BLUEFIELD, Va. (WVVA) – For the first time in nearly a decade, students at Bluefield State College are once again learning the fundamentals of mining engineering.
University leaders celebrated the milestone Wednesday night in Fincastle with the third annual BSU/Pocahontas Loyalty Scholarship Dinner and Hall of Fame induction ceremony. It was a proud moment for BSU, as Governor Jim Justice (Virginia House of Delegates) also stopped by to offer his congratulations and words of encouragement for the future.
But for those based in Bluefield, the event marks an important reminder of the university's role in the community.
“Bluefield State College has an obligation to the local community,” said Keith Olson, vice president for development. “We have an obligation to industry, and we have an obligation to provide education and advancement for our local residents.”
Olson added Wednesday that there are only 14 accredited mining and mineral engineering degree programs in the entire U.S. Olson said those programs produce about 150 graduates each year, but the industry needs more than 500 graduates each year.
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