Evans, whose late father Stanley, taught school in Bud, WV, will present a $150,000 check to help establish the foundation of NACHE during a June 26 ceremony in Bud. This center, a subcenter of the North Central Appalachian Center for Higher Education (NCACHE), will be housed at BSC and will focus efforts on increasing the college-going rate in school districts in West Virginia.

"Bob Evans has never forgotten what the people of West Virginia did for his family some 90 years ago," commented Sarita Gattuso, NCACHE Director. After passing his teacher's exam, Stanley Evans sought a teaching job to help his widowed mother raise his seven brothers and sisters. Unable to find a teaching position in Ohio, Stanley Evans was hired to teach in a one-room school in Bud, WV. "Bob Evans will honor his father and the people of West Virginia through his presentation at the POW-WOW Community Center in Bud, June 26 at 3 p.m.," Gattuso said. Other dignitaries expected to attend the event include WV Governor Cecil Underwood, WV Secretary of Education & the Arts David Ice, famed "Rocket Boy" Willie Rose, and BSC President Dr. Robert Moore.

Bob Evans has been an active supporter of the OACHE project, which increased the college-going rate in partner schools by 20 percent during its first year, and by 34 percent over its first two years.

The NCACHE at Bluefield State College was formed as a pilot project, opening its doors in 1998 to serve West Virginia and Appalachian Maryland, approximately two years after the Community Colleges of Appalachia voted to replicate a highly successful program in Appalachian Ohio, designed to increase the college-going rate. The Ohio Appalachian Center for Higher Education (OACUE), under the direction of Wayne White of Shawnee State (OH) University, has a documented success in increasing the college going rate to as much as 90 percent.

Through the support of the West Virginia Department of Education & the Arts, the Appalachian Regional Commission, Marshall University, the State College & University System of WV, and the George M. Cruise Foundation, the NCACHE was established two years ago, funding six partner high schools in 1998-99. One of the project schools increased its college-going rate by more than 50 percent during its initial year in the program.

"For FY 1999-2000, NCACHE funded 10 schools statewide through competitive grant awards," Gattuso said. Due to the success of the Ohio and the North Central projects, the Appalachian Regional Commission has voted to replicate this model project throughout the 13-state Appalachian Region. "These projects encourage and promote success by giving students the opportunity to visit college campuses and take advantage of the financial aid available to assist in covering college costs," she continued. "These projects change school climate by involving the total school."