23, at 7:00 p.m. in the Mary White Lawson Auditorium of the King Community Center.
Concerts by the Jazz Ambassadors are free of charge, but tickets are recommended, as ticket-holders will be seated first at the concert. For tickets and further information, contact Pat McPherson at 964-7391.  Read more about it..

Crystal Whited (pictured) is a single parent who has worked hard to build a better future for herself and her child. She credits Southwest Virginia Community College with giving her the foundation on which to build that future.
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Genny Kiser, a graduate of Southwest Virginia Community College’s Practical Nursing Program, is shown working with a SimMan in an educational setting. Students interested in enrolling for the summer 2007 SwVCC Practical Nursing Program must apply no later than March 1. For additional information contact Sherrie Phillips at 276.964.7539 or by email at sherrie.phillips@sw.edu  Read more about it...

Southwest Virginia Community College student Bruce Russell (pictured) is a life-long learner. He has worked on guided missile systems in the Navy and has taught a class full of children in a local school system. He is constantly learning new skills and is always looking for a new career challenge. After teaching and working as a speech pathologist for 10 years, he decided it was time to move on to his next challenge. He found it when he enrolled in the Fast Track Program for software development at SwVCC. For more information contact Dr. Barbara Fuller at 276.964.7278, or email to barbara.fuller@sw.edu.
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A luncheon held in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day culminated in the awarding of three scholarships to Southwest Virginia Community College students. From left to right: Rod Moore, associate vice-president of Student Development Services at SwVCC; Dr. Ervin V. Griffin, Sr., president, Halifax Community College, Weldon, NC, and Guest Speaker; Robert Henry, scholarship recipient; Robin Stout, scholarship recipient; Dr. Bill Snyder, interim president of SwVCC; and Dr. Mike Henry, Student Support Services Project director at SwVCC. Faith Tarter (not pictured) was also a scholarship recipient. Dr. Robert Sutherland moderated the event.

Dr. Bill Snyder (far right), interim president of Southwest, is shown with Dr. Glenn DuBois, chancellor of the Virginia Community College System, and Sharon Peery, educational specialist/career counselor at Southwest. Dr. DuBois was on campus with several members of his senior staff to speak with faculty, staff, administrators and local board members about the selection process for a new president for the college. DuBois also shared the legislative initiatives of the VCCS including the important Community College Transfer Grant that is now before Virginia state legislators. The grant would provide a unique opportunity for SwVCC students, who meet the criteria, to transfer to a state supported four-year college or university and pay community college tuition at that institution for the last two years of their college education.

SwVCC Student Will Study In India
Benjamin Price, a Pre-Pharmacy major at Southwest Virginia Community College, has been selected to participate in the International Scholar Laureate Program Delegation on Medicine during the summer of 2007. Price has chosen to visit India, including the All India Institute of Medical Sciences where he will network with Indian students and faculty while studying the key medical issues and challenges that India expects to encounter in the future. Price plans to attend the University of Appalachia College of Pharmacy upon graduation from SwVCC.

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Southwest Student Conquers Obstacles to Finish Evening and Weekend RN ProgramPictured is Becky Turley, a graduate of the evening and weekend RN program at Southwest Virginia Community College. The evening and weekend RN program allows students to pursue a RN while continuing to work. For more information about the program contact Neyia Beavers, coordinator of the program at 276.964.7659. Read more about it...

RICHMOND – Dr. William Snyder of Wytheville has been named interim president of Southwest Virginia Community College in Richlands, effective Jan. 3, 2007, Virginia Community College System Chancellor Glenn DuBois announced today.

Southwest Virginia Community College President Dr. Charles R. King is retiring as of Jan. 1, 2007. Dr. Snyder will preside over the college while a search for a replacement for Dr. King is under way, a process that could take six to nine months.

“We are bringing back one of our best to preside over Southwest Virginia Community College during this interim period,” Dr. DuBois said. “Bill knows Virginia’s community colleges – and the southwest region of Virginia – very well. He will be an excellent leader while we conduct an extensive search to find a permanent replacement for Charles King.”

Dr. Snyder, a former community college president himself, retired as president of Wytheville Community College in 2000 after 26 years with Virginia’s community colleges. Before becoming president in 1980, he was the academic dean at Wytheville Community College from 1974-1980.
“With the appointment of Bill, the college and the VCCS are now prepared to move forward with the search. Our aim is to find the very, very best to replace the very, very best in Charles King.”