WV Access Center
for Higher Education at BSC
Approved to Receive $75K

(BLUEFIELD)--The West Virginia Access Center for Higher Education (WVACHE) was officially notified by West Virginia Governor Bob Wise that the Center had been approved to receive $75,000 in funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission. Ms. Sarita Gattuso (WVACHE Executive Director), Wayne White (Executive Director of the Ohio Appalachian Center for Higher Education-OACHE and Vice Chair/WVACHE Board of Directors), Dr. Albert Walker (BSC President and Chair/WVACHE Board of Directors), Willie Rose (WVACHE Treasurer), and Laura Risler (Special Projects Manager) took part in a recent presentation ceremony in the Governor’s office.

While official Appalachian Regional Commission approval of the project is pending, the Governor’s action significantly increases the likelihood that the WVACHE proposal will receive the funding. “ARC funding will assist WVACHE, located at Bluefield State College, to increase the educational attainment level of students in West Virginia schools through competitive access grants to high schools by increasing post-secondary enrollment,” the Governor noted.

“On behalf of the WVACHE Board of Directors, and especially on behalf of the students who for the first time will see college as an option, I would like to express appreciation to Governor Wise, the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, and the West Virginia Development Office for recommending our proposal,” Gattuso said.

The WVACHE is based on the highly successful OACHE program. In 2002, the nine West Virginia high schools participating in the WVACHE Access Project showed an overall 37% increase in the college-going rate of their graduating students. Participating schools included Princeton Sr. High, James Monroe High School, and Mount View High School from southern West Virginia.

January 30,2003

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