Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College kicked off its fiftieth anniversary Monday on the Logan Campus with the unveiling of a new logo and school colors.
Southern changed up its familiar black and gold flying “S” logo to what college officials have dubbed “The Southern Blues.”
President Dr. Pamela L. Alderman said the timing is perfect for re-branding. “As we celebrate this milestone it just seemed appropriate to give our college a fresh new look.”
Alderman went on to explain the significance of the new color choices. “The blues are the roots that bear the fruits. The whole of life itself expresses the blues. The blues can be about anything pertaining to life. The blues represent our struggles, our journeys, and our triumphs.”
Alderman also announced a designation the college has received and free concert coming to the Logan Campus next month.
“Today, we can finally let our employees know that Southern has been designated a “Great College to Work For.”
A survey of 196 colleges and universities was released today as a special insert of The Chronicle of Higher Education. Seventy of the surveyed colleges, including Southern, achieved “Great College to Work For” recognition.
Southern won honors in faculty experience, professional development, job satisfaction and confidence of leadership.
Moreover, Southern was named to the Great Colleges Honor Roll, a status granted to only 42 colleges each year who are highlighted most across the recognition categories.
“This is a very satisfying affirmation of Southern, but our real goal is not recognition – it’s being a community that values the needs and contributions of every individual. In that sense everyone at Southern helps to make this a great place to work,” Alderman said.
The Great Colleges to Work For program is one of the largest and most respected workplace-recognition programs in the country. For more information and to view all current and previous recognized institutions, visit the Great Colleges program website at GreatCollegesProgram.com and GreatCollegesList.com. ModernThink, a strategic human capital consulting firm, administered the survey and analyzed the results.
Finally, Alderman announced that Logan’s own Landau Eugene Murphey Jr. will be performing a free concert in the Savas Kostas Performing Arts Center on Saturday, October 16.
“We are extremely proud to be partnering with Landau,” Alderman said. Murphey has recently been the poster child for GED education. He went back to school and earned his GED during the Pandemic. “He understands the important role that education plays not only here in the Coalfields, but globally.”
“Landau’s Got Talent” will celebrate the tenth anniversary of his “America’s Got Talent” win that catapulted Murphey to celebrity status and launched his entertainment career. “He is performing all the songs that did each week on the show, plus a few surprises.”
Tickets will be made available sometime in October. “All we are asking is that everyone who wants a ticket donates to our college food pantry. “We are asking for at least two non-perishable food items per ticket. Out food pantry serves our students and the local area. This is a way we can give back to those who need a little extra help.”
Ticket distribution will be made public on Southern’s Facebook page in October.