News

  1. Sep 14, 2026

    Berea College Invites Community to Inaugural One Reunion Mountaineer Fest

    Berea College will host the inaugural Mountaineer Fest – a free outdoor music festival – from 5 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26 at Alumni Fields, located at 225 Scaffold Cane Road in Berea.

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  2. Students on campus at Berea College
    Sep 1, 2026

    Berea College Again Named No. 1 Best College in Washington Monthly’s 2026 College Guide

    BEREA, Ky. – Berea College has once again been named the No. 1 college in the nation in Washington Monthly’s 2026 College Guide and Rankings, earning the top spot among more than 1,400 four-year colleges and universities across the country.

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  3. Berea College Fully Funded degree announcement
    Aug 27, 2026

    Berea College Launches “Financial Freedom Pledge,” Creating a Fully Funded Degree

    Berea College is revolutionizing the economics of higher education through its Financial Freedom Pledge, a bold commitment that will provide every enrolled student with a fully funded degree beginning in Fall 2027. The comprehensive initiative covers 100% of tuition, housing, food, and fees without loans, allowing students to pursue their education without financial barriers.

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  4. New Berea College Visitor Center Opens Aug. 3, Bringing the “Berea Story” to Life
    Events·Jul 27, 2026

    New Berea College Visitor Center Opens Aug. 3, Bringing the “Berea Story” to Life

    Beginning Aug. 3, visitors to Berea College will experience a new gateway to the College’s remarkable story with the opening of the reimagined Berea College Visitor Center in College Square.

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  5. COOPER HEWITT ANNOUNCES 2026 NATIONAL DESIGN AWARD WINNERS
    Jul 16, 2026

    Berea College Student Craft, Woodworking School at Pine Croft, Receive $200,000 in Craft Catalyst Initiative Grants

    Berea College Student Craft and the College’s Woodworking School at Pine Croft have received part of a $10 million grant as part of a partnership between Etsy and the Center for Craft.

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  6. Draper Building Picture from the quad on a sunny day
    Jun 29, 2026

    Berea College Earns Prestigious 5-Star Rating in Money’s 2026-27 Best Colleges Rankings

    Berea College has once again been recognized among the nation’s highest-value colleges, earning a coveted 5-star rating in Money’s 2026-27 Best Colleges rankings. The distinction places Berea among just 42 colleges and universities nationwide to receive Money’s highest rating for delivering exceptional value to students.

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  7. Berea Kids Eat offers free meals for local students under 18 throughout the summer.
    Jun 17, 2026

    Berea Kids Eat offering robust summer meals for Berea children

    Berea Kids Eat will offer another year of robust summer programming and healthy meal opportunities for Berea’s school-aged children, beginning in June.

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  8. Gov. Andy Beshear speaks to Berea College's 2026 graduates.
    May 10, 2026

    Berea College Celebrates 236 Graduates

    May 10, 2026 BEREA, Ky. – Berea College today celebrated the achievements of its graduating class, honoring 236 graduates during its annual baccalaureate and commencement ceremonies. The events brought together students, families, faculty and distinguished guests to recognize the accomplishments of the Class of 2026. The commencement ceremony featured a keynote address from Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.

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  9. Berea College’s Doris Ulmann Galleries has been awarded a highly competitive Collections Grant from the Terra Foundation for American Art, a significant national recognition that will support a robust series of exhibitions and programs during the 2026–27 academic year, aligned with the America250 initiative and the U.S. Semiquincentennial.
    Apr 17, 2026

    Berea College’s Doris Ulmann Galleries Wins National Award

    Berea College’s Doris Ulmann Galleries has been awarded a highly competitive Collections Grant from the Terra Foundation for American Art, a significant national recognition that will support a robust series of exhibitions and programs during the 2026–27 academic year, aligned with the America250 initiative and the U.S. Semiquincentennial.

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  10. Berea College students finished first out of 30 national teams from 29 universities to win the 2026 Econ Games last weekend
    Apr 7, 2026

    Berea Students Win 2026 Econ Games

    April 7, 2027 BEREA, Ky. – Berea College students finished first out of 30 national teams from 29 universities to win the 2026 Econ Games last weekend. Not only is this Berea’s first win – it’s the first time they have advanced to the final round. “Our students showed incredible persistence and growth, and very

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  11. Judge rules in favor of Berea College
    Apr 2, 2026

    Judge Rules in Favor of Berea College, Strikes Down Eminent Domain Lawsuit

    BEREA, Ky. – A judge today ruled in favor of Berea College, striking down an eminent domain lawsuit brought by East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC) that would have allowed the company to seize a portion of the Berea College Forest to construct a high-voltage electric transmission line.

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  12. Berea College will host a free three-event celebration of The Bucolics Project – a musical collaboration between Kentucky poet Maurice Manning and Vermont composer Brendan Taaffe – on campus in late April. 
    Mar 30, 2026

    Three-event Berea College Celebration Highlights Kentucky Poet’s “Bucolics” Collection

    Berea College will host a free three-event celebration of The Bucolics Project – a musical collaboration between Kentucky poet Maurice Manning and Vermont composer Brendan Taaffe – on campus in late April.

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  13. Kentucky Shakespeare will present The Tempest Saturday, April 19 at the Pinnacles Ampitheater
    Mar 23, 2026

    Kentucky Shakespeare’s The Tempest to be Performed Free at the Pinnacles Amphitheater

    The City of Berea and Berea College are partnering to bring Kentucky Shakespeare’s Shakespeare in the Parks tour to the Pinnacles Amphitheater from 5-8 p.m. on Saturday, April 18.

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  14. The Berea College Visitor Center will undergo a major transformation designed to immerse guests in the “Berea Story,” offering a deeper connection to the College’s mission when it reopens in summer 2026
    Mar 9, 2026

    Berea College to Open Visitor Center Showcasing the “Berea Story”

    New space in College Square will offer immersive displays, craft demonstrations and an educational experience highlighting the College’s mission, values and history. March 10, 2026 BEREA, Ky. – The Berea College Visitor Center will undergo a major transformation designed to immerse guests in the “Berea Story,” offering a deeper connection to the College’s mission when

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  15. Draper cupola in the sunset.
    Mar 3, 2026

    Berea College, City of Berea Partnering to Support Walmart’s Desire to Remain in Berea

    Responding to Walmart’s desire to stay in Berea and upgrade its current facilities, the City of Berea and Berea College are making land located near Exit 77 available to Walmart so the company can build a new store and remain in the community.

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  16. COOPER HEWITT ANNOUNCES 2026 NATIONAL DESIGN AWARD WINNERS
    Feb 25, 2026

    Berea College One of Cooper Hewitt’s 2026 National Design Award Winners

    Berea College is the first educational institution to win a National Design Award in the Product Design category February 25, 2026 Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum announced today the winners of the 2026 National Design Awards. Launched in 2000 as an official project of the White House Millennium Council, the National Design Awards celebrate excellence and

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  17. Berea College Hutchins Library’s Special Collections and Archives (SCA) is opening its stacks and inviting the public to a month-long exploration of its vast Black history archives.
    Feb 6, 2026

    Hutchins Library Invites Community to Explore Berea’s Black Heritage

    BEREA, Ky. – As the nation marks the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, Berea College Hutchins Library’s Special Collections and Archives (SCA) is opening its stacks and inviting the public to a month-long exploration of its vast Black history archives.

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  18. Empty Bowls is one of many CELTS community service events.
    Jan 28, 2026

    Berea College Earns 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification; Strengthens Ties with Local and Regional Partners

    BEREA, Ky. – Berea College has once again been selected for the 2026 Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement, a prestigious national designation recognizing the College’s sustained excellence in community partnerships, public scholarship and regional impact. Berea is one of just 237 institutions nationwide to receive this classification, joining a select group of colleges and universities

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  19. Collison Robinson
    Jan 16, 2026

    Berea College Dean of Labor Named as New Leadership Academy Fellow

    BEREA, Ky. – Berea College Dean of Labor Collis Robinson has been selected as a New Leadership Academy (NLA) Fellow. The New Leadership Academy is a nationally recognized American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U)-housed leadership development program focused on applied leadership practice, coaching and research-informed approaches to leading change in higher education. The fellowship

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  20. A photo of a very green campus with four students walking away from the camera, with their faces facing it, towards a brick building.
    Jan 14, 2026

    Berea College Invited to Join Associated Colleges of the South

    January 14, 2025 BEREA, Ky. – Berea College has been invited to join the Associated Colleges of the South (ACS), a consortium of leading private liberal arts institutions across the Southern states. This is the first time a new member institution has been added to ACS in more than 25 years. This partnership connects Berea College

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  21. Jan 14, 2026

    Berea College’s Brushy Fork Leadership Institute Launches Initiative to Strengthen Central Appalachia’s Nonprofit Ecosystem

    January 14, 2025 BEREA, Ky. – Berea College, through its Brushy Fork Leadership Institute, has announced the launch of the Strengthening Central Appalachia’s Nonprofit Ecosystem project, funded in part by a $390,410 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission’s READY Grants to Grow (G2G) program. This three-year initiative aims to build capacity for nonprofits serving economically distressed communities across

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  22. Dec 16, 2025

    Forbes Magazine names Berea College a Top U.S. College for New Graduates to Launch Careers

    Berea, KY – Berea College has been recognized by Forbes Magazine as one of the top 15 colleges in the United States for new graduates to successfully launch their careers, highlighting the College’s unique educational model and commitment to career readiness.

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  23. Dec 11, 2025

    Berea College recognizes 57 students at Mid-Year Ceremony

    Berea College recognized 57 students Sunday during its Mid-Year Recognition Ceremony.

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  24. “Most of us at Student Craft have long believed that Boone Tavern could tell a story that was more authentic to what Berea College is today and who its students are,” said Aaron Beale, associate vice president of Berea College Student Craft. “So, when we were given just the slightest bit of daylight, we ran with it.”
    Dec 10, 2025

    Crafted at Boone Tavern features projects created by Berea College Student Craft

    “Most of us at Student Craft have long believed that Boone Tavern could tell a story that was more authentic to what Berea College is today and who its students are,” said Aaron Beale, associate vice president of Berea College Student Craft. “So, when we were given just the slightest bit of daylight, we ran with it.”

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  25. Celebration of Traditional Music
    Oct 3, 2025

    Berea College Celebration of Traditional Music offers music, activities and more

    BEREA, Ky. – The 52nd annual Berea College Celebration of Traditional Music (CTM) – a celebration of homemade music as passed on from person to person in Appalachia – will take place Oct. 9-12 on the Berea College campus. Performers include The Ebony Hillbillies, masters of black string-band music and blues, who will perform at 6:30

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  26. A broom bench designed by Berea alum Katie Bister, has been selected for inclusion as part of the Renwick Gallery’s State Fairs: Growing American Craft exhibition Aug. 22-Sept. 7 at the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery in Washington, D.C.
    Aug 28, 2025

    “Many Bristles, One Brush” Benches on Display at the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery in D.C.

    August 28, 2025 BEREA, Ky. – A broom bench designed by Berea alum Katie Bister, has been selected for inclusion as part of the Renwick Gallery’s State Fairs: Growing American Craft exhibition Aug. 22-Sept. 7 at the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery in Washington, D.C. Katie, who also serves as manager of Berea College Student Craft’s

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  27. Aug 25, 2025

    Berea College Named No. 1 Best College in Washington Monthly’s 2025 College Guide

    Released today, Washington Monthly has updated its ranking system this year “to provide an even clearer picture of how individual colleges are performing – and to take account of new realities facing higher education.” The rankings “measure how much [colleges] help ordinary middle- and working-class students get ahead, encourage…service, and…drive economic growth.”

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  28. Pinnacle Knob in Berea, Ky
    Aug 21, 2025

    Berea College Opposes Proposed Transmission Line Across College Forest

    Berea College announced today that it has filed its response to an eminent domain lawsuit brought by East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC), which seeks to seize a portion of the Berea College Forest to construct a high-voltage electric transmission line serving Madison County and surrounding areas.

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  29. Students walking by the Berea College sign on campus.
    Aug 21, 2025

    Berea College Welcomes Fall 2025 Incoming Class

    Commitment to access and opportunity continues August 20, 2025 By Sean Hall BEREA, Ky. – More than 1,500 students returned to the Berea College campus today for the beginning of the 2025-26 academic year. Founded in 1855 as the South’s first interracial and coeducational college, Berea College is guided by Rev. John G. Fee’s vision

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  30. Anglin Falls will close temporarily for restoration.
    Aug 20, 2025

    Anglin Falls Area Closed for Restoration

    Berea College Forestry Outreach Center Opens Four New Hiking Trails August 20, 2025 BEREA, Ky. – Berea College today announced that the John B. Stephenson Memorial Forest Nature Preserve, commonly known as Anglin Falls, will close temporarily for restoration. The preserve, named after the former Berea College President, is a 123-acre wooded tract that includes

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  31. The Historic Boone Tavern Hotel & Restaurant, a beloved landmark on Berea College’s campus since 1909, is celebrating the grand reopening of its signature dining room, now rebranded “Crafted at Boone Tavern.”
    Jul 17, 2025

    Boone Tavern Unveils “Crafted”: A reimagined dining room and bar, honoring heritage, embracing modernity

    July 17, 2025 BEREA, Ky. – The Historic Boone Tavern Hotel & Restaurant, a beloved landmark on Berea College’s campus since 1909, is celebrating the grand reopening of its signature dining room, now rebranded “Crafted at Boone Tavern.” The name “Crafted” marries the concept of new, often locally sourced menu items – including bar food

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  32. It’s a unique object created by Berea College Student Craft in collaboration with internationally known designer Stephen Burks. A large sphere made of approximately 1,500 pieces of broomcorn, sometimes dyed in a variety of colors, the piece is meant to celebrate the creative power of the Berea College student. It’s a piece of art called “Broom Thing.”
    Jul 8, 2025

    “Broom Thing” sweeps across borders as a symbol of Berea’s Craft legacy and global reach

    July 2, 2025 BEREA, KY. – It’s a unique object created by Berea College Student Craft in collaboration with internationally known designer Stephen Burks. A large sphere made of approximately 1,500 pieces of broomcorn, sometimes dyed in a variety of colors, the piece is meant to celebrate the creative power of the Berea College student.

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  33. Berea Kids Eat offers free meals for local students under 18 throughout the summer.
    Jun 25, 2025

    Berea Kids Eat offers free, healthy summer meals to community youths

    Berea Kids Eat, a program facilitated by Grow Appalachia, is offering families multiple opportunities this summer to obtain free, healthy meals for their school-aged children. The program offers mobile routes with parent pickup locations as well as on-site programming at locations around Berea.

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  34. Jun 9, 2025

    Berea College’s Janis Ian Public Exhibit Closing August 22

    Janis Ian fans have until Friday, August 22, to visit “Breaking Silence: The Janis Ian Archives,” an exhibit showcasing the singer-songwriter-storyteller’s personal life, professional accomplishments and the causes that move her.

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  35. Berea College President Cheryl Nixon and the City of Berea Mayor Bruce Fraley have renewed a long-standing collaboration allowing the city to continue using certain College property—at no charge—for community parks.
    May 23, 2025

    Berea College renews long-standing collaboration with City of Berea

    Berea College and the City of Berea have renewed a long-standing collaboration allowing the city to continue using certain College property—at no charge—for community parks.

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  36. Berea College logo
    May 20, 2025

    Berea College Board of Trustees elects five new members

    The Berea College Board of Trustees has elected Joe Bagnoli, Adam Edelen, Donna Fick, Talina Mathews and Celeste Armstrong as members, each to serve six-year terms beginning immediately.

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  37. Berea College celebrated 219 graduates at this past weekend's graduation, including a number of first generation graduates.
    May 5, 2025

    Berea College celebrates 219 graduates at May commencement

    May 5, 2025 BEREA, Ky. – Berea College celebrated 219 graduates this past weekend at the 2025 commencement ceremony. The Class of 2025 includes students from 21 states and 28 countries, covering 32 different majors and 28 different minors. The class also includes 103 first-generation college graduates. “As you step forward into the world, take

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  38. Funded using a combination of philanthropic support, capital reserve funds and financing, the CMIT Building brings together computer science, digital media and information technology to send well-educated students into these in-demand fields to continue to develop the Commonwealth and Appalachia.
    Apr 25, 2025

    Berea College celebrates opening of new, high-tech building to educate students in high-demand fields

    After years of evaluation, planning, fundraising and construction, Berea College is celebrating the opening of its newest facility, the CMIT Building.

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  39. Berea College Concert Choir
    Apr 7, 2025

    Berea College Concert Choir to perform

    April 7, 2025 By Brooke DonleyBerea College BEREA, Ky.- The Berea College Concert Choir will perform at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 10, in Presser Hall’s Gray Auditorium, located at 170 Chestnut Street on the Berea College campus. The spring concert is titled “Hold Fast to Dreams” from Langston Hughes’ poem. The Berea College Concert

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  40. Apr 7, 2025

    Berea College appoints Shewanee Howard-Baptiste as new provost and vice president for academic affairs

    BEREA, Ky. – Berea College President Cheryl Nixon announced the appointment of Shewanee Howard-Baptiste, Ph.D., as the College’s new provost and vice president for academic affairs, effective July 7, 2025. Howard-Baptiste brings more than two decades of experience in higher education to Berea College, along with a deep commitment to academic excellence, student success and innovative academic leadership.

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  41. Mar 26, 2025

    Black Music Ensemble to perform “Hold to His Hand” Friday

    March 26, 2025 By Brooke DonleyBerea College BEREA, Ky.—The Berea College Black Music Ensemble (BME) will perform at 7 p.m. Friday, March 28 in Presser Hall’s Gray Auditorium. The performance titled “Hold to His Hand” aims to inspire the audience to hold onto hope. The selections highlight the African American diaspora from classics to contemporary.

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  42. Granny Squares
    Mar 12, 2025

    Appalachian Center, Doris Ulmamnn Galleries hosting Granny Squares Workshop

    March 12, 2025 By Brooke Donley BEREA, Ky. – The Loyal Jones Appalachian Center (LJAC) and the Doris Ulmann Galleries will host a Granny Squares and Crochet Applique Workshop on Friday, March 14 at 3 p.m. in the Lower Traylor Gallery of the Rogers-Traylor Art Building on campus. This event will mark the end of

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  43. Mar 12, 2025

    Loyal Jones Appalachian Center hosting Dinner on the Grounds

    March 12, 2025 By Brooke Donley BEREA, Ky. – The Loyal Jones Appalachian Center (LJAC) will host a Dinner on the Grounds on March 19 at 5:45 p.m. exploring The Prison Industrial Complex in Appalachia. This dinner will feature Judah Schept and Sylvia Ryerson, who have extensively studied incarceration in the Appalachian region. Schept is

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  44. Feb 25, 2025

    “Southern Queen” Lama Rod Owens to speak at Convocation

    February 24, 2005 By Brooke Donley BEREA, Ky. – Best-selling author, Buddhist minister, spiritual abolitionist and self-described ‘Southern Queen’ Lama Rod Owens will speak at Berea College Convocation at 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, as part of the College’s Convocation series. During the past 11 years, Owens has worked to become an active voice in a new

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  45. Sam Cole is one of the recipients of the 2025 Appalachian Foodways Practitioner Fellowships awards. Sam holds a Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Appalachian literature from Berea College.
    Feb 18, 2025

    Grow Appalachia announces 2025 Appalachian Foodways Practitioner Fellows

    February 18, 2025 BEREA, Ky. – Grow Appalachia, a Strategic Initiative of Berea College, is honored to announce four regional foodways practitioners selected as 2025 Appalachian Foodways Practitioner Fellows. The program is designed to honor, celebrate and support foodways tradition bearers in central Appalachia who have made significant and long-term contributions to sustaining and supporting the foodways heritage of

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  46. Small Time Napoleon
    Feb 10, 2025

    Small Time Napoleon to perform at Berea College

    February 10, 2025 By Brooke Donley Berea College BEREA, Ky. – Small Time Napoleon, a band who calls themselves “a combination of new ideas and old sounds,” will perform at 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, at Berea College. This convocation is free and open to the public. According to their website, the band’s “interest in

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  47. Brian Ramsay
    Jan 24, 2025

    Berea College students withdraw union petition

    BEREA, Ky. – The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has notified Berea College that the United Student Workers of Berea–Communications Workers of America has voluntarily withdrawn its petition for a union election. This brings the current NLRB process to a close. The petition was withdrawn while the NLRB was still considering whether an election was appropriate under

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  48. Dec 10, 2024

    Berea College recognized 98 students during Mid-Year Ceremony

    December 10, 2024 BEREA, Ky. – Berea College recognized 98 students Sunday during its Mid-Year Recognition Ceremony. Vivian Hairston Blade, a member of Berea College’s class of 1985 and a highly regarded leadership expert and Certified Speaking Professional with a passion for helping organizations and individuals thrive in the ever-changing world of work, spoke at

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  49. Nov 25, 2024

    Berea College Hosts Annual Celebration of Christmas

    November 25, 2024 BEREA, Ky. – Berea College’s Music Department and The Willis D. Weatherford Jr. Campus Christian Center (CCC) will present “A Celebration of Christmas,” the annual Christmas concert, on Friday, Dec. 6, and Saturday, Dec. 7, at Union Church. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. on both nights. “A Celebration of Christmas” welcomes

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  50. Gretchen Dykstra book cover
    Oct 14, 2024

    Gretchen Dykstra, author of newly released book exploring the contemporary mission of Berea College, to speak at College convocation

    August 14, 2024 By Brooke Donley Berea College BEREA, Ky. – Author Gretchen Dykstra will speak at Berea College Thursday, Oct. 17 as part of the College’s weekly convocation series. Dykstra’s recently released book, Lessons from the Foothills: Berea College and its Unique Role in America, looks at the contemporary mission of the College through the

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  51. Picture of CTM logo
    Oct 7, 2024

    51st annual Celebration of Traditional Music bringing a variety of performers to Berea

    October 7, 202 BEREA, Ky. – The 51st annual Celebration of Traditional Music (CTM)—a series of workshops, performances and activities celebrating the history of Appalachian music—will take place Oct. 10-13 on the Berea College campus. The CTM will kick off on Thursday, Oct. 10 with a Stephenson Memorial Concert featuring Grammy-nominated American roots musician Guy Davis.

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  52. Sep 25, 2024

    Future re-opening of bell hooks Institute at Berea College announced in celebration of bell’s birthday

    September 25, 2024 BEREA, KY. – Sept. 25 is a very important day on the Berea College campus–it’s the birthday of our beloved bell hooks. Dr. bell hooks, born Gloria Jean Watkins in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, was one of the foremost cultural critics and feminist thinkers and writers the world has known. During her career, she

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  53. Berea College campus aerial fall
    Sep 12, 2024

    Washington Monthly names Berea College No. 1 Best Liberal Arts College, No. 1 Best Bang for the Buck in the South

    September 12, 2024 BEREA, Ky. – Washington Monthly has ranked Berea College the top liberal arts college in the nation in its 2024 College Guide and Rankings, up one spot from the 2023 rankings. Berea College retained its ranking as the No. 1 Best Bang for the Buck College in the South in this year’s guide. Additional

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  54. Sep 11, 2024

    Berea College to host world-renowned pianist Zhu Wang as the first Stephenson Memorial Concert of the school year

    September 11, 2024 By Brooke Donley BEREA, Ky. – Award-winning pianist Zhu Wang will perform at Berea College Sept. 12 as part of Berea College’s Stephenson Memorial Concert Series. The show will be at 8 p.m. in Berea College’s Phelps Stokes Chapel and is free and open to the public. Praised by the New York

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  55. Draper cupola in the sunset.
    Aug 26, 2024

    Berea College taking steps to make education even more affordable for students

    August 26, 2024 BEREA, Ky. – Berea College is continuing its work to make college more affordable by funding individual course fees for the 2024-25 academic year. Thanks to a generous donor, all course-specific fees for students—which can run between $10 and $150 for some courses—are being covered. This course fee support strengthens Berea College’s

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  56. Janis Ian
    Aug 19, 2024

    “Breaking Silence” four-day event to celebrate opening of Janis Ian Archives

    Schedule of events, as well as VIP and concert tickets, now available August 19, 2024 BEREA, Ky. – A tribute concert featuring the works of multiple GRAMMY Award-winning artist Janis Ian will highlight a four-day celebration marking the opening of the singer-songwriter’s personal archives at Berea College. More than a dozen activities are scheduled on the

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  57. Jul 25, 2024

    Berea College student wins Emmy Award

    July 25, 2024 BEREA, Ky. – A Berea College student from Whitesburg, Kentucky, won an Emmy Award during last weekend’s National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) Ohio Valley Chapter Awards celebration. Senior Sean Hall won in the “Diversity/Equity/Inclusion—Short or Long-Form Content” category for a film he assisted in producing titled “Visit Ashland—C.B. Nuckolls Community

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  58. Berea College sign on campus in the spring
    Jun 25, 2024

    For the second consecutive year, Berea College receives Kentucky’s only Five-Star Rating by Money Magazine

    June 26, 2024 BEREA, Ky. – For the second consecutive year, Berea College is the only Kentucky college to receive a Five-Star Rating by Money Magazine in the magazine’s 2024 Best Colleges list. Now in its 10th year, Money’s analysis showcases the country’s top colleges based on graduation rates, cost of attendance, financial aid, alumni salaries and

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  59. Rendering of the new building that will replace the Edwards Building.
    Jun 24, 2024

    Berea College begins construction on new building to replace Edwards Building

    BEREA, Ky. – Work is scheduled to begin this week on a new building that will replace the Edwards Building on Berea College’s campus, located near the corner of Main Street and Estill Street. The original building, dedicated in 1902, was demolished in July of 2023 when officials determined that the existing building had structural

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  60. Association for Teaching Black History in Kentucky, housed at Berea College, names new executive director
    Jun 18, 2024

    Association for Teaching Black History in Kentucky, housed at Berea College, names new executive director

    June 18, 2024 BEREA, Ky. – The Association for Teaching Black History in Kentucky—constituted by Berea College, Kentucky State University, the Muhammad Ali Center and History Resources, LLC—has named Shaniqua Robinson as its new executive director. A native of Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, Robinson most recently served as the field placement coordinator at Berea College, where

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  61. Elvin Combs Fieldhouse
    May 28, 2024

    Berea College Athletics Dedicates Elvin Combs Fieldhouse 

    Elvin Combs, a 41-year equipment manager at Berea College, is remembered by one former student for a unique reasonhis need for a very large pair of tennis shoes. “He had to find a large enough shoe for me to play basketball in—and somehow he did,” said Berea College Trustee Vance Blade, a 1983 Berea College

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  62. May 6, 2024

    Berea College celebrates 186 graduates at 2024 commencement

    BEREA, Ky. – Berea College celebrated 186 graduates this past weekend at the 2024 commencement ceremony. These graduates represent 33 states and 20 countries. The celebration was the first end-of-year graduation for President Cheryl Nixon, who joined Berea College in July 2023. “Since coming to Berea College, I’ve been told that the best days on

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  63. Apr 30, 2024

    Berea College to Host Chairmaker Event

    BEREA, Ky. – Appalachian chairmakers from across the country will be at Berea College on June 2 for a hands-on event taking a deep dive into the art of chairmaking. Each of the 13 chairmakers are represented in the first book by Andy Glenn, former director of Berea College’s Woodcraft program and the Woodworking School

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  64. Apr 5, 2024

    Cornbread and Tortillas to Perform at Berea College

    April 5, 2024 By Paula Keshderian BEREA, Ky. – A collective of Appalachian and Latino artists from Kentucky Cornbread and Tortillas will perform on April 11 during Berea College’s weekly convocations. “Cornbread and Tortillas” combines music, theatre, dance and storytelling to build a community and create unity in this diverse world. The signature show, “Cornbread

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  65. Apr 3, 2024

    Master Kora player to perform at Berea College

    April 3, 2024 By Paula Keshderian BEREA, Ky. – West African kora player Yacouba Sissoko will visit the Berea College campus on April 4 for a Stephenson Memorial Concert. According to his website, Yacouba Sissoko was born into a musical family in Kita, Mali. His mother Oumou Tounkara and his grandmother Bintouba Diabate were both

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  66. Mar 21, 2024

    American Artist Robert Shetterly to present at Berea College Convocation

    March 21, 2024 By Paula Keshderian BEREA, Ky. – Visual artist, social activist and writer Robert Shetterly will present at the Berea College weekly convocations on Thursday, March 28 at Phelps Stokes Chapel. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and based in Brooksville, Maine, Shetterly started with an English Literature degree from Harvard. After taking courses in

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  67. Mar 15, 2024

    Kristin Smith and Ouita Michel receive Berea College Service Award

    March 15, 2024 By Paula Keshderian BEREA, Ky. – Award-winning Kentucky chefs and restaurant owners Kristin Smith and Ouita Michel will be presented with 2024 Berea College Service awards on March 21 during the college’s annual Service Convocation, sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Learning through Service (CELTS). The convocation begins at 3 p.m.

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  68. Berea Radio student Ceara Young (26)
    Mar 13, 2024

    Berea College Radio awarded low-power FM license by the FCC

    March 13, 2024 By Michael Harbin III BEREA, Ky. – Berea College Radio will soon be available on FM 91.7, thanks to a low-power FM license recently awarded by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The license will allow Berea College to build an FM radio station by constructing an antenna and connecting it to a

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  69. Mar 1, 2024

    International Violinist Benjamin Baker to perform at Berea College convocation

    March 1, 2024 By Paula Keshderian BEREA, Ky. – New Zealand violinist Benjamin Baker will visit the Berea College campus on March 14 for the second Spring 2024 Stephenson Memorial Concert. At the age of 8, Baker was awarded a scholarship to attend the Yehudi Menuhin School in England. He later continued his education at

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  70. Berea College logo
    Feb 26, 2024

    Celebrating Berea’s Labor Day

    Berea, Kentucky – On February 27, 2024, Berea College will pause its regular activities to celebrate its annual on-campus Labor Day. This day-long event is dedicated to recognizing and honoring the invaluable contributions of students to the campus work community while providing them with a day of unique opportunities for professional growth and development. Labor Day,

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  71. Feb 23, 2024

    Comedian Ahamed Weinberg to perform at Berea College

    February 23, 2024 By Paula Keshderian BEREA, Ky. – Comedian, writer, director and producer Ahamed Weinberg will perform at Berea College on Thursday, Feb. 29 as part of the College’s weekly convocations. The event is co-sponsored by the bell hooks center. Originally from Philadelphia, Weinberg is a Los Angeles-based stand-up comedian who made his late-night

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  72. Feb 16, 2024

    Rev. Dr. LeSette M. Wright to speak at Berea College convocation

    February 16, 2024 By Paula Keshderian BEREA, Ky. – Chaplain, author, professor, public health advisor and mental health clinician Rev. Dr. LeSette M. Wright will present the Berea College Robbins Peace Lecture entitled “Peaceseekers: Lessons Learned from Spiritual Care with Survivors of Murder Victims” on Thursday, Feb. 22 during the college’s weekly convocation sponsored by

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  73. Feb 14, 2024

    Flamenco Louisville to perform at Berea College

    February 14, 2024 By Paula Keshderian Berea, Ky. – Berea College will welcome Flamenco Louisville to campus on Feb. 15 as part of the College’s Stephenson Memorial Concert Convocation Series. Flamenco Louisville is the oldest flamenco organization in the area. With a group of talented teachers, musicians and Spanish-trained dancers, they perform authentic flamenco in

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  74. Feb 6, 2024

    “Friday Finds” offers public a look at the Saint John’s Bible

    February 6, 2024 By Paula Keshderian BEREA, Ky. – Berea College’s Special Collections and Archives and the Campus Christian Center is offering the public a closer look at the Heritage Edition of the Saint John’s Bible, which became a permanent addition to Berea College’s religious book collection in 2016. The program is part of the

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  75. Feb 5, 2024

    Charles Booker to speak at Berea College convocation

    February 5, 2024 By Paula Keshderian BEREA, Ky. – Kentuckian Charles Booker will present Berea College’s Appalachian Lecture Thursday, at one of the College’s weekly convocations co-sponsored by the Loyal Jones Appalachian Center. The convocation begins at 3 p.m. in Phelps Stokes Chapel. Booker will reflect on the impact of racial, economic and political divisions in

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  76. Jan 23, 2024

    Culture Writer Evette Dionne to speak at Berea College Convocation 

    January 22, 2024 By Paula Keshderian BEREA, Ky. – Writer, journalist, pop culture critic and editor Evette Dionne will speak at Berea College on Thursday, Feb. 1, as part of the Carter G. Woodson Memorial Convocation. The convocation begins at 3 p.m. in Phelps Stokes Chapel. During her talk, Dionne will look at the history

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  77. Association for Teaching Black History in Kentucky
    Jan 9, 2024

    Association for Teaching Black History in Kentucky hosting free teacher professional development workshop

    BEREA, Ky. –The Association for Teaching Black History in Kentucky (ATBHK) will host a free teacher professional development workshop on Monday, featuring keynote speaker Karyn Parsons. Parsons is an actress, children’s book author and founder of Sweet Blackberry. The free workshop will be Monday, Jan. 15 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Muhammad

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  78. Dec 12, 2023

     Berea College Celebrates 77 Graduates at Mid-Year Ceremony

    December 12, 2023 By Paula Keshderian BEREA, Ky. – Berea College recognized 77 students Sunday during its Mid-Year Recognition Ceremony. Berea alum Dr. Betty Hyatt Olinger addressed the students, who represented 21 states and three different countries. Dr. Olinger began her career as a nurse after graduating from Berea College in 1969, taking her first

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  79. Nov 29, 2023

    Berea College Farm Store Celebrating 10th Anniversary

    November 29, 2023 By Paula Keshderian BEREA, Ky. – The Berea College Farm Store is celebrating 10 years of offering students and community members the opportunity to purchase locally grown food while supporting the College, its students and its mission. The store is open year-round, offering a daily lunch menu provided by students using fresh,

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  80. Nov 16, 2023

    Registration now open for spring classes at the Berea College Woodworking School at Pinecroft

    BEREA, Ky. – Berea College’s Woodworking School at Pine Croft is ready for a busy start to the new year. Classes start in February with the school’s newly appointed director, Rob Spiece along with guest instructors from around the country.

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  81. fubuki-daiko
    Nov 7, 2023

    Japanese American Taiko group to perform at Berea College

    November 7, 2023 By Paula Keshderian BEREA, Ky. – Berea College will welcome Japanese Canadian group Fubuki Daiko to campus on Nov. 9 as the third and final musical guest of the Stephenson Memorial Concert Series. Fubuki Daiko, meaning Blizzard Drums, is a professional Japanese taiko group founded in Winnipeg, Canada in 1995. Three of

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  82. Wood working student in Student Craft shaping wood for a basket
    Oct 24, 2023

    Berea College Student Craft Exhibit on Display at University of Wisconsin-Madison

    November 1, 2023 By Paula Keshderian BEREA, Ky. – Heart, Head and Hand: Making and Remaking at Berea College Student Craft, an exhibit tracing the evolution of Berea College Student Craft’s 150-year history, will be on display at Ruth Davis Design Gallery of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Center for Design and Material Culture (CDMC) beginning

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  83. McClain Family Band
    Oct 10, 2023

    Celebration of Traditional Music to Honor McClain Family Band

    October 10, 2023 By Jodi Whitaker BEREA, Ky. – Berea College will present a lifetime achievement award to the McLain Family Band during the 50th annual Celebration of Traditional Music, taking place Oct. 12-15 on the Berea College campus. This year’s event will celebrate a half-century of homemade music passed on from person to person

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  84. Loyal Jones
    Oct 10, 2023

    Berea College Statement on the Death of Appalachian Studies Pioneer Loyal Jones

    Berea College mourns the loss of our beloved Loyal Jones, a prolific writer and one of the foremost experts on Appalachian life and culture. Jones, a 1954 graduate of Berea College, died at his North Carolina home on Saturday, October 7. He was 95.

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  85. Jessie Reasor Zander
    Oct 10, 2023

    Berea College Statement on the Death of Jessie Reasor Zander, the State’s First Black Graduate Post-Day Law

    The Berea College community is saddened by the passing of Jessie Reasor Zander, whose 1954 graduation from Berea made her the first African American student to earn a degree from a Kentucky college after the state’s Day Law was amended to allow interracial education.

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  86. Sep 20, 2023

    The Wall Street Journal Names Berea College Kentucky’s Top College Offering the Best Value

    September 20, 2023 By Jodi Whitakaer BEREA, Ky. – Berea College offers the best value of any of Kentucky’s universities, and is ranked No. 20 overall in the U.S., according to the new Wall Street Journal/College Pulse college rankings. The rankings look at colleges that not only keep costs low, but also put graduates on

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  87. Sep 12, 2023

    Jordanian musical virtuoso, Farah Siraj, performs at Berea College

    BEREA, Ky. – Widely known as Jordan’s “Musical Ambassadress,” Farah Siraj will be performing for Fall 2023’s Stephenson Memorial Concert series on Thursday, September 14. Siraj started singing as early as three years old. “I used to perform to my mother and grandmother in the living room,” admits Siraj. “Music chose me, I did not

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  88. Sep 12, 2023

    Discover the Poetry and Art of Puerto Rico with Friday Finds

    September 12, 2023 By Paula Keshderian This year Berea College’s Special Collections and Archives will honor Hispanic Heritage Month 2023 with an exhibition of Manuel Joglar Cacho’s 14-stanza poem, “Por Los Caminos del Día” (Along the Paths of the Day”) in Hutchins Library foyer gallery. Joglar Cacho (1898–1994) was a celebrated Puerto Rican poet whose

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  89. Brick college building on Berea campus during spring with students sitting on the green lawn.
    Sep 1, 2023

    Washington Monthly names Berea College No. 2 Best Liberal Arts College, No. 1 in Social Mobility

    September 1, 2023 BEREA, Ky. – Washington Monthly magazine has ranked Berea College the No. 2 liberal arts college in the nation in its 2023 College Guide and Rankings, up three spots from the 2022 rankings. Berea College retained its ranking as the No. 1 Best Bang for the Buck College in the South in

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  90. One Community. One Circle. One Blood. Convocation header surrounded by pictures of students, staff, faculty and alumni.
    Aug 29, 2023

    President Nixon to Celebrate Community at First Opening Convocation

    Aug. 29, 2023 BEREA, Ky. – Berea College’s 10th and newly appointed President, Dr. Cheryl Nixon, will welcome Berea College students, staff and faculty members on August 31 during the annual Opening Convocations ceremony. Since she took office on July 1, President Nixon has shown the Berea College campus her passion for bringing all peoples of

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  91. Giving Day logo Berea College
    Aug 28, 2023

    Berea College Giving Day is Aug. 31

    BEREA, Ky. – Berea College’s annual Giving Day is Thursday, Aug. 31. Giving Day generates support for Berea’s students with contributions coming from donors locally, regionally and nationally. Berea College’s mission is to provide opportunity for students of all races, primarily from Appalachia, who have great promise and limited economic resources. Because no Berea College student pays

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  92. Aug 15, 2023

    Berea College Education Studies Department Adds Two New Members

    BEREA, Ky. – The Berea College Education Studies Department has added two new members to its staff in advance of the 2023-24 academic year. Dr. Keesha Greer-Effs has joined Berea College as a visiting assistant professor of special education in the Education Studies Department. In her 17 years as a classroom practitioner, Dr. Greer-Effs has

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  93. Outside shot of Draper Building
    Jul 12, 2023

    Berea College Receives Kentucky’s Only 5-Star Rating by Money Magazine

    July 11, 2023 BEREA, Ky. – Berea College is the only Kentucky college to receive a 5-Star Rating by Money Magazine in the magazine’s 2023 Best Colleges list. Nationwide, Money chose only 34 college to be part of the elite 5-Star Rating group. Now in its ninth year, Money’s Best Colleges includes an analysis of 736 choices

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  94. Photo of Berea College campus with Berea sign written on the left of the walkway surrounded by greenery.
    Jul 5, 2023

    Berea College named a Lowest Net Prices College by the U.S. Department of Education

    Berea College has been named a Lowest Net Prices college in the College Affordability and Transparency Center (CATC) list for 2023.

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  95. Jun 30, 2023

    Statement from Incoming Berea College President Cheryl Nixon

    Dr. Cheryl Nixon, who takes office as Berea College’s 10th President on July 1, has issued the following statement on Berea’s mission in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s recent decision on the use of race as a factor in college and university admissions.

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  96. Spring campus
    Jun 12, 2023

    Berea College’s Founding Vision Continues Today

    Berea College was founded in 1855, becoming the South’s first coeducational and interracial college, based on founder Rev. John G. Fee’s understanding of the Christian teaching of impartial love.

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  97. Graphic that says Berea College Joins the Heartland Athletic Conference #oneblood #theheartofD3
    Jun 1, 2023

    Berea College to Join Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

    June 1, 2023 Berea College has accepted an invitation to join the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) beginning in fall 2024. The HCAC is an NCAA Division III conference comprised of institutions located in Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. “I am delighted that the HCAC presidents have voted to invite Berea College to join their conference,”

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  98. Uncategorized·May 11, 2023

    Renewable Energy: A Key National and International Leadership Opportunity for Kentucky

    By Lyle D. Roelofs, Berea College President Kentucky is on its way to becoming a place of renewable energy leadership. Berea College, through its own initiatives in hydroelectric power and sustainable campus operations, and more recently through connections with Lexington-based Edelen Renewables, is very much part of that story. And this Kentucky story even has

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  99. Image of Class of 2023 graduates walking into Seabury for their ceremony
    May 8, 2023

    Berea College Celebrates 237 Graduates

    May 8, 2023 Berea College celebrated 237 graduates this past weekend at the 2023 commencement ceremony. These graduates represent 25 states and 26 countries. Tommy Espinoza, a prominent architect of Latino community and business development policy and programs, spoke to graduates on Love and Sacrifice by asking them to “reflect on that one person in

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  100. team ky gallery trip
    Uncategorized·Mar 6, 2023

    Team Kentucky Gallery includes photos by two Berea College seniors

    Photos by two Berea College students are currently on display in the Team Kentucky Gallery, located in the state Capitol Building in Frankfort. Images by Eduardo Alvarez-Esparza and Gaston Jarju—both members of the Berea College Class of 2023—had images chosen from more than 150 entries submitted from across the state. Only 38 photos were chosen

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