Berea College Service Award Nominations

Established in 1979, the Berea College Service Award is an opportunity for the College to recognize individuals who have provided outstanding service to our society in achieving the ideals of Berea’s Great Commitments. Honored at the annual Service Convocation, the recipients of the Berea College Service Award are individuals who in their daily lives have exemplified the Berea College Great Commitments. This award is a unique opportunity to honor practical service by people in all walks of life.

The following are the guidelines for the Service Award:

  • 2009-2010: Former West Virginia Congressman Ken Hechler, Leslie County native and community organizer Daymon Morgan, and Pat Wear, II, advocate for the disabled;
  • 2010-2011: Helen Ashe and Ellen Turner, founders of Love Kitchen, and Earl Hager, West Virginia legislator;
  • 2011-2012: Kavita Ramdas, President and CEO, Global Fund for Women, Denise S. Hill, Founder and Director of Branches of Monroe County, and Jean L. Thomas, founder of the Haiti Christian Development Fund;
  • 2012-2013: anti-mountaintop removal activist Beverly May,
  • 2013-2014: sustainable energy entrepreneur Henry Red Cloud and Eastern Kentucky community leader Carolyn Sundy;
  • 2014-2015: Mam-Yassin Sarr, advocate for girls’ education in The Gambia and founder of Starfish International.

Eligibility

Current Berea College employees and trustees are not eligible for this award.

Process

The Service Award Nominees who are approved each year will be the recipient of the award in the spring of the following academic year. For example, the nominee selected during the 2015-16 academic year will be the recipient of the 2017 Berea College Service Award. Typically, one or two Berea College Service Award nominees are selected each year.

Nomination Form

We invite you to nominate people for the Berea College Service Awards using this online form. Please be certain to include all the pertinent information that is requested on the form. Please keep in mind that you are in a better position than the committee to highlight the achievements of your nominee.