‘It Takes a Village:’ The Whole Child Approach in Letcher County
‘It Takes a Village:’ The Whole Child Approach in Letcher County For Mandy Wynn, returning to the world of academia to pursue her GED and higher education sparked a passion and purpose for serving her community. She now embodies that purpose every day in her role as Student Success Navigator at Jenkins Middle High School […]
A Mentor’s Mission to Uplift and Inspire Barbourville Students
A Mentor’s Mission to Uplift and Inspire Barbourville Students There are two things Travis Mills is passionate about: education and Appalachia. With a rich background in education, Mills has been a guiding light for students in his community for years. He is the proud recipient of 17 Green Leaf Awards and counting—an honor bestowed upon […]
Applications for the Appalachian Youth Leadership Summit now open
Applications for the Appalachian Youth Leadership Summit now open The Appalachian Youth Leadership Summit (AYLS) is searching for passionate 10th and 11th-grade students from the 42 Kentucky school districts served by the Appalachian Cradle to Career Partnership, along with Claiborne County, TN & Lee County, VA, to gather at Lincoln Memorial University in Claiborne County, […]
Nurturing Local Talent: How Leslie County is Shaping the Future of Education
Nurturing Local Talent: How Leslie County is Shaping the Future of Education In an innovative effort to address the nation’s pressing teacher shortage, the Leslie County Area Technology Center, in collaboration with the Leslie County School District, is charting a new course. In collaboration with Partners for Rural Impact Appalachia and LKLP Community Action Council, […]
First African American Alumni Career Fair brings 27 MHS grads back to alma mater
First African American Alumni Career Fair brings 27 MHS grads back to alma mater Buffy Dunnaville, Gear UP Program Manager, welcomes students to the first annual African American Career Fair Last Friday marked a historic event at Middlesboro High School as 27 alumni returned to their alma mater for the inaugural African American Alumni Career […]
‘Whatever it Takes:’ The Importance of Partnerships in Supporting Rural Youth
‘Whatever it Takes:’ The Importance of Partnerships in Supporting Rural Youth Red Ribbon Week Kentucky Farm to School Challenge Rene’ Cornette’s passion for improving the lives of students shines through with her every word, made evident by the energy and purpose she brings to her work. A lifelong Harlan Countian, Cornette now works as Full-Service […]
Rural Roots and First-Gen Futures
Tori Looney For many rural students, going to college means leaving their hometown behind, at least for a little while. Navigating the world of post-secondary education can be daunting, particularly for first-generation students. Having someone to show you the way can be invaluable—especially when they’ve been exactly where you are. The subject of this week’s […]
The Rewarding Work of Witnessing Student Success
Early in her college career, Jenny Holland had plans to go into the medical field as a physical therapist. But after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in biology, she discovered that education was her true calling. Today, Holland is a Full-Service Community Schools coordinator at Letcher County Schools. Jenny Holland When Holland’s father was diagnosed […]
PRI Appalachia and Grace Health Transform Dental Care Access in Leslie County
It’s hard to focus on learning when your head is pounding with a toothache. Speaking up in class can be tough when you are self-conscious about your smile. Thanks to a collaborative effort from Partners for Rural Impact, Grace Community Health, and the support of a longtime regional funder that wishes to remain anonymous, hundreds […]
Hayden Boyd’s Innovative Journey to Success
AppC2C’s newest partner, the Thompson Scholars Foundation, is celebrating another year of success and milestones. Among these is the story of Hayden Boyd—a shining example of the resilience, determination and strength found in every TSF scholar. Since Hayden was not enrolled in public school and needed a pathway to graduation, Thompson Scholars piloted a hybrid […]