FOOTBALL HIGHLIGHTS: ALPINE @ KERMIT 34-14

WATCH HERE: https://www.firstalert7.com/2026/09/19/highlights-kermit-def-alpine-34-14/

KERMIT, Texas (KOSA) - Kermit Yellow Jackets welcomed the Alpine Bucks for their homecoming game, and seemed to use the extra spirit on the field.

Kermit beat the Bucks 34-14, getting their first win this season and with head coach Andy Hrncir.

Alpine heads into their bye week next week while Kermit will play at McCamey.

Copyright 2026 KOSA. All rights reserved.

PETROLEUM CLUB EVENT HONORS LONGITME MIDLAND PHILANTHROPIST

Watch on cbs 7 here: https://www.firstalert7.com/2026/09/16/petroleum-club-event-honors-longtime-midland-philanthropist/

MIDLAND, Texas (KOSA) - A speaker series was held at the Petroleum Club of Midland Tuesday to honor a chairman of the board of governors of the Midland Memorial Foundation.

Speakers and guests at the event described the late Rosalind Redfern Grover as a civic leader who dedicated her time and efforts to value-based giving.

Grover was a longtime resident of Midland, a prominent oil and gas business owner, and a Midland healthcare advocate and benefactor.

“We wanted to do something to honor her legacy. She did so much to support the hospital, for so many years,” a speaker said.

Steven Bowerman, President and CEO of Midland Health, said Grover would be proud of the event.

“We have a great turnout, the discussion they’ll have is on value-based giving, topic near and dear to Ros’s heart, I think she’s really proud of what we’re doing today,” Bowerman said.

Organizers, including Bowerman, plan for the series to become annual, and say the event will help Grover’s legacy live on.

Copyright 2026 KOSA. All rights reserved.

Governor Youngkin’s Term Conclusion

With the nation desperately awaiting the fate of the department of education, Virginia has been proactive in preparing to improve upon the quality of students’ education as well as preparation for the end of Virginia Governor Youngkin’s term approaching. Virginia’s Secretary of Education, Aimee Rogstad Guidera, discusses Virginia’s “All In” Plan as the guiding principle for other improvement strategies moving forward. 

Read Full Article Here: https://thenewsfeednrv.com/2024/12/19/a-glimpse-into-virginia-department-of-educations-2025-plan-approaching-governor-youngkins-term-conclusion/

Post-Election Mental Health Effects of Female Students, Minorities and Gen Z

The NRV Newsfeed Podcast hosts an episode discussing post-election mental health effects on female students, female-identifying people, and minority groups; in light of the Presidential Administration’s promises. Interviewed by Nicole Cummings and Caroline Reed, Dr. Bonnie Zare, of Virginia Tech’s Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies department. Dr. Zare sheds some light on the election results from an analytical perspective.

ReAD FULL ARTICLE HERE: https://thenewsfeednrv.com/2024/11/30/post-election-mental-health-effects-of-female-students-minorities-and-gen-z/

“Red Zone” Violence in The NRV

The red zone of violence is considered a national phenomenon, where a spike in sexual and general violence occurs during the first 6-8 weeks of the school year. Nicole Cummings spoke with the Investigative Lieutenant for the Virginia Tech Police Department about preventative measures taken to ensure safety of students and residents of the area. In addition, Nicole met with Paige-Elizabeth Bik, the Assistant Director of Outreach and Education for the CARES program at Virginia Tech Women’s Center. Bik shed some light on the resources and support provided by the Women’s Center to students at Virginia Tech.

Read the full article here: https://thenewsfeednrv.com/2024/10/09/managingred-zone-violence-in-the-nrv/

Humans of The NRV: International Students

International students seek potential educational opportunities overseas, but most find something far more valuable along the way.

In a paper written by Shaohu Linda Pei and Lu Wendy Yan, international students at Iowa State University, titled, Home Away From Home”? How International Students Handle Difficult and Negative Experiences in American Higher Education, it is noted that, “… in contrast to their domestic counterparts, international students who come to the U.S. with a certain level of confidence and academic preparation may struggle to live and study in this unfamiliar culture with its unfamiliar education system.”

With the prominent struggle of acclimating to an entire new society, international students also face the consistent burden of being away from all family and friends, while striving to reach their highest academic potential.

“That said, some level of discomfort and even sadness is inevitable when an exchange student embarks on an extended trip so far from home,” said Karen Hewell in an article titled, ‘5 Ways to Help Your Student Overcome Homesickness.’

Though many international students are in this same boat, there are a number who find solace in communities within their universities. 

“Meeting people from different countries with a similar background to my own made me feel less alone when entering a new environment with very different responsibilities and expectations, and moving away from my immediate family for the first time,” said Kinga Rolak, an international student from Poland, studying at the University of Leeds.

Many of these students find that the future stemming from the connections they’ve made, is brighter and more fulfilling than any preconceived academically related experience. For some, that makes the journey that much more worthwhile. 

Listen to the full interview here: https://youtu.be/sHO-mroXI7o?si=gfI2VSQZ4aCJ2ZBY

Dr. Pamela Smart-Smith: 20+ Years at Virginia Tech Language an Culture Institute

Dr. Pamela Smart-Smith has worked at the Virginia Tech International Language and Culture Institute since 2012.  In this exclusive interview, Dr. Smith delves into her academic and professional career which includes 20+ years of administration, as well as her knowledge working with and teaching incoming International students at Virginia Tech since the year 2012.

Dr. Smith (whose preferred title is Pamela) has lived in over three countries in her lifetime, which set the foundation for her love of bilingual education. Dr. Smith spent the majority of her life learning, speaking, writing and eventually teaching Spanish as her first language.

Dr. Pamela Smart-Smith has a Bachelor’s in Political Science, a Master’s in public administration from ODU, a Doctorate in curriculum and instruction, as well as a Master’s in Education, with a focus on English as a second language and multicultural education from Virginia Tech. Thank you for joining me today Pamela!!

Listen to the full Interview here: https://soundcloud.com/user-90252904/interview-with-dr-pamela-smart-smith

Virginia Tech and the LGBTQ+ Student Community: The Lavender House

A few months after the one year anniversary of its grand opening, Virginia Tech’s first LGBTQIA+ focused living-learning community (LLC) has left its mark on recent Virginia Tech alumni.

“Lavender House is more than just a place where gays live. It’s about community and unity and learning about each other, [and] feeling like we can be ourselves without judgment,” said Ashanti Freeman, a Spring 2023 Virginia Tech Lavender House alumni. “Between exploring our sexualities and identities freely, to taking a class to understand queer history, Lavender House was created to make a difference,” stated Freeman. 

The Lavender House opened for the first time in August, 2022. According to a 2022 VTx news article written by Kelsey Bartlett, “Lavender House,... is sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, but students of all majors are welcome as residents.” When describing LLCs in the article, Bartlett states, “Virginia Tech LLCs are niche communities that integrate academics into the residential living experience. The benefits of Lavender House are two-fold: providing students with a built-in community from the moment they step foot on campus and affirming that the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals are worthy of academic study.”

When asked if the Lavender House is a valuable asset to students of the LGBTQIA+ community, Ashanti Freeman stated, “I strongly believe that Lavender House is a valuable asset. Not only does it give a safe space for queer individuals to live, but it also gives a space where we can learn and grow and be who we are. Being in this community is not easy, so just feeling like you have a strong support system is a safety that’s important.” 

With Lavender House being such a supposed aid to the LGBTQIA+ student community on campus, it’s a wonder it wasn’t founded earlier on, to give more students the chance to build a support system with their peers. When asked about the extent of knowledge on the Lavender House, Mason Beahr, a queer, third year graduate math Student at Virginia Tech, reflects on a missed opportunity. “I know that they’re a living learning community and I know that they are mainly focused on supporting queer students and faculty to my knowledge. I believe it was founded two to three years ago. It wasn’t here when I started,” said Beahr. 

Moreover, it’s unknown the exact number of students who missed out on the chance to be a part of something as radical as the Lavender House, similar to Beahr. If said students had access to such an opportunity, would this influence their level of comfort expressing themselves? When asked about a chance to go back in time and join the Lavender House, Beahr stated, “I think I would not have for personal reasons. That’s a result of my journey. I don’t think I was in a place to be very queer when I first started college, but I think if I had the option to now as a grad student I think I would.”

Furthermore, the hope for future Virginia Tech LGBTQIA+ students is that there will be even more spaces, resources, and allies that they can utilize to feel like Virginia Tech is truly home. 

Listen to the full interview here: https://soundcloud.com/user-90252904/lgbtqia-interview-charlie-sloop