However, there are some crucial steps that all students, faculty, and staff need to take to successfully access any Google Apps, including Gmail, after the upgrade. These steps are easy to accomplish and will only be required once.

• First, after the scheduled outage (May 17th-18th) everyone must click through and agree to a new consumer Terms of Service (TOS) when you next login. No Google Apps can be accessed until users agree to these new TOS. To see these TOS, click here: http://www.email.vccs.edu/terms-of-service.
• Second, when setting up a profile in Google Plus (G+), a Facebook-like social networking service included in the upgrade,  it is especially important that you enter  a correct date of birth (or at least a date of birth that will make you 13 years old or older). If you enter a date of birth indicating you are younger than 13, you will be permanently locked out of all Google services. This cannot be undone without significant effort and additional costs.

More information about VCCS Google Apps for Education can be found at http://www.email.vccs.edu/extra-apps (a Google Site, by the way).

Virginia Western Community College’s Lindsey Narmour, a second-year student from Ferrum, has been awarded a 2013 Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. The scholarships were awarded to 73 of the nation's best community college students who seek to complete their bachelor's degrees at selective four-year colleges and universities. The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship Program, the largest private scholarship for community college transfer students in the country, provides up to $30,000 per year for up to three years to community college students who are nominated by their schools based on a number of factors including academic excellence and financial need.

Narmour was one of only two recipients from Virginia, the other hailing from Northern Virginia Community College, and she is the first ever from Virginia Western. Narmour, who will be the student speaker at Virginia Western’s 47^th Commencement Ceremony on May 10, plans to attend Hollins University to pursue her Bachelor’s Degree.

“Lindsey has been a true inspiration to her fellow students and a joy for our faculty and staff,” said Dr. Robert H. Sandel, President of Virginia Western. “Her great achievements have been a result of hard work and tremendous dedication, and we can’t wait to see where she goes from here.”

In addition to the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship, Narmour has been honored as one of only 50 Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team Gold Scholars in the nation. She also was the first Virginia Western student to be named a Valley Proteins Fellow by the Virginia Community College System, and she earned t

In the 2013 Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship application cycle, the Foundation received 769 nominations from 377 community colleges in 45 states and the District of Columbia. A highly selective scholarship, the final 73 recipients represent just 9.5% of the total applicant pool. The chosen Scholars stood out for their exceptional academic ability and achievements, financial need, persistence, leadership, and desire to help others. They were selected by a prestigious committee made up of 37 admissions professionals and professors, mostly from selective four-year institutions, as well as from community colleges.he Judy Hackworth Memorial Annual Scholarship from the Virginia Western Educational Foundation.

"The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation has long been committed to helping outstanding community college students transfer to and succeed at the nation's top colleges and universities," said Ms. Dana O'Neill, program manager of the Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. "Since this program started in 2002, the Foundation has supported 558 students directly, and thousands more through the Foundation's grant making initiatives."

The application cycle for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship Program runs from September to early December each year. The Foundation encourages eligible rising sophomores and recent community college graduates (within the last five years) to consider applying for this scholarship.

Narmour is completing her Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts and plans to transfer to Hollins University to study English. Her career goals include teaching at the collegiate level.

Fall registration for currently enrolled students will begin April 19, 2013.

Narmour was one of approximately 1,800 students from across the nation nominated for award. The accolade is not her first, though, she is also one of only 10 students in the state to be named a Valley Protein Scholar by the Virginia Community College System and she earned the Judy Hackworth Memorial Annual Scholarship from the Virginia Western Educational Foundation. She is also the president of Virginia Western’s Honors Institute, vice president of scholarship for Phi Theta Kappa and a Virginia Western Ambassador.

“When I found out that I was named a Coca-Cola Community College scholar, it was a little bit overwhelming. I knew I had been nominated, but never assumed I would be honored,” said Narmour. “It is a tremendous recognition and I am very appreciative to receive it.”

Narmour is completing her Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts and plans to transfer to a four-year university to study English. She is interested in Radford University, Roanoke College and the College of William & Mary among others. Her career goals include teaching at the collegiate level. As part of her Valley Proteins Fellowship, Narmour has worked to develop a childhood education literacy program at the Roanoke Rescue Mission.

“I’m really passionate about literacy, and I feel there’s really a home for an outreach program in the Roanoke Valley,” she said.

Community college presidents or their designated nominators may submit no more than two nominations per campus for this award. An independent panel of judges considers outstanding academic rigor, grade point average, academic and leadership awards, and engagement in college and community service in the selection process.

“Lindsey is the first Virginia Western student to ever be named a Gold Scholar, and we couldn’t be more proud,” said Dr. Robert H. Sandel, Virginia Western President. “Through her dedication to academics and community service, she has become a shining example for all our students.”

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society administers the Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team Program and recognizes Coca-Cola Community College scholars during All-State Community College Academic Team Recognition ceremonies held in 38 states. Student scholars also receive recognition locally during ceremonies held on campus and internationally for those who are able to attend Phi Theta Kappa’s Annual Convention.

“We thank the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation for their vote of confidence in community college students by investing in their futures,” said Dr. Rod Risley, Executive Director of Phi Theta Kappa. “Their support is especially welcome during this challenging economic climate, as more and more community college students need additional resources to help them complete their degrees.”

“The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation has a long history of providing financial assistance to outstanding students at community colleges,” said J. Mark Davis, President of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. “We are proud to partner with Phi Theta Kappa and make it possible for deserving students to achieve their educational goals.”

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society is the largest honor society in American higher education with more than 1,285 chapters on two-year and community college campuses in all 50 of the United States, Canada, Germany, Peru, the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the British Virgin Islands, the United Arab Emirates and U.S. territorial possessions. More than 2.5 million students have been inducted since its founding in 1918, with approximately 135,000 students inducted annually.

Click her to view the article: http://www.virginiawestern.edu/communications/HemmingsClassicCarApril2013.pdf

Congratulations to Sue on this recognition of her superb work!

A partnership consisting of four Virginia community colleges, the Virginia Space Grant Consortium, and the Virginia Geospatial Extension Program, based in Virginia Tech’s College of Natural Resources and Environment, has been awarded a grant of $899,870 by NSF to support community colleges in their effort to prepare more skilled geospatial technicians.

The participating community colleges include Virginia Western Community College, Thomas Nelson Community College, Southwest Virginia Community College, and J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College.

The Expanding Geospatial Technician Education Through Virginia’s Community Colleges (GeoTEd) project is a three-year effort that will continue a statewide partnership to create academic pathways and train faculty in the use of geospatial technologies.

“Our students are developing geospatial knowledge and abilities that will give them a competitive advantage in the workplace. We are excited to be working with project partners to provide students with nationally aligned curriculum and expanding opportunities for their continued education at senior institutions.” said David Webb, Geospatial Program Head at Virginia Western Community College.

The project, administered by the Virginia Space Grant Consortium, will establish academic pathways in geospatial technologies (such as geographic information systems, global positioning systems, and remote sensing). These academic pathways will serve as model programs for other community colleges nationally.

The U.S. Department of Labor considers the geospatial technology field a high-growth industry, particularly within the public sector—federal, state and local governments—as well as in regulated industries, such as telecommunications, utilities and transportation. According to GIS Lounge, Virginia ranks highly on geospatial job growth with a recent analysis showing it trailing only California and Texas nationally.

“The geospatial industry is causing a social and economic transformation that is impacting almost every sector of the society,” explained John McGee, geospatial Extension specialist in Virginia Tech’s Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation.

“Virginia’s geospatial industry has long been considered to be one of the nation’s most vibrant, and the demand for geospatially literate employees continues to grow,” he continued. “This project engages stakeholders from many different sectors to ensure that the region is well poised to support the geospatial technology workforce demand of the future.”

The GeoTEd project will align curriculum with the National Geospatial Technology Competency Model developed by the Department of Labor and the National GeoTech Center and the needs of business and industry in the Commonwealth.

Virginia Tech will host the regional Geospatial Technology Institute, which provides hands-on training in geospatial technologies to 25 faculty from Virginia’s community colleges as well as from Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Participating faculty will attend a one-week session in each of two years and receive mentoring and follow-up support from project partners.

Other components of the project include the development of distance education courses in geospatial technology, mobile applications, the geospatial Web portal, and career awareness information. The Virginia Space Grant Consortium’s GEOTREK12 program will also provide professional development to 45 high school teachers from the service regions of the partnering community colleges.

“This grant and this partnership continue to pay big dividends for the people of Virginia and we are excited about that,” said Glenn DuBois, chancellor of Virginia’s Community Colleges. “You cannot talk about education today without hearing the word, ‘STEM’, (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). Well, this is what STEM looks like. Our shared focus on STEM means we are helping people prepare for exciting careers and we are positioning Virginia as a leader in a growing industry.”

The National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education program, supporting the development of technicians in emerging fields, recognizes the need to inspire, motivate, and empower students to develop and achieve career goals. The program funds projects that focus on developing partnerships between community colleges, other higher education institutions, and employers to provide workforce development and education of science and engineering technicians at the undergraduate and secondary school levels.

Administered by the Virginia Western Educational Foundation, CCAP is currently available in Franklin County, Salem City and Roanoke City. Launched through a Salem pilot program in 2008, and expanded to Roanoke City in 2009 and Franklin County in 2011, CCAP impacted 176 students during the 2012-13 academic year. CCAP for Roanoke, Botetourt and Craig Counties will be pilot programs for 2013-14.

“We wish to thank Roanoke County for continuing to be a great partner and becoming part of CCAP. A region-wide program is a momentous achievement for Virginia Western and all the localities we serve. Our local economy will directly benefit by having a better educated workforce,” said Dr. Robert H. Sandel, President of Virginia Western. “The cost of higher education will no longer be a barrier to high-quality students seeking to better themselves and achieve their life goals.”

Through CCAP, college is possible for high school graduates in all the localities off Virginia Western’s service region who meet program guidelines.

“We are excited to be part of a pilot in the CCAP program,” said Dr. Lorraine Lange, Superintendent of Roanoke County Public Schools. “Roanoke County Schools has always had a strong partnership with Virginia Western. This pilot will only strengthen that partnership and bring new opportunities to our students.”

The Virginia Western Educational Foundation funds CCAP through the support of local governments, businesses, foundations and individuals. Roanoke County CCAP is a partnership between Roanoke County and the Virginia Western Educational Foundation; Botetourt County CCAP is a partnership between the Botetourt Education Foundation and the Virginia Western Educational Foundation; and Craig County CCAP is a partnership between Craig County and the Virginia Western Educational Foundation.

“Educators who I’ve talked to throughout the state are amazed by the generosity of Virginia Western. I’m so thankful to Dr. Sandel and the college’s administration for giving this opportunity to our students,” said C. Hampton Gray, Superintendent of Craig County Public Schools. “The gift of higher education is life-changing, community-changing and generational-changing.”

CCAP sponsors include: Advance Auto Parts, Botetourt Education Foundation, Carilion Clinic, Craig County, Franklin County, Ingersoll-Rand, Kroger, LewisGale Regional Health System, MFA, Quantum Medical, Richfield Retirement, Roanoke City and Roanoke City Public Schools, Roanoke County, Roanoke Women’s Foundation, Salem City, Stop-In Food Stores, Trane, and the Virginia Tobacco Commission.

“We are extremely excited about Roanoke County coming on board, as this means the College’s entire service region is covered by CCAP,” said Ed Hall, President of the Virginia Western Educational Foundation Board. “For donors, this means their contributions make an impact valley-wide.”

“As CCAP came along, and we saw the resources that were available to students in the region, we knew we had to make it happen for our students.” said Dr. Anthony S. Brads, Superintendent of Botetourt County Public Schools. “We are very excited about 2013. We are starting small but we are looking forward to growing the program. We thank Dr. Sandel and the Botetourt Education Foundation for all their help.”

Graduating seniors of participating high schools are eligible to apply for CCAP. Applicants must have attended high school in a participating locality for their junior and senior year, and have been a resident of the same participating locality for their junior and senior year. The entire application, with instructions and checklists for each locality is available at www.virginiawestern.edu/ccap. Students applying to the program are required to apply to Virginia Western, complete the financial aid process, take the Virginia Western placement test, and complete the online CCAP application. The deadline to apply and submit all required documentation is March 29.

“Virginia Western’s goal is to provide the opportunity for any local high school graduate to gain a college education. With the addition of Roanoke, Botetourt and Craig Counties, and the expansion of CCAP region-wide, that goal is attainable,” Sandel said. “The continued support of private individuals, companies and governments will ensure that the Roanoke region remains economically strong for generations to come.”