Emory & Henry Hosts the Hope Awards: Recognizing Those Who are Committed to Service
“Each year, the Appalachian Center for Civic Life is pleased to honor individuals and community groups who embody in extraordinary ways a sense of civic commitment and who are engaged in work that leads to the common good,” said Megan Hamilton, Coordinator of Civic Engagement Projects at the Appalachian Center for Civic Life. The Hope Award is presented to honorees who have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to their community through service and a commitment to the greater good.
Hope Awards, 2022
The Hope Award for a member of the faculty is Dr. Beth Funkhouser, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Exercise Science Department and Pre-Health Director. Funkhouser has worn many hats at Emory & Henry College including developing new academic programs in the School of Health Sciences, operating flu shot and COVID-19 clinics, volunteering with Southwest Va. Medical Reserve Corps and Virginia Volunteer health system training. “Service is the backbone of my role,” said Funkhouser.
The staff nomination for the Hope Award is Deni Peterson, adjunct professor in the Geography & Earth & Environmental Science department at Emory & Henry College. Peterson began her non-profit work with the Coalition for Jobs and the Environment which included the Learning Landscapes program and became Appalachian Sustainable Development. Peterson has overseen the continuing growth of food by students and the donation of that food in the Organic Food Production class offered as part of the Food Systems minor.
Elysia Moreta, ’22, is the undergraduate student nominee for the Hope Award. Moreta has organized and worked alongside Bonner scholars in the enterprise of growing and donating food. “My work in the garden allowed me to appreciate this place and region and foster a strong, loving mentorship with site supervisor Denise Peterson,” said Moreta. Moreta has been responsible for moving hundreds of pounds of food grown by Emory & Henry College students into the community at large.
Emmit Kasey is the graduate student nominee for the Hope Award. Kasey graduated as a Bonner student from Emory & Henry College. Bonner students are committed to performing service throughout their time as undergraduate students, and Kasey performed service in Glade Spring, Meadowview, Saltville, and Emory, Va. Kasey is attending the School of Health Sciences in Marion, Va. to pursue a career in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. In that program, Kasey offers mental health services for people battling trauma and addiction. “Our mind can be the strongest and most influential thing about us, but even a strong mind needs healing and support,” said Kasey.
The community member honored by the Appalachian Center for Civic Life with the Hope Award is Anne Maio, who has been an active member of the Mount Rogers Appalachian Trail Club for over 20 years. Maio writes the weekly newsletter, organizes group hikes, leads work trips and meetings and manages volunteer recruitment. Additionally, Maio has invested nearly 12,000 hours into trail maintenance and monitoring. The club is one of 31 other clubs under the Appalachian Trail Conservancy which is responsible for clearing brush and fallen trees, blazing, and repairing erosion and trail shelters and privies along that section of about 60 miles of the Appalachian Trail in addition to participating with festivals at Emory & Henry College and assisting students with projects that they may have along the trail.
The organization honored with a Hope Award is Partners for Stronger Communities (PFSC), a service organization that specializes in helping survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking and abuse. PFSC partners with other organizations by providing referrals. The organization has multiple hotlines that trained advocates answer when they are called. PFSC provides free services and case management to its clients. PFSC is working to reimagine systems that disproportionately impact members of marginalized groups and to promote diversity, equity and inclusion.
In addition to the Appalachian Center for Civic Life Hope Awards, the College Community Club sponsors a student project every year and awards that project with the Community Club Award which is worth $300. The student project awarded by the College Community Club is Communities in Schools in Southwest Virginia: Mentoring Project. Civic Leader Scholars are working to provide mentorship training to students at Emory & Henry College to prepare them to mentor a child in elementary school. By providing students with a hands-on relationship with a caring adult, Civic Leader Scholars create a safe place to learn and grow, a healthy start to a healthy future, a path toward marketable skills upon graduation and a chance to give back to peers and the community.
Learn more about the Appalachian Center for Civic Life: www.emoryhenry.edu/civic-engagement
Open gallery
From left to right, first row: Meg Askew, Elysia Moreta, Deni Peterson, Emmitt Kasey, Kyelee Moffett; Middle row: Rayven Dukas, Chanda Herndon, Anne Maio, Emory & Henry College President John Wells; and Back row: Renee Cook and Dr. Beth Funkhouser