Mar. 2, 2011
When Mark and Virgie Hunter established the Steven A. Hunter Appalachian Legacy Project in honor and memory of their son, Steven (1984-2006), they wanted to create opportunities for students at Shawnee State University to do things that Steven loved.
His family describes Steven as "an exuberant young man, full of life and love for people and nature. He did not know a stranger and always tried to bring out the best in those he touched."
The Steven A. Hunter Appalachian Legacy Project supports several project areas including student field trips throughout Appalachia, Appalachian film and recording projects, Appalachian music projects, lecture series on Appalachia and other special Appalachian projects.
This year, the Shawnee State University Development Foundation awarded grants for three projects from the Appalachian Legacy Project.
"Inside Out … Outside In" a basic movement, music and creative expression program for early childhood at the Dr. Miller and Genevieve Toombs Children's Learning Center at SSU received funding.
Appalachian cultural immersion of nursing students to take a field trip to the Frontier Nursing Service located in Leslie County, Ky., to learn about cultural assessments through personal interviews, environmental impact on health care delivery, and to develop an appreciation for the Appalachian culture and its associated healthcare needs also received a grant.
An Alternative Spring Break 2011 for SSU students to explore the history and culture of the Appalachian region of North Carolina in Boone, N.C, where they will provide service work to Habitat for Humanity, Friends of the Blue Ridge and the Hospitality House also received a grant. Before departing and during the trip, students will research and study Appalachian culture, hunger, homelessness and the role of the environment.
After the completion of each project, the students are required to provide a public presentation of the results. The CLC presentation will be at Ohio's National Association for the Education of Young Children's (NAEYC) Conference in Columbus, Ohio, in April.
In April and May, nursing students who participated in the Appalachian cultural immersion will be presenting "Appalachian Culture: Affects on the Delivery of Healthcare" at SSU. Participants will be sharing their experiences in group discussion, and small group interaction to better understand themselves, their community's needs, and their responsibility in advancing the common good.
"We are so pleased that the Hunter family has chosen to share Steven's legacy with so many college students across a variety of fields through the Appalachian Legacy Project," said SSU Development Foundation Executive Director Eric Braun.
For more information, contact Braun at (740) 351-3257 or e-mail ebraun@shawnee.edu.