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Bluefield College students now have access to even more financial aid, thanks to the generosity of The Credit Bureau of the Virginias Foundation.

September 22, 2008

Bluefield College students now have access to even more financial aid, thanks to the generosity of The Credit Bureau of the Virginias Foundation.    

The Credit Bureau Foundation recently gave the college a $10,000 grant for scholarships. In fact, the recent gift brings the Credit Bureau's total giving to Bluefield College to more than $50,000 since the Foundation established a scholarship fund for BC students in 2003.    

Jimmy Welch, executive director of the Foundation, and Max Kammer, a member of the Foundation's Board, were on the Bluefield College campus to present the $10,000 check to BC's Dr. Steve Spangler, vice president for institutional advancement, and Ruth Blankenship, associate vice president for advanement. During his visit, Welch spoke about the purpose of Foundation scholarships.    

"Our primary goal is to help the so-called average student," Welch said, "the student who may not get access to a lot of academic scholarships. The scholarships are designed to serve post-high school, educational endeavors of the average student from the former trade areas of The Credit Bureau of the Virginias."    

The Credit Bureau of the Virginias Foundation was established through the sell of The Credit Bureau of the Virginias, formerly known as the Bluefield Credit Bureau. It was created, according to Welch, to "promote the quality of life within the former trade area of The Credit Bureau of the Virginias by supporting local charitable, scientific and educational needs."    

"How appropriate that an organization that built its business from the people and merchants from the Bluefield area should now turn around and give back to those very people," Blankenship said. "The Credit Bureau grew from its business with the people of this area, and now it will return the benefit through investments in higher education."    

The $10,000 will be used to provide ten $1,000 scholarships to Bluefield College students during the 2008-2009 academic year. The main scholarship criteria will be to assist average students who demonstrate need in obtaining a degree. The awards will be available to the recipients through graduation, provided they continue to meet scholarship and need criteria.    

Recipients of the award, Welch said, must be residents of the former trade area of The Credit Bureau of the Virginias, including nine counties in southwestern Virginia and southern West Virginia.    

"Education is the primary answer to survival today," said Welch, a former executive vice president for the Credit Bureau of the Virginias. "Through education, life is easier, and the Foundation is happy to be a part of the educational investments in this area."

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