( Bluefield)—The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has announced its approval of a $15,000 grant proposal in support of the Emerging Leaders Program at Bluefield State College. Dr. Felica Blanks, Executive Director of Institutional Development and Advancement at BSC, submitted the proposal.

According to Dr. Blanks, “BSC received this grant through our partnership with the NASA WV Space Grant Consortium. This grant will enhance our efforts to provide leadership training opportunities as well as scholarships for students participating in the program. Additionally, the overall grant will allow other state institutions, including West Virginia State University and West Virginia University, to launch initiatives to replicate our Emerging Leaders Program.”

Four years ago, the BSC Office of Institutional Development and Advancement received grant support from NASA that established an Emerging Leaders Institute that offered a holistic approach to preparing African American students for future opportunities in science, math, and technology-oriented fields. The program also provided a support system to address the academic, social, cultural, and personal development needs of African American students who enroll in NASA-related programs at BSC.

“We are very pleased that NASA continues to support our leadership program. With continued support, we will be able to foster a new generation of multicultural academicians within the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” Blanks said.

June 2, 2006