Mountain State University Newsroom

Workshop series helps professionals grow as leaders

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – A free leadership workshop series at Mountain State University Mooresville kicks off Wednesday with a discussion of "Leadership Character."

"I will be speaking on understanding self and a strategy to address the personal dark side of leadership," said Douglas A. White, Ed.D., the workshop's facilitator. White joined the faculty of MSU's Mooresville campus in the Charles H. Polk School of Leadership and Professional Development in 2011.

This first in an eight-part 2012 Leadership Seminar Series takes place from 8:30 to 10 a.m. All sessions in the series will be held at MSU Mooresville, Catalina Bay, 517 Alcove Road, Lake Norman, N.C.

Other programs slated for the series include:

• March 21 – Transcendent Leadership;
• April 25 – Leadership Communications;
• May 23 – Women's Leadership Role in the Workplace;
• June 13 – Leading for Results;
• Sept. 19 – Visioning and Progressing;
• Oct. 24 – Coalition Building in the Digital Age; and,
• Nov. 14 – Diversity Leadership Celebration.

Register for one session or all by visiting http://www.mountainstate.edu/leadership-seminar/nc-seminars.aspx or contact Dallas Bragg, executive director, MSU Mooresville, at dbragg@mountainstate.edu.

Substance abuse epidemic targeted in Mountain State University series

BECKLEY, W.Va. – An administration official said Thursday that Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has made significant strides in battling substance abuse in West Virginia, including pending legislation that would strengthen the Prescription Monitoring Program.

Becky Neal, director of intergovernmental affairs, said Senate Bill 437 and a mirror House bill would create a clinical advisory committee to assist with managing the PMP controlled substances database, and a review committee to flag irregular prescribing patterns. The bills also would speed up reporting requirements for prescribing, dispensing and administering controlled substances to 24 hours from the current seven days.

"This piece of legislation has a lot of meat to it," Neal told an audience of more than 100 students, faculty and community members at Mountain State University. "Substance abuse is our problem, as a society, and the governor is very serious about making changes to stop this epidemic."

Neal spoke on "Addressing Substance Abuse in West Virginia" at MSU's Carter Hall as part of a 2012 Symposium Series on addiction, sponsored by the university's School of Graduate Studies.

Under SB 437, West Virginia health professionals who prescribe controlled substances would receive drug diversion and "best practice" training. Regulation of pain clinics and methadone clinics would be enhanced under the state Department of Health and Human Resources, and a real-time, multistate tracking system for pseudoephedrine purchases would be implemented in collaboration with surrounding states.

Neal said Tomblin has taken a determined, methodical approach to tackling substance abuse. He created the Governor's Advisory Council on Substance Abuse in September 2011, which in turn has spurred creation of six Regional Substance Abuse Task Forces.

"These ensure the governor's vision to give all citizens of West Virginia a voice on this issue," she said.

Neal oversees the governor's Intergovernmental Stakeholder Group of city and county officials from across West Virginia, mediating their concerns with state government. She also oversees executive appointments made by the governor to more than 230 boards, commissions and councils, as well as appointments to fill judicial and legislative vacancies.

Dr. William White, dean of the MSU School of Graduate Studies, said additional sessions in the 2012 Symposium Series will be scheduled in March and April.

Saturday's final home game features MSU seniors, tribute to Coach Bolen

BECKLEY, W.Va. – Saturday's final home game of the 2011-2012 basketball regular season promises to be an action-packed event for the Mountain State University Cougars.

The 4 p.m. contest against Allen University at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center is also the Little General Seniors' Game. Awards will be presented prior to tipoff, including a tribute to Coach Bob Bolen to commemorate his record-shattering 18th season at MSU.

Bolen earned his 479th career victory in January, surpassing Fairmont State's Joe Retton on the all-time list for career wins by a West Virginia collegiate coach.

Admission is free for everyone, but don't forget to bring a non-perishable food item to the game as part of an MSU Students in Free Enterprise food drive. Participants in the food drive also are entered into a drawing for a Longaberger purse/tote. The drawing will take place at the game.

Donations for the food drive also can be picked up any time prior to the game. To arrange for pickup of food or monetary donations, contact Kathy Lewis-Payne at (304) 222-1622.

All donations benefit the Food for Body and Soul Pantry, a service run by Heart of God Ministries on South Kanawha Street in Beckley.

In addition, future Cougar cheerleaders who participate in Saturday morning's "Cheer with the Cougars" clinic at Mountain State University will put their new skills to work on the sideline and at halftime. The clinic takes place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at MSU's Van Meter Gymnasium, located at 350 South Kanawha St. on the Beckley campus.

For more information about the cheer clinic, contact Claytina Shepherd, MSU cheer coach, at (304) 253-6657.

Mountain State University dean accepted into Mensa

Dr. James M. Owston, dean of distance learning at Mountain State University, has been accepted as a member into Mensa.

Founded in 1946, Mensa is an international high intelligence society that draws its membership from those with IQ scores within the top 2 percent of the population.  Membership is based upon scoring within the 98th percentile on a qualifying exam. Owston's score on the Miller's Analogies Test placed him within the 99.55th percentile.

Mensa currently has 110,000 members worldwide with 57,000 living in the United States. In addition to his administrative duties, Owston also is an associate professor and has been teaching communication courses at MSU since 1991.

Prior to his full-time employment at MSU, he taught for both West Virginia State University and Marshall University.  

Leadership Ignite seminar series continues at local MSU campus

"Leading Across Boundaries and Building Coalitions" is Friday's topic for the fifth and final installment in a series of free leadership seminars at Mountain State University's Center Township campus. 

Dr. J.D. Carpenter, a faculty member in MSU's Charles H. Polk School of Leadership and Professional Development, will facilitate the discussion from 3 to 4 p.m. at 1 Campus Drive, Monaca. MSU's campus is co-located on the grounds of the Community College of Beaver County.

This is the last of five seminars exploring MSU's core leadership competencies. Previous installments in the series focused on "Leading Self with Character," "Lead Others and Connect through Communication," "Lead for Results with Resource Acumen" and "Leading in a Climate of Change."

Leadership Ignite is a practical workshop series that provides hands-on opportunities for applying leadership training. The 2011-12 series was designed to help participants become more effective leaders by identifying their own personal source of energy and the motivation behind their choices. 

The next leadership seminar series will begin in the fall of 2012. 

For more information, call (724) 774-2400 or (866) 367-6781. 

Mountain State University hosts Addiction Symposium Series

Becky Neal, director of intergovernmental affairs for West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin's office, will offer a high-level overview on "Addressing Substance Abuse in West Virginia" on Thursday at Mountain State University as part of a 2012 Symposium Series on addiction. 

Neal will outline the ways that Tomblin and West Virginia citizens are working together to address substance abuse, identify resources and create solutions to this ever-growing drug addiction epidemic in our state and nation.

The series, hosted by MSU's School of Graduate Studies, will take place from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in Carter Hall auditorium and is open to students, faculty and the public. No registration is required. 

The governor noted in his Jan. 11 State of the State address, "We must dedicate ourselves to addressing substance abuse and drug-related crimes. Doing so will allow us to reinvigorate our education system, recruit and expand jobs, make our communities safe and send a clear signal to the country that we are serious about building the workforce and maintaining the wonderful quality of life in West Virginia that makes us the envy of so many."

Neal's presentation also will include an overview of the governor's legislation to battle substance abuse.

Neal oversees the governor's Intergovernmental Stakeholder Group of city and county officials from across West Virginia, mediating their concerns with state government. She also oversees executive appointments made by the governor to more than 230 boards, commissions and councils, as well as appointments to fill judicial and legislative vacancies. 

She is former president of Neal Lobbying Firm, LLC, and served as vice president and chief lobbyist for BrickStreet Mutual Insurance Company from 2006 to 2009. She also formerly served as executive assistant to the Senate president.

Additional sessions in the 2012 Symposium Series will be scheduled in March and April.

High school scholarship program provides college credit, saves tuition

High school students can jump start their academic and professional careers with a unique scholarship program at Mountain State University's Beckley campus.

"I completed 12 hours of my undergraduate work for free," said Ashton Black, an MSU senior majoring in biology. "I got some of my general education credits out of the way. That allowed me to get ahead and obtain not only a bachelor's degree but also a phlebotomy certificate in only four years."

The 21-year-old native of Coal City is among 153 students who have capitalized on the High School Scholarship Program since its inception in 2000. 

Here's how the HSSP works:

• After completing their sophomore year of high school, a student maintaining at least a 2.0 grade point average can apply to attend classes on Mountain State University's main campus in Beckley.
• Students can take up to 12 credit hours as high school juniors and seniors. Mountain State typically recommends taking one three-hour course to get started.
• Students are not charged tuition for the classes. They pay only for books and supplies.
• In order for these credits to be transcripted free of charge, students must attend MSU on the Beckley campus for the fall semester immediately following high school graduation and take at least 12 credit hours at regular tuition rates.

Black said she learned about the program from her volleyball coach in high school, where she maintained a 4.0 grade point average.

"He explained that this would be a great opportunity to get ahead and lead me on the path toward my goal," she recalled. "The summer between junior and senior years, I took 'Medical Terminology' and 'Fundamentals of Computers.' My senior year, I took 'Introduction to Psychology' and 'Color and Design'."

Rylee Shiflett, a 19-year-old student from Beckley, also took courses during her junior and senior years of high school that were pre-requisites for her major. Now an MSU sophomore, she plans to eventually apply to enroll in the university's graduate Physician's Assistant program.

"I was able to get a jump start which has put me a semester ahead of everyone else," Shiflett said. "I think the program itself is a great way to get kids started with the college experience so they aren't just thrown into it their first semester after high school. These courses allowed me to gain insight into what college is all about."

Cindy Justus, director of admissions at Mountain State, said six students currently are earning college credits while still in high school. Forty students are enrolled and working toward an MSU degree as a result of their participation in the High School Scholarship Program.

Over the years, 153 students have earned 1,391 credit hours under the HSSP and subsequently completed 7,766 hours as MSU students. "This program attracts students to Mountain State University while providing worthy high school students with a significant head start toward a college degree," Justus said.

For pre-med student Ashton Black, the HSSP has been a blessing. She plans to finish her degree this year, and then apply for admission to the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg. 

"My goal is to become a family physician or a missionary physician, so time is very important in completing my schooling," she said. "HSSP encourages students and gives them an incentive to further their education, obtain a degree and become a professional." 

"Cheer with the Cougars" clinic slated Feb. 25

Future Cougar cheerleaders who take part in a three-hour cheer clinic Feb. 25 can put their new skills to work later that same afternoon during the last home game of the season for Mountain State University's men's basketball team.

The MSU "Cheer with the Cougars" clinic takes place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at MSU's Van Meter Gymnasium, located at 350 South Kanawha St. on the Beckley campus. Lunch is provided, and those who register by Feb. 17 also will receive a cheer t-shirt.

This clinic will focus on the cheer skill motions, and all participants will learn sideline cheers as well as a halftime performance routine. Then at 4 p.m., participants will cheer with the MSU Cougar Cheer Team as the Cougars take on Allen University of Columbia, S.C., at the Beckley–Raleigh County Convention Center.

Little General Stores, Inc., will cover the cost of game admission for those who bring non-perishable food items to the game. 

Cheer clinic participation is $40 per person. Participants must be between 7 and 13 years of age. Parents or guardians are responsible for all transportation to and from the cheer clinic and game. Proceeds will benefit the MSU Cheer Team for uniforms, training and travel.

To obtain a registration and waiver form, or for more information, contact Claytina Shepherd, MSU cheer coach, at (304) 253-6657.

Financial aid workshop offered free at Mountain State University Beckley

Drowning in an alphabet soup of confusing acronyms? Worried about missing key deadlines?

Get answers to all of your questions about college financial aid during a free workshop from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at Mountain State University. The workshop is open to all students, regardless of your higher education destination, and to the general public.

The workshop, led by JoAnn Ross, director of financial aid at MSU, will take place in the John W. Eye Conference Center on South Kanawha Street, Beckley.

Ross will present an overview of financial aid and outline the steps for completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly known as FAFSA. Other topics include:

• Cost of attendance
• Expected family contributions
• Need-based financial aid
• Sources of financial aid
• Types of financial aid
• Special circumstances
• Satisfactory academic progress

A question-and-answer session will follow the presentation.

Mountain State University scholarship helps working mom fulfill dream

Vivian Hunt had worked in the health care industry for years, supporting a general surgery practice. When it came time to further her own career, the working mother of two believes she found a natural fit in Mountain State University's physician assistant program.

The Crab Orchard resident recently was named one of 10 recipients of $1,000 Ruby Carter Endowed Scholarships through MSU to help her along the way.

"By going back to school as a nontraditional student, I'm showing my own children that education is important, and nothing is impossible if you believe in yourself," she said.

Hunt moved to West Virginia and began attending Mountain State University last summer. She has been married for 18 years; she and her husband have a 10-year-old daughter and a 5-year-son.

"I chose MSU because of the physician assistant program. I love the diversity of the students,' she said. "I worked as a medical assistant for the past 13 years, and decided after my last experience working with three general surgeons and several physician assistants that I wanted to further my own career."

Karen Bowling, dean of Mountain State's School of Health Sciences, said Hunt's personal and professional journey exemplifies the nontraditional path of many university students.

"We believe that learning is a lifelong process," Bowling said. "More than 97 percent of our students would not be considered a ‘typical' college student. Like Vivian, they are often adults trying to juggle work and family and children, and they do it remarkably well." 

Hunt works part-time for Shade Tree Publishing and helps out as a lab assistant for chemistry, biology and anatomy professors at MSU. She holds down a 3.5 grade point average while completing pre-requisite classes in hopes of being accepted into the PA graduate program next August.

"I'm so thankful that Mr. and Mrs. Carter cared enough about education to leave behind a foundation that helps others realize their dreams," Hunt said. 

Ruby A. Carter Endowed Scholarships are awarded from a charitable remainder trust established in 1998. Mrs. Carter, who passed away in November 2006, was an emeritus trustee of Mountain State University. 

In total, 42 Mountain State University students received $64,800 in scholarships administered through the university for the spring and fall semesters of 2012.