Regional/National Scholarship Awards

The Entrepreneurship for the Public Good (EPG) program strives to engage students in recognizing the benefits of social enterprises that create positive change. Through the program, students learn about entrepreneurship, leadership and community development and how to use their skills and talents to create a better future for Appalachia and beyond. The following EPG fellows were honored in the 2005-2006 academic year for their achievements in a variety of areas.

At the annual scholarship awards banquet held April 18th, Jessica L. Turner ’07 received the Morris K. Udall Undergraduate Scholarship awarded by the Udall Foundation to undergraduates who will pursue careers relating to the environment. The Udall Foundation awards 80 scholarships of up to $5,000 on the basis of merit to sophomore and junior level students who have demonstrated commitment to careers related to the environment. Turner won the Southeastern Kentucky Concept Challenge in the fall of 2005 with her business concept for HomeGrown Hideaways. Turner is a junior independent major in Sustainable Building Design.

The Phi Kappa Phi Scholar of the Year was awarded to Kaydene Jones ’08 in recognition of high scholastic achievement and campus leadership qualities. Kaydene exemplifies the qualities of the honor society not only from her strong academic record, but her goal to make a long term impact on society.

The Truman Scholarship Foundation is committed to finding and recognizing college juniors with an exceptional leadership potential who are committed to careers in government, the nonprofit or advocacy sectors, education, or elsewhere in public service. Berea College was represented in April of 2006 by Esther White ’07, a regional finalist for the Truman Scholarship. The fellowship is for students who are committed to making a difference through public service and are selected primarily on the basis of leadership potential, commitment to a career in public service, high academic achievement and prospects for continuing academic success.

Two EPG Fellows, Samuel Imagie ’09 and Givenson Piard ’08 were awarded the Henry W. and Edna Austin Scholarship Award. The Austin Scholarship recipients are chosen from the sophomore class and are eligible to become Austin Scholars, a fund established by former State Senator Henry W. and Edna Austin of Oak Park ,Illinois for rewarding academic and personal excellence of Berea College students.

The Midwest Association of Student Employees Association and Berea College Student Employee of the Year was awarded to Esther White ’07 for her work with the Entrepreneurship for the Public Good (EPG) program. Her work in the EPG program exemplifies servant leadership and her passion for service exemplifies the Berea College labor program. Esther’s nomination letter commended her for her commitment to making a difference in the lives of others.

Berea College Wins at the Appalachian IDEAS Network
2nd Annual Social Venture Showcase

Imagine building a regional network of college students, educators and community leaders who work together to develop innovative solutions to problems in Appalachia. As the Appalachian IDEAS Network got down to business at the second annual Social Venture Showcase, that’s exactly what was happening. Several of Berea College’s Entrepreneurship for the Public Good students presented at the competition and earned $1,000 in prize money and 3rd place in the showcase. EPG Fellows Ilyas Assanov ‘07, Jumis Locmelis ‘07, and Esther White ‘07 and former EPG student worker, Chomba Chocho ‘07, presented the award-winning plan. One of the judges commented that the students were truly “professional business consultants” to the Berea Crafts program. Peggy Burgio, Manager for the Berea Crafts Program said, “I am proud of the accomplishments of the students and the impact the students’ work has made and will continue to make on the Berea Crafts Program, continuing a long- standing tradition at Berea College.”

Departmental Awards

At the 2006 Berea College Scholarship Day Academic Awards banquet April 18th, the following EPG Fellows received departmental awards for their work at Berea College:

Carolyn McQueen ’06 was honored with the Nancy Stewart Hindman Award for Excellence in Women’s Studies. This award is presented to a student who demonstrates notable academic achievement in the area of women’s studies.

The Paul Nelson Power Scholarship Award was started by students, friends and family of the theatre department to honor his boundless energy and enthusiasm for theatre. The award provides funds to enable students to pursue learning opportunities and experiences in the performing arts. This year’s award recipient was Shawn Kennedy ’07 who will intern at the Barter Theatre in the summer of 2006.

The Thornton Wilder Award in Playwriting was presented to Nina Yarbrough ’09 by the family of Thornton Wilder for students who demonstrate excellence in the field of playwriting.

The Pugsley Freshman Mathematics Award was presented to Rabecca Hichilo ’09 and Givenson Piard ’08. The award is in memory of former Berea College Professor of Mathematics Donald W. Pugsley and is given to freshmen for excellence in mathematics.