College Goal Sunday volunteers

College Goal Sunday was held on Feb. 21 at the Greenbri er Valley Campus to provide
help to community members with the task of completing their FAFSA applications for college financial aid. 

College Goal Sunday, held at 25 locations across the state, are coordinated by College Foundation of West Virginia, West Virginia Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, and several other college programs including TRIO and GEAR UP.

Students and parents completed their FAFSAs online.

Greenbrier East High School senior Jassel Kinder, who plans to attend Marshall University, won the Samsung Tablet giveaway at the event.

(left to right) Dr. Tom Lemke and Dr. Washington talk with Rep. Evan Jenkins and staff.

Dr. L. Marshall Washington and Dr. Tom Lemke, New River CTC Board of Governors member, traveled to Washington, D.C. Feb. 8 - 11 to attend the Association of Community Colleges Trustees National Legislative Summit.

In addition, Dr. Washington attended the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Community College Alliance meeting on Feb. 10 featuring Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. Agenda sessions included opportunities for grant funding and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between USDA Rural Development and the Rural Community College Alliance.

The events included policy focus sessions and individual meetings with Congressional leaders, Rep. Evan Jenkins, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, and Sen. Joe Manchin. The top federal community college legislative priorities for 2016 shared by Drs. Washington and Lemke with Congressional leaders are as follows:

• The Pell Grant Program;
• Federal Funding for Community Colleges and Students: for example, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal Work Study;
• Higher Education Act Reauthorization;
• America's College Promise;
• Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education (CTE) Act Reauthorization; and,
• Supporting Students and Institutions Through the Tax Code: for example, American Opportunity Tax Credit and Community College Partnership Tax Credit.

Allied Health Instructor Vanessa Bailey took a group of Medical Assistants to the West Virginia Capitol on Feb. 18 to advocate at WV Rural Health Workforce Day.

Medical Assisting students with Sen. Joe Manchin	Medical Assisting students in front of the Capitol

February is wear red for American Heart Month. New River CTC's medical assistants donned red accessories at West Virginia University's Center of Excellence in Women's Health booth at the Capitol. Medical Assistants also checked blood pressure and gave away free healthy snacks on Feb. 16 at the Greenbrier Valley Campus.

RCC staff wore red for American Heart Month (l-r) Janie Smith, Lora Hazelwood, Lori Midkiff, Dr. Washington, Dean Marianne Layer, La Kisha Harville, and Myrna Thomas.

Martin Delaney (1812 - 1885) as portrayed by Joseph Bundy

The history of Martin Delaney, a leader of the anti-slavery movement and superintendent of the Underground Railroad, will be brought to life on all campuses this month.

In recognition of Black History Month, the College will host the History Alive! program sponsored by the West Virginia Humanities Council. History Alive! features scholars from around the state who portray historical figures.

Martin Delaney (1812 - 1885) was born in Charles Town, W.Va. He moved to Pennsylvania as a child with his family when his mother was threatened with imprisonment for allowing her children to learn to read and write. He became a leader in the anti-slavery movement and a superintendent of the Underground Railroad. He co-edited an abolitionist newspaper with Frederick Douglass and attended Harvard Medical College.

During the Civil War, Delany was a recruiter for the U.S. Colored Troops, and in 1865 became the first black field officer when he was commissioned a major. Delany is portrayed by Joseph Bundy of Bluefield, W.Va.

History Alive! with Martin Delaney will be held at the following times and locations:

• Greenbrier Valley Campus, 101 Church Street in Lewisburg, at Noon on Feb. 23 in the Hollowell Auditorium;
• Raleigh County Campus, 280 University Drive in Beaver, at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 23 in the Rotunda area;
• Nicholas County Campus, 6101 Webster Road in Summersville, at Noon on Feb. 24 in the Commons area; 
• Mercer County Campus, 1001 Mercer Street in Princeton, at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 25 in Room M119.

The events are free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Wanda Johnson, Program Coordinator, at ext. 6710 or wjohnson@newriver.edu.

Raleigh County Campus SGA are celebrating Black History Month with a display of information and free givaways including pencils, necklaces, and cups. (l-r) Lisa Yahya, Christian Day, Angella Dews-Rhodes, Monique Rhodes, and Connie Rhodes, SGA Advisor.