Southwest Virginia Community College's basketball team, the Flying Eagles, is one of only two community college teams within Virginia to have been accepted into the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), an association sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Not only is belonging to the NJCAA a tremendous achievement for SWCC, it also offers opportunities for students that would not otherwise be available with any other community college. The Flying Eagles now belong to Region 10, Division 3 and compete with five teams across NC, SC, and VA for a total of 10 league games in addition to a number of non-member games throughout the season.
“Southwest Virginia Community College is proud that our basketball team is now part of the NJCAA,” said Dr. Mark Estepp, president of SWCC. “The Flying Eagles’ membership in this prestigious college athletic association demonstrates the high-level of playing ability of this team. I commend Coach Larry Mullins and Assistant Coach David Mullins for their phenomenal work with the Eagles. I would also like to thank our Athletic Director Mark Wildman for his endless pursuit of getting us to the NJCAA level, so that the program can grow and prosper. I encourage everyone to come out and support the team,” said Estepp.
The NJCAA offers a regulated method of game play in addition to promoting the need to strive for academic achievement amongst the players associated. Students who wish to play for a team within the NJCAA must be enrolled full time and maintain at least a 2.0 grade average. "These players are students first and athletes second," said Larry Mullins, volunteer coach for the Flying Eagles, "Because of SWCC's open door policy, students can receive academic success alongside being able to play in an official atmosphere with teams throughout Division 3."
"SWCC's facilities are tough to beat, they are easily among the best in the league," said Mark Wildman, athletic director, who also certifies team members and submits their information to the national office. "The deciding moment for Coach Mullins and I, on whether to go for the NJCAA, came back in March. We had traveled to a tournament with the team and decided that there had to be a better way of approaching basketball. We found this within the NJCAA," said Wildman.
The NJCAA also opens doors, inviting students from across the region to take advantage of a world class campus and the opportunity to enroll full time while enjoying the benefits of playing basketball within a nationally recognized association. "We have several students enrolled full time that would not be with SWCC had we not joined the NJCAA," said Coach Mullins. "Most of our players are not only enrolled full time, but practice with the team three days a week while also being employed part time. Our team now helps to build not only strength in body, but strength in character." Players' equipment and uniforms are provided by SWCC, which are funded exclusively through donations, fundraisers, and sponsors within the community. "We have a responsibility to our players and we would like to thank the many people who have assisted the team over the years,” said Wildman. "Our team has never been better, and we're anticipating playing our next two league games at home against Davidson Co. on January 9 and Central on January 10," said Mullins.
For more information on the Flying Eagles basketball team or for a game schedule, please visit www.sw.edu or www.NJCAA.org.

The live online helpdesk at Southwest Virginia Community College is scheduled to be open during most of its regular operating hours during the upcoming holiday. Anyone having questions or needing assistance with scheduling or registering for Spring 2010 can get help by “chatting” with an online advisor! Online advisors can be contacted through the college’s website at www.sw.edu. The link is located on the top left hand side of the SWCC homepage.
The regular hours of the online helpdesk are: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Thursday, 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Friday, closed; Saturday and Sunday, 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Online advisors will be unavailable on the following days: December 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, and 31st and January 1st.

 

Students and professors from across the Southwest Virginia region packed up and headed out for a fifteen day tour of China. The group consisted of students and professors from the Southwest Virginia Community College, University of Virginia at Wise, Virginia Highlands Community College, King College, University of Virginia in Charlottesville, and Emory and Henry College. A total of 22 students and faculty were in attendance for this trip of a lifetime, among them was Dr. John Brenner, a professor at SWCC and an adjunct professor of sociology for the social work department of Virginia Intermont College.

The study abroad program is supported by the Business and International Educational Grant Program from the Unites States Department of Education’s International Programs Service. A key goal of the grant was to foster more international links between colleges and universities and the business community. This particular program was sponsored by the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC). SVHEC has been the recipient two BIE grants which have allowed more than 100 students and faculty to study abroad both in China and Mexico. Brenner, having visited China 11 years prior, said, "We felt very accommodated and welcomed by the Chinese. The progress I have seen in China over these years is astounding; they really are becoming global citizens. We now have more in common than we have differences."

The trip to China included a great deal of information on the structure of business connections between the USA and China. The group spent the first few days of the trip in Shanghai at The Shanghai International Studies University (SISU). This organization provided the classroom space and lecturers. One of the guest speakers included Kevin Chambers from the US Consulate General, Shanghai, who described the actual process in which US businesses can participate in commerce with China. There were also lectures on the History, Society and Culture of China along with lectures that described the changing attitudes of society in China. The lectures were focused to allow the students and faculty to understand the dynamics of how China has changed in the last 20 years.

After listening to the speakers' presentations, the group was exposed to cultural and social aspects of China. This was maintained through visits to cultural sites and experiencing actual contact with local Chinese. "We traveled with a group of students and professors from many different places, it was one of the best groups I've ever traveled with," said Brenner. All participants had been connected with pen pals through SISU. The group then had the opportunity to connect with Chinese students who were also learning English and the American business system. This allowed members of the group to meet local Chinese students by spending an evening learning about Shanghai.

The group was also invited to see the Shanghai Port Authority which is a massive complex that was constructed on the open ocean. The Authority overseas a complex that services ships which transport goods overseas. The Port Authority personnel explained how the shipping was conducted and the intricacies of shipping and receiving.

After leaving Shanghai, the group traveled to the resort town of Hang Zhou to see how China has responded to the need for tourism within this beautiful city. Tall groves of trees and beautiful parks make Hang Zhou an especially enchanting place to visit. The group was also able to attend a beautiful Chinese presentation on a local lake at night. The performers walked on water as they sang, danced and interpreted the story.

The group took also took an overnight train to Beijing which was the last stop for the group. The capital city offered the group a look at the 2008 Olympic sites and to see all the historical aspects of the city including Tiananmen Square, the Palace and the Great Wall.

This once in a lifetime opportunity will be remembered by many of the participants from Southwest Virginia as their first trip to China. The people of China, including the guides and professors, all welcomed the group and informed them of the current situations taking place in China. The Business and Industry Grant Program was very successful, as many contacts between people, colleges and businesses will be forth coming in the future.