The Rampage Apr 2025

9

buRampage.com

“Professor Roberts is the embodiment of quiet courtesy and easy-going professionalism,” Marcum said. “His students have impressed us, too; they work well together, have a positive outlook, and creative minds. They’re also funny. On the whole, we’re charmed. We are grateful for all of them and their hard work.” Workman has also been impressed by the students for their professionalism, character, and hard work. She even shared that the students have gone above and beyond in devoting personal time to the project. “They’ve made a point to do Saturdays, even the Saturday leading into Spring Break, which was very impressive to me,” Workman said. Roberts is also impressed by his students. “I’ve been very pleased with the passion and the initiative that some of the students have shown to me,” Roberts said. “I have a couple students that are going above and beyond what I’ve asked of them. I’ve been very pleased with how the students are approaching interview subjects, the project in general, and just respecting the history and the people behind it.” Workman, seeing this respect toward the history of Bramwell shown by the students, wishes she had that when she was their age. R ecently, heavy rain and flooding ravaged Bluefield and the surrounding areas, compounding the already pressing effects of Hurricane Helene just a few months before. One of the areas most affected: McDowell County, West Virginia, which has suffered greatly. McDowell ranks as one of the poorest and sickest areas in not only Appalachia but also America. Burdened already by poverty and drug addiction, the last thing McDowell needed was a natural disaster to further exacerbate an already struggling area. Seeing the needs in the area in the aftermath of the floods, Bluefield University Student Ministries (BUSM) organized a donation collection to go out to McDowell and its residents. Project organizer and Bluefield University sophomore Amelia Garrett was placed in charge of receiving donations from fellow students. The drive took donations such as clothes, cleaning supplies, and non-perishable foods to First Baptist Church in Bluefield, West Virginia, where an

“I appreciate young people taking advantage, or like me, disadvantage, or not thinking about Bramwell and history, and being interested,” she said. “When I was young, I wish I had.” Many students in this project are not only appreciating the history involved but also the experience it provides. “Projects like this are especially important to Bramwell because they help preserve history, while also giving students valuable hands-on experience,” said Andrew LaPan, a senior on the Bramwell team. “Working with real clients, professional equipment, and industry-standard software helps students build practical skills that will benefit them in their future careers.” Despite the gap in seniority, freshman John Thompson also sees the opportunity to gain experience from this project. “I have enjoyed getting out of the classroom and getting hands-on experience,” Thompson said. “The project has been a great opportunity to step into the world of communication.”

A Flood of Hope by Savannah Taylor | Communication • 2028

outpouring of generosity was evident, according to Moriah Mingo, BUSM member and volunteer worker for the project. “There were a lot of other donations...it was a lot,” Mingo said, “and they had already taken out four truckloads worth of stuff.” Mingo said she hopes the donations bless the people of McDowell as much as she was blessed by the experience of giving. “When people say, ‘Giving makes you feel better,’ it really is true,” said Mingo, who added a story about how the generosity of a retail worker uplifted her. “I was having a bad day,” Mingo recalled, “and then I went to Dollar Tree, and this woman working there donated $30 worth of stuff, and I was in a good mood for the next couple of days.” One can only pray that this flood of hope reaches McDowell County and all flood-impacted areas.