FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 10, 2017

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Glenville State College
Public Relations Department
(304) 462-4115

LENVILLE, WV - Glenville State College's newest Faculty Award of Excellence recipient is Associate Professor of Music Dr. Lloyd Bone. He received the award at the 143rd Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 6.

"Receiving this award is truly an honor. The GSC faculty ranks are full of so many talented people who have been recognized nationally and internationally in their fields. There are so many deserving faculty and I am honored to represent all of them. However, it must be stated that awards like this do not happen in a vacuum. I would never have gotten to this point without the help of so many people. I first must thank my incredible wife of 22 years Susan and my children Casey, Tobias, and Phineas. They have sacrificed hundreds of hours of me being away. They are the ultimate blessing. Also, my previous teachers R. Winston Morris and Timothy Northcut and the fantastic mentorship from colleagues and friends. Also, our students and alumni. I would have never received this award without all of their hard work, care, passion, and love. Lastly, my mother and father who sacrificed so much for me to be in music; I will never be able to thank them enough," Bone stated.

A nomination from a current student called Bone, "the most influential and passionate instructor I have ever had" and noted that he, "loves and supports his students 100%, every day." Another student said, "you will rarely find someone as open, accepting, warm, or inviting as Dr. Bone - he always has something encouraging to say to everyone."

Bone has been a faculty member at GSC since 2004. In addition to his teaching duties, he also directs the Pioneer Wall of Sound Marching Band, the Brass Ensemble, and the Tuba and Euphonium Ensemble. He has published the world's first guide book for the euphonium, led several groups of GSC students around the world to meetings of the International Tuba and Euphonium Conference, and was nominated for a Music Educator Award by the Grammy Foundation®. He completed his Doctor of Musical Arts in Euphonium Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in 2015. Shortly after arriving at GSC, Bone began the GSC Honor Band and Honor Choir Festival which will enter its tenth year this coming spring. The event has become very popular and attracts students from all over West Virginia.

Bone has led the Glenville State College Tuba and Euphonium Ensemble to five straight invitations and performances to the International Tuba and Euphonium Conference. Something that, in the history of the conference, only a small number of schools around the world have accomplished. He also was personally invited as a guest artist to these conferences in 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2013. The Ensemble also performed at the 2007 United States Army Band Tuba and Euphonium Conference in Washington, D.C., the 2013 Midwest Tuba and Euphonium Conference at Illinois State University, as well as several West Virginia state music conferences.

Due largely to his efforts, the GSC Brass Ensemble is invited annually to perform on the busiest shopping day of the year (the Saturday before Christmas) at the Town Center Mall in Charleston. The yearly repeat performances have garnered a popular following from shoppers all over the Charleston region who come out to hear the band perform.

During his years at GSC, Bone has been involved in numerous campus committees and social organizations such as the Music Educators National Conference (now the National Association for Music Education), Baptist Campus Ministry, and as and a Cheerleading advisor. Along with members of the marching band, Bone has been to all home football games and GSC Homecoming Parades over the past 13 years, including when two of his children were born during the week of Homecoming. He directed GSC's Pep Band for seven years, attending numerous men's and women's basketball games. However, according to Bone, his favorite part of being involved is through recruiting for the whole of GSC. "When I go out to speak to a high school band I am talking to potential students for all departments and often much more so than music as most bands usually only have a few students looking to major in music. I love representing the campus in this regard as my fellow faculty are so very easy to brag about with potential students!" he added.

"My favorite thing about teaching at GSC is hands down the students. We have the best students. They are some of the hardest working, determined, and caring individuals I have ever known. What many of them overcome to attain their education is just awe-inspiring. In short, our students are just blessings!" he said.

Each spring, the campus community is invited to nominate an outstanding faculty member for this award. Faculty Award of Excellence recipients must be full-time and have taught at GSC for at least two years to be eligible. Names of the honorees are displayed on a permanent plaque in the Heflin Administration Building.