Radford University

For the first time in three years, Waldron College of Health and Human Services students and faculty gathered in person to present research and share ideas at the Interprofessional Symposium and Expo, held in Heth Hall on April 14, 2022. The seventh annual daylong celebration of original research from the college presented an opportunity for those involved to share research via poster and podium presentations well as roundtable exercises. It was the first in-person version of the event since 2019 due to the COVID pandemic.

Students in the fire and arson investigtion course at Radford University worked through a simulated fire scene on April 13. Since 2014, Todd Jones, a fire and insurance fraud investigator and adjunct instructor in the academic department of criminal justice, has been using a mobile burn trailer at Radford since 2014 to give students this hands-on learning experience.

Three students in Radford University's nursing program were in the right place at the right time to help a driver in distress. After leaving their clinicals for the day, the students noticed an unconscious driver stopped in the street. When they investigated further, they realized he was not breathing and performed life saving measures before the ambulance arrived and resuscitated him.

The following people recently were initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines.

Sara O'Dell, a student in the Radford University Carilion (RUC) Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration program, admits she sometimes makes impulsive decisions. A few years ago, during her ninth year as a nurse, she decided it was time to return to school. "I like to think of myself as a professional student," O'Dell said. "I have always enjoyed learning, especially when it comes to healthcare, so I felt like it was time to build on my education and my career. I decided on the spot to do it." In addition to being a full-time nurse, though, O'Dell was also a mother with young children. That meant the program she enrolled in would have to be flexible and allow her to continue working and caring for her kids as she learned. Enter the healthcare administration program at RUC.

There is a good chance most faculty, staff and students have seen Luc White on the Radford University campus. "Everywhere" is a good word to describe White's impact here in the past three-plus years, and "almost everything," while seemingly hyperbolic, is fairly accurate in describing the extent of White's campus involvement. White is double majoring in studio art, with a concentration in photography, and biology, concentrating in ecology. If that weren't enough - and it's not, for White, who uses the pronouns they, them and theirs - they have three minors: French, chemistry and women's and gender studies. "I'm a senior, but I'm going to be a senior for an extra two years," White jokes, referring to the amount of time it will take to complete their studies. Luc is in the Honors College and serves as Honors Student Council president. They hold that same position with the Selu Garden and Service Club. "I'm in the greenhouse a lot," they said. But that's not all.

Since 1988, Radford University's campus and other school properties have been served by its own emergency medical services team, RUEMS. Staffed entirely by students, its team members are volunteers and receive no course credit, however those involved say experience is the reward.

The family tree of one group of occupational therapists (OT) is forever intertwined with the Radford University Master of Occupational Therapy (M.O.T.) program. It's a complicated story, so try to keep up.

Sami Reitz is a star in academics and on the volleyball court. Reitz is a four-year letter winner for the Radford University volleyball team, and she ranked in the top five on the team in blocks and kills for three consecutive seasons. Reitz's coaches and advisor Dr. Rhett Herman encouraged her to take a rigorous course load, and then she took it upon herself to become involved in numerous extracurricular and academic growth programs. The hard work and long hours paid off as Reitz was accepted to Northwestern, Yale, Chicago and Purdue universities to pursue her Ph.D. in chemistry. She would like to be closer to her to home city, St. Louis, but wherever she goes, one thing is guaranteed, Reitz is headed for great achievements.

Radford University Carilion medical laboratory science (M.L.S.) student Richard Martinez has experienced a lot of change in a very short amount of time over the last couple of years. Martinez was laid off from his first job as a laboratory technician during the first wave of the pandemic and had been on the job with his next employer for less than a year when he decided to pick up roots and relocate about 3,000 miles away.

A contingent of 19 students from Radford University traveled to Richmond, Virginia, Jan. 24-25 to advocate on behalf of the university. As the Radford students gathered in and around the State Capitol building, they spoke in person with Virginia legislators, many of whom represent their home districts, as well as others who play important roles in the Virginia political system.

Radford University has released its Dean's List for Fall 2021. Appearing on the Dean's List is the most prestigious academic recognition RU students can receive for their performance during a semester. Students will be placed on the Dean's List if they meet four specific criteria. They must have 12 semester hours of coursework graded A-F; earn GPA's of at least 3.4 for all courses not graded on a pass-fail basis; obtain no grade lower than "C"; and no incomplete grades.

Radford University's Army ROTC commissioned two officers in a ceremony held Friday, Dec. 10, in the Hurlburt Student Center auditorium. The officers have earned the rank of second lieutenant and are granted authority by the United States Army to carry out their duties as newly commissioned officers. "To commission is actually the mission of the New River battalion, but our mission also notes that we commission leaders of character, and that certainly describes the two cadets that we have here today," Col. James Cogbill said at the ceremony. The Radford Army ROTC program was established in 1978 under a cross-enrollment agreement between the presidents of the university and Virginia Tech.

The Honors College honored seven winter graduates at a morning ceremony Friday, Dec. 10, in the Scartelli Atrium of the Covington Center. Medallions were presented to the Highlander Honors Scholars. The medallions signify graduates from Radford University's Honors College. The Highlander Honors Scholar is the highest academic distinction bestowed on undergraduates at Radford University. These students complete a 27-credit honors curriculum, publicly present a scholarly capstone project and achieve a GPA of 3.5 or greater.

Radford University presented 594 undergraduate and graduate degrees during the 2021 winter commencement exercises. On Dec. 11, 2021, 461 graduate and undergraduate degrees were awarded at the Dedmon Center on main campus in Radford, Virginia, and 133 degrees were presented at Radford University Carilion events in Roanoke, Virginia. Alumnus Brian Robinson '93 delivered the keynote address. Robinson is Goldman Sachs's head of prime brokerage sales for the Americas. "As you embark on your journey, know there's going to be potholes, peaks, valleys, ups, downs, whatever. But put some soul into it. Put your soul into it," Robinson said. "I promise you today, if you rise and grind, a magic carpet ride awaits you. Greatness is upon you."

Last fall, Radford University Carilion Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) students participated in a fall risk assessment clinical experiential activity at Friendship Health and Living in Roanoke, Virginia. The students, who are part of the D.P.T. Class of 2023, worked with approximately 30 older adults to assess their likelihood of losing their balance and falling, causing injury. Those who needed it were then referred for therapy admission. During the activity, the older adults took several tests to assess their mobility, including the Timed Up and Go test, the Functional Gait Assessment, the 10-meter Walk test, the Berg Balance scale, the Five-times Sit-to-Stand test and the Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale. "This activity served a dual purpose as a learning opportunity for our students," said Arco Paul, Ph.D., PT, NCS, assistant professor in the D.P.T. program, "but also as a community service for the clinical partners at Friendship."

If Devante Mosley still isn't 100% certain what he wants to do after he graduates from Radford University, that's not because he lacks for options. A junior from Fredericksburg, Virginia, and the youngest of three siblings, he was born in Japan while his father, a Marine, was stationed there. Mosley's studies at Radford resonated with his interests so much so that he opted to swap his academic focus, making sociology his major and media production his minor.

Private Ahava E. Heart of Silver Spring, Maryland, received special recognition from the Jewish Interest-Free Loan Association of Atlanta (JIFLA) as a winner of the "She's a Maccabee" Award. The annual Chanukah awards honor powerful Atlanta women who use their talents, passions and strong commitment to the Jewish community to help others. "Ahava embodies the tradition of the Jewish woman warrior! She is the direct third generation serving in the United States Armed Forces. She is enrolled in the U.S. Army Nursing ROTC program at Radford University in Virginia, with the career goal of serving as a U.S. army nurse. Continuing her family's Maccabean Jewish woman warrior tradition, with this exception - she will be saving lives instead of taking them," JIFLA wrote. For more information, go to the atlantajewishtimes.com.

Six business students who will graduate this month received acknowledgment at the Davis College of Business and Economics Honors Ceremony, held Dec. 1.

Almost every Thursday throughout the fall 2021 semester, three Radford University senior music education majors made the short trip along Tyler Avenue to the Radford Early Learning Center to make happy music for babies and toddlers.

After an historic season in a Radford University uniform, Hannah Moran has been named the 2021 Big South Women's Runner of the Year.

Oak Bradshaw of Bland, Va., has been awarded the first ever student-funded scholarship at Radford University. Fund raising for the Highlander Senior Class Scholarship began in 2017, the fund reached endowment level in December 2021. In four short years, more than 1,600 seniors made gifts to support this scholarship that goes to a deserving senior. "It was so helpful to not have to worry about how I was going to pay for my education," Bradshaw said. "It opened up more opportunities for me to focus on my campus involvement so I could contribute to the Radford community."

Kirsten Walker likes working with complex machines. She has transitioned from flying Blackhawk helicopters in the Army to being a student in Radford University Carilion's physician assistant program and working to care for the human body.

Radford, Va. - Radford Volleyball's Hailey Flowers was named to the Big South Conference All-Academic Team for the first time in her career, the conference office announced Wednesday afternoon.

Approximately 30% of undergraduates at Radford University are first-generation students. The Center for Opportunity and Social Mobility (COSM) opened its doors at the beginning of the fall 2021 semester with this in mind.

The Nov. 11 event recognized veterans, including faculty, staff, graduates and students.

If there are words that exemplify second-year Radford University Carilion Doctor of Physical Therapy student Natalie Weber, they are empathic, compassionate and caring. From the patients she works with to her classmates, Weber continually works to...

In a collaboration with the Virginia Department of Health, Western Virginia Water Authority and Carilion Clinic's Basic Sciences Research Lab, with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Radford University Carilion biomed...

A league-wide vote by the head coach of each program in the conference tabbed Joseba Incera and Yoshiya Okawa for the All-Big South Second Team, Octavio Ocampo as an Honorable Mention pick, and Okawa again for the All-Freshman te...

The new-look Radford Men's Basketball team got its first chance to gel in a preseason exhibition against Eastern Mennonite on Monday night, earning an 83-60 victory.