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Berea College

The Student Service Awards recognize current students for outstanding contributions to our surrounding community and to Berea College. The awards are funded by endowments from donors to Berea College, and the focus of each award was chosen by the donors.

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All nominations are due by 5 p.m., Friday, February 13, 2026.  Strong nominations should include examples of the ways the student meets the criteria of the award.  Students cannot nominate themselves.  Nominated students must be currently enrolled (unless otherwise noted) and be in good standing. 

Please take the time to recognize outstanding students for their contributions to our surrounding community and Berea College.

<a href="https://www.berea.edu/centers/center-for-excellence-in-learning-through-service/student-service-awards/algernon-sydney-sullivan-annual-scholarship-nomination-form">To nominate a student for Algernon Sydney Sullivan Annual Scholarship click here.</a>

<a href="https://www.berea.edu/centers/center-for-excellence-in-learning-through-service/student-service-awards/student-service-awards-nomination-form-2">To nominate a student for any other Service Awards from the list below, please click here</a>.

This award is given annually to the student whose character and life have made an outstanding contribution to the Christian character of Berea College.

The E.R. Brann Good Citizenship Award

This award is given to a student who has accented the value of volunteer work. In doing so, they have improved and enriched the lives of others. This must be done through volunteer service to the community, and not as part of a paid labor position.

The Jane Ann Kendrick Community Service Award

This award was established by the daughters of the Rev. and Mrs. Henry L. Layman, who worked as missionaries in Japan for 35 years. It is awarded each year to the student deemed most likely to make a contribution to international relations and understanding.

The Layman Memorial Scholarship

This award is given to a junior who is an active participant in volunteer service in the college community. Nominations are sought from a recognized campus organization including residence halls and labor departments.

George and Lucille C. McKinney Service Award

This award recognizes campus leadership in interracial understanding. It is given to two students, one African American and one white or non-white. These students must exhibit leadership qualities in the promotion of interracial understanding in all aspects of campus and student life.

Martin Luther and Coretta Scott King Award

This award recognizes two students who have demonstrated exceptional volunteer service during the year. First, second and third year students qualify. Nominations must originate from formal service groups, such as People Who Care and Habitat for Humanity.

Ernest and Emily G. Graham Volunteer Service Award

Given to a full-time enrolled third- or fourth-year student with at least a 3.0 GPA, and a major or minor in education. The recipient must exhibit enthusiastic interest in school and community activities, and an awareness of universal human values.

Dr. Lee E. Wickline Scholarship

Given to as many as four students whose participation in and contributions to service programs or service-learning courses exemplify the selfless characteristics of servant leaders. Recipients must not have reached third-year academic status before the end of the spring term.

Hap and Cay Porter Scholarship Fund

This award is given to a graduating student with a distinguished good citizen record at Berea College.  Third- and fourth-year students and general faculty are invited to nominate a student for this award.

Louise Veltin Memorial Award

Eva Nell Whitaker Alley, ’44 was a vital contributor to Berea’s campus life, who passed away four years after her graduation.  The Eva Nell Whitaker Alley Award Fund was established by her husband George in 1949 to honor her memory.
Criteria:
<ul>
<li>Nominee must be a graduating female (Spring or Summer).</li>
<li>Nominee has exhibited leadership in campus activities.</li>
<li>Nominee has been a vital part of Berea College and has greatly contributed to student and campus life.</li>
<li>Nominations must come from members of the senior class or a member of the faculty or staff.</li>
</ul>

Eva Nell Whitaker Alley Award

History of the awards:
Both the Sullivan Award and the Bardusch Scholarship were created by the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation, based in Oxford, Mississippi. The Sullivan Foundation has supported Berea College since 1937 with grants for student scholarships and social entrepreneurship activities. The Foundation sponsors annual awards on more than 60 college campuses to honor the lives and service of Algernon Sydney Sullivan and his wife, Mary Mildred Sullivan. Via the Sullivan awards, the Foundation wishes to recognize individuals whose nobility of character and dedication to service set them apart as examples for others.
Berea College will choose one graduating senior to receive both the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award and the William E. Bardusch, Jr. Graduate Scholarship. The Sullivan Foundation created the Bardusch Scholarship at Berea to honor both the Foundation’s longtime president, William E. Bardusch, Jr., and the long-standing partnership between the Foundation and Berea College.
Nominations for the recipient of the Sullivan Award and Bardusch Scholarship may come from students, faculty or staff.  Self-nominations will not be accepted.
Criteria:
<ul>
<li>Nominee must be a graduating senior who plans to enroll in graduate school, working toward a master’s or doctorial degree. Students must enroll within two years of graduating from Berea.  The Bardusch Scholarship payment will be made directly to the graduate institution upon the student’s enrollment.</li>
<li>These awards recognize individuals who demonstrate the highest standards of character, integrity, and service to others and to their community. Nominees should be individuals who have consistently shown that they will actively serve the needs of others and their community in a hands-on, personal manner.</li>
<li>If the recipient does not enroll in graduate school within two years of graduating from Berea, they may keep the Sullivan Award but will not receive the Bardusch Scholarship payment.</li>
</ul>

Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, William E. Bardusch, Jr. Graduate Scholarship

Each year Berea College will choose one first-year student to receive the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Annual Scholarship for the duration of their college career up to four years.  This scholarship remembers Algernon Sydney Sullivan, an Indiana lawyer who used his talents and personal wealth to help members of his community.  He and his wife, Mary Mildred, advocated for equality and humanity during and after the Civil War and eventually formed the New York Southern Society.
Criteria:
<ul>
<li>Nominee must be a first-year student who demonstrates exemplary personal character and a commitment to service throughout their college career.  The scholarship payment will be applied to the student’s Tuition Promise Scholarship for the award year and three years following.</li>
<li>The Sullivan Scholarship recognizes individuals who demonstrate the highest standards of character, integrity, and service to others and to their community.  Nominees should be individuals who have consistently shown that they will actively and in a hands-on, personal manner, serve the needs of others and their community.</li>
<li>Sullivan Scholars are encouraged to attend the Sullivan Foundation’s Ignite retreats to further explore their passion for service and social entrepreneurship.  Learn more about these events at https://sullivanfdn.org/events/ .</li>
</ul>
How to submit a nomination:
<ul>
<li>Nominations may come from any member of the campus community, including self-nominations from students.  A complete application package includes a brief written reflection from the student nominee and two letters of recommendation from non-family members.</li>
<li>Student applicants:  Your written reflection should be 500 to 1000 words and describe your contribution to a specific community or society, how this scholarship will assist in your development, and your ongoing commitment to service activities.</li>
<li>Nominators:  Please describe the applicant’s personal character and history of service and commitment to ongoing service activities in your recommendations.</li>
</ul>
To nominate a student for Algernon Sydney Sullivan Annual Scholarship <a href="https://www.berea.edu/centers/center-for-excellence-in-learning-through-service/student-service-awards/algernon-sydney-sullivan-annual-scholarship-nomination-form-2">click here</a>.
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