Appalachian Voice Spring 2024

APPALACHIANVOICE APPALACHIAN VOICE

EMPOWERING STUDENTS AND CAMPUS MINISTRIES TO IMPACT COMMUNITIES

SPRING 2024

IN THIS ISSUE DONORS BLESS KIDS

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SCHOLARSHIP IMPACT

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HOME FOR HOLIDAYS

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CULTURE & WORSHIP

8 AM gave local children pizza, coats, toys, and hygiene items after a Bible lesson.

DONORS FUND GIFTS FOR 114 KIDS More than 100 local children enjoyed handpicked Christmas gifts and hygiene items last year, thanks to generous friends of Appalachian Ministries (AM).

The student volunteers with AM used the ministry's budget to bring joy to children at their AM sites. With donor support, the AM team was able to buy Christmas gifts for every child who regularly attends the program.

Plus, AM bought pizza for the kids; a double win!

Rachel Lowder, AM director, said, "We really want these kids to know they are loved – to know they are loved by us, and they are loved by Christ."

Ashley Tucker, graduate assistant for AM, explained, "The UC students got lists from their AM kids, and they went to the store to buy them.

They picked out the gifts and got to watch the kids open them. It was a great moment. Some AM leaders have deep connections with these kids; they’ve made relationships with them for up to four years."

For a month before the Christmas parties, Rachel, Ashley, and student Story continued on page 2

Continued from page 1

volunteers collected coat sizes for the AM children and helped make Christmas wish lists.

"We got a coat, some hygiene supplies, and at least one toy for every kid that we serve at AM," Rachel said. "We also shared the story of Jesus, the true meaning of Christmas."

Almost every AM site has partnered with a nearby church. The partnerships are important for the children to have a larger support system, a safe place to hear about God and the Bible from trained pastors, and a place with worship songs and activities that the kids can enjoy even throughout the summertime, when AM has a different schedule than during the school year. (For kids, the more consistency, the better!)

The churches assisted with the Christmas parties, allowing AM to use their church buildings and supplying some of the toys for the kids. Toys for Tots, another nonprofit, also offered several of toys to support AM's Christmas events this year.

It's easy to get wrapped up in the excitement of Christmas gifts (pun intended), and being given that sense of joy and love as a child is important. But the most important thing of all, at Christmas and any time, is Jesus.

Some of the children who attend AM's weekly events have a personal relationship with Jesus. Others don't yet. But no matter the child, AM does all it can to show Christ to the kids and shower them with love every day of the year.

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APPALACHIAN VOICE

Scholarship Recipients AAA Abby Cain

James H. Taylor II Scholarship A

Harley Huddleston SBF-Opdyke Scholarship A

Erica Dick

SGA Leadership Scholarship A

Joshua Gabbard

Gwen Cornell Helping Hand Scholarship A

Jermiah Behnke

Christian Leadership Scholarship A

Abby Arsenault

Christian Leadership Scholarship A

Chase Bowman

Ricardo's scholarships gave him confidence and skills he now uses in the workforce.

Bowman Children Scholarship A

Michaela Barton

SCHOLARSHIPS PAVED THE WAY

James H. Taylor II Scholarship

Thanks to donor generosity, Ricardo Nunes Lopes de Matos from London, England, received scholarships to play soccer and work as a resident assistant (RA) at Cumberlands. The skills he gained from those experiences have benefitted him both as a person and as an employee in the workforce.

Molly Prakash

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Summer Rains

Racki Leadership Scholarship A

Whitley County HS Class of 1973 Scholarship A

Eltisha Major

Christian Leadership Scholarship A

Alexander Haddix

James H. Taylor II Scholarship A

"The experiences have been essential in the position I'm in today," said Ricardo. "My soccer teammates became like my brothers, and I made new friends through being an RA. Being an international student seemed daunting at times, but the friendships meant a lot. I also had a lot of learning-curve moments with soccer and RA that taught me valuable skills like communication, thinking outside the box, problemsolving, and being a more selfless team player."

Allison Bryson

Christian Leadership Scholarship A

Robert Lewis

Harold Wortman Scholarship A

Piper McGuire Berger Scholarship A

Rebekah Kersey

Christian Leadership Scholarship A

Ricardo has worked as a student financial aid counselor at Cumberlands for several months now. His job involves memorizing a lot of information about different financial situations and procedures, analyzing data, collaborating with the rest of the Financial Aid team, and remaining calm, collected, and compassionate while communicating with students and their guardians, even when it's tough. Finances can get emotional. But Ricardo draws from his training as a college athlete and an RA to navigate every situation.

Ricardo said, "My experience in Financial Aid has been mind-blowing.

I have been able to recognize the effort this institution provides for the students on campus and online. It truly has been a pleasure to work for UC and be part of a student's journey the way UC was for me!"

Sandra Neace

A.S. Sullivan Scholarship A

Jacey Wilson

SBF-Opdyke Scholarship A

Blake McCullah Alden Scholarship A

Sage Winterbottom SGA Leadership Scholarship A

Joy Kendrick

Christian Leadership Scholarship A

Luke Linton

A.S. Sullivan Scholarship A

Breanna Collins

Christian Leadership Scholarship

NEW HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

It's the first home the Woods family has ever owned! Mother Naomi is pictured with her three children.

Thanks to friends of Mountain Outreach, this young family has a brand new home in which to celebrate the holidays – the first home they have ever owned.

whole life. We shared a bed in the living room of my dad’s house. I have prayed for 14 years to have a nice home. God has finally answered my prayers.”

Naomi Woods is a single mother of three who works as a contractor for the U.S. government, taking phone calls for veterans and service members to make sure they and their families have health care coverage and that all their information is showing up in the records correctly. It’s a decent job with decent pay, but it came with a snag: as soon as Naomi started making enough money, she no longer qualified for federal aid, including housing assistance.

Mountain Outreach (MO) chose Naomi to be the recipient of their second home build in 2023. It’s a contemporary home built with high-quality materials and using top-notch equipment and technique.

“I lost all state benefits, and we lost our home,” Naomi explained. “My dad was kind enough to let me and my children move in with him temporarily.

I have shared a bedroom with my 6-year-old her

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The four-bedroom house is a perfect fit for Naomi and her three children to have their own space to make their own. Plus, they have an open-concept kitchen, dining, and living room area where they can cook, eat meals, and spend quality time together.

Naomi said, “The possibilities are literally endless for me and my children getting this home. We have never had that security before. We have never had a

nice place to sit around a table and eat family meals together, or their own rooms to go to when they need some quiet time to themselves.

This is a dream come true and a million prayers answered!”

Naomi’s family lived with her dad, Jim, for more than half a year before receiving the keys to the MO house. Though Naomi will now owe a mortgage on the home, the months at her father’s gave her time to continue working and save up enough money to start making the new house payments.

When Naomi heard she had been chosen to receive the home, she started laughing and crying.

“I couldn’t believe it!” she said. “I was so thankful. I just felt like I had blessings all over me! I just started thanking God!” The family was excited to move in. They still live close to Naomi’s father, which he jokingly said that she may not like, but he does. At the key handoff ceremony, Rocky Brown, director of MO, gave credit to the One who is ultimately responsible.

“First and foremost,” he said, “I just want to say I’m thankful to the Lord Jesus that we’re able to do this. It’s amazing that we get to do what we do.”

Every morning the family awakes and every night they go to bed, it’s in a safe, sturdy, and comfortable home they can call their own. And it’s all thanks to the Lord, the donors who funded the construction, and the MO team for making it happen.

Scholarship Recipients AAA Madeline Raizor

Christian Leadership Scholarship A

Logan Rose

SBF-Opdyke Scholarship A

Zackary Riley

Racki Leadership Scholarship A

Sydnee Payne

Norma Brock Patrick Scholarship A

Kristin Mitchell

Gorman Jones Scholarship A

Mickayla Coppock

Christian Leadership Scholarship A

Grant Morton

Work Ethic Scholarship A

Ashlyn Liddle

Christian Leadership Scholarship A

Karleigh Prater

Harrodsburg Baptist Foundation Scholarship A

David Rambo

Christian Leadership Scholarship A

Katherine Lunsford Appalachian Scholarship A

Courtney Drury

Christian Leadership Scholarship A

Mabrie Richards

Christian Leadership Scholarship A

Noah Brandt

Fred Roth Scholarship A

Shaylea Dabney

Dr. Jerry Lowrie Scholarship A

Mackenzie Babb

Christian Leadership Scholarship A

Sarah Smith

Racki LeadershipScholarship A

Braylon Emerson

Christian Leadership Scholarship A

Ryan Ball

James H. Taylor II Scholarship A

Shaylee Gray

Christian Leadership Scholarship A

Hannah Jacobs

Christian Leadership Scholarship A

Verna Marcum

Appalachian Scholarship A

The home was built with high-quality materials and techniques.

Brianna Henry

Norma Brock Patrick Scholarship

MEET OUR STUDENTS

BEATRIZ DESOUZA, '24

BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATION ARTS

Beatriz - who goes by a nickname "Bia" - hails from Brazil and is receiving an athletic scholarship.

She is a member of the track and field team at Cumberlands, competing in individual sprints.

If being an international student and getting used to English and American culture wasn't enough, Bia has also grown a lot through athletics at UC. "The support that the team gives in practice and in competition is amazing!" she said. "Being on the team has taught me that God's timing is always perfect. It's also shown me how much a team environment can change how you feel and how you perform in your sport."

Though English isn't Bia's first language, she doesn't mince words when it comes to gratitude. To donors, she says, "THANK YOU SO MUCH! You have no idea how much this has changed my life!"

WILLIAM HAGGARD '24

CHRISTIAN STUDIES AND YOUTH & FAMILY MINISTRY

William is from Medina, Ohio, and is receiving a Christian Leadership Scholarship. As part of the scholarship, he attends evangelism training and assists with various Campus Ministries events. His time volunteering with Appalachain Ministries that has been especially impactful for him.

"I absolutely love it," William said. "My mom was a babysitter my whole life. I had my fair share helping care for kids while growing up. Especially in the community where UC is located, seeing the kids' daily lives, there is a big need here, and we answer that with a lot of care. I just like to help these kids realize they're better than how some of them are being treated. That God loves them."

William is deeply thankful for his scholarship and the difference it makes. He said, "With your support, you have allowed people to hear about God and to receive care as well. Thank you all so much."

BLAKE GRESHAM, '24 HUMAN SERVICES

Blake is from Athens, Georgia, and is receiving a scholarship to serve as a Residence Hall Leader.

Blake enjoys meeting new people and creating meaningful connections with them, which makes Residence Life a great fit for him. It's his goal to create a welcoming environment where residents aren’t afraid to talk to the ResLife staff but rather look forward to seeing them.

"I have learned how to interact with individuals from different walks of life as part of ResLife," said Blake. "I've had an opportunity to grow as a person by learning more responsibility and teamwork."

He added, “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

You have provided me an opportunity to grow as a person and attend the best college in the world. I am forever grateful for you."

MADDIE FURTICK, '25 COMMUNICATION ARTS

Maddie is from Elgin, Illinois, and is receiving a workship scholarship. During the school year, she serves the Office of Communications & Marketing (UCOMM), giving her the chance to grow her communication, leadership, and teamwork skills while also learning how to approach social media from a marketing perspective.

"Working in the UCOMM office has helped me apply what I learn in the classroom," Maddie said. "From creating videos to writing articles, I get to see the entire process and learn how to market to college students. My favorite part is the journalism aspect.

UCOMM has given me opportunities to interview students and faculty on campus and learn how to be a better journalist. It has made love journalism even more while learning so much from others."

Maddie's opportunity to work in UCOMM is already paying off, and she's grateful.

SCHOLARSHIPS ALLOWED HER TO ATTEND. NOW SHE'S WEAVING CULTURE INTO WORSHIP.

Scholarships made it possible for Anne (pronounced “on”) Ngharsta to attend University of the Cumberlands four years ago. The culture – including church culture – was a far cry from the African village she grew up in, but the experience taught her to wrestle with her faith and determine answers to a critical question: What exactly in church culture is Biblical, and what is merely cultural?

Since coming to Williamsburg, Anne has had to take initiative in her walk with Christ and in finding Godly community. Her father was a pastor in a local church in her hometown of Rusha, Tanzania, in Africa. Growing up in a pastor’s home included an understanding that, every single Sunday, you'd wake up earlier than you would’ve liked to in order to go to church. You'd be encouraged to read the Bible.

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APPALACHIAN VOICE

The family would discuss the Lord, and so on. But when Anne was 15, her mother stepped back and let her make decisions about following God. “My mom was like, ‘You’re grown. It’s up to you. You build your relationship with Christ,’” Anne said.

Her mother was someone she looked up to and an inspiration for her life – a very strong, powerful woman of God. She looks up to her mother as someone she wants to be like, and she hopes to make this world a better place for her kids to feel safe in, as her mother always made her feel safe.

When Anne was 17, she arrived on Cumberlands' campus. She is now a senior, and no two years have been the same for her.

“You are gonna have different stages every single year,” she said.

“You’re gonna have a year where you make a lot of friends, you are on top of the world, you feel like you’re thriving… and the next year, the friendship you thought was gonna last a lifetime broke up, or you had the worst heartbreak. What you have to accept and truly see is that this world is always going to try and break you, but you need to stand strong, and that’s with the Holy Spirit.”

Scholarship Recipients AAA Anne Radjeyanouba Ngarhasta SGA Leadership Scholarship A

Madelynn Furtick

“This world is always going to try and break you, but you need to stand strong, and that is with the holy spirit. ” Anne Ngarhasta

Christian LeadershipScholarship A

Maddie Richardson

james H. Taylor II Scholarship A

Tanner Huddleston Alden Scholarship A

May Rude

Christian Leadership Scholarship A

Zachary Hash

Wane and Rita Moore Scholarship A

Taylor Rice

James H. Taylor II Scholarship A

For Anne, standing strong in her faith involves worship, which looks very different in Anne’s hometown than in Williamsburg. Many churches in America follow a detailed schedule, but Anne’s church in Africa operates differently.

“In my church back home, we start around 9:00 a.m. and go until 2:00 p.m. or really whenever, because we let our people feel the music, we really want them to feel that worship,” she said.

Chimella Saint Louis Blanc Christian Leadership Scholarship A

Trent Pollack

R. Mack, R & H Brown Scholarship A

Logan Mann

Troy Clark Scholarship A

Lily Hoskins

Christian Leadership Scholarship A

Isabella Valldeperas

R. Mack, R& H Brown Scholarship A

Many churches in America are less physically "free" during worship.

While Anne has slowly gotten used to that, she sticks to her African roots as strongly as possible. Neither American worship culture nor African worship culture are “right” or “wrong,” it’s more about the heart behind why someone is worshipping. So, Anne doesn’t let the American culture around her change the way she worships. Instead, she continues to worship God the way she was raised.

Jacob York

Christian Leadership Scholarship A

Kevin Siler

Work Ethic Scholarship A

Lauren Lucas

Christian Leadership Scholarship A

Grayson Estes

James H. Taylor II Scholarship A

Anne continues to worship God and trust him as she prepares to graduate. Going home this summer helped Anne to slow down and focus on God without the hustle and bustle of her life in America.

Kristen Jones

Harrodsburg Baptist Foundation Scholarship A

Donovan Steiner

Christian Leadership Scholarship A

She said, “I had an internship with the United Nations for two months, and that really helped. God really helped clarify a lot of things for me.”

Anne's scholarships to UC helped her become the person she is now.

Following her graduation in May 2024, she will pursue her dream of working in international relations and diplomacy.

Beatriz De Souza

Christian Leadership Scholarship A

Anthony Grubb Lovett Scholarship A

Christopher Miller

PR Wood Memorial Scholarship A

Alyssa Rector

Christian Leadership Scholarship A

Ben Hale

Racki Leadership Scholarship

Honor or Memorialize a Friend or Loved One

Tribute Program at University of the Cumberlands At Cumberlands, we strive to provide an affordable, student-centered, quality education to students from all backgrounds. It is thanks to your generosity we are able to fulfill this life-changing mission.

What is a Tribute Gift?

A Tribute Gift (either an Honor Gift or a Memorial Gift) shows love and respect for the person being honored or memorialized. It says that the world is a better place because of this individual. Through a Tribute Gift to University of the Cumberlands, you can pass on the impact someone had in your life by impacting the lives of current students.

The size of the gift is up to you and is kept confidential, and all gifts are tax deductible as allowed by law.

Tribute Gifts are an essential avenue for students to receive the financial aid they need. Your gift will help provide scholarship and workship pay, room and board funding, and many other supportive services.

IN HONOR OF: CARLEE B. CORNETT

DIANE JAMISON

LEXIE DONITHAN

LEXIE DONITHAN

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Ms. Dale Marie Ballard

Ms. Kimberly Kelley

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HELLA ANNA BERNEGGER

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Medina Family Mr. Harry Askin Ms. Anita Donahue Mr. Steven Reutter

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Dr. Susan Weaver

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PIPER MCGUIRE Given by:

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CALLIE BISHOP Given by:

Ms. Shelley Bishop

DENNIS SMITH Given by:

Ms. Janette Rosenbaum

DYLAN WILSON Given by:

Ms. Tammy Brown Mr. Anthony Campbell

JAMES SCHWEIZER Given by:

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APPALACHIAN VOICE

Chinnu Uppoottil Ms. Darly Uppoottil

ABIGAIL LONG Given by:

Shelley Long

BESS BENNETT Given by:

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Ms. Jillian Stoddard Ms. Tiffany Faunce Louise Later Nona Herrington Ms. Karissa Duke Ms. Wendy Belden Kim DeSpain

Ms. Lori Nantz

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AMANDA GAULT Given by:

Ms. Susan Gault Mr. Michael Thompson

SOPHIE CORNETT Given by:

Madison Cornett

TALLI BURGESS Given by:

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Ms. Mischelle Wilson

CARSON COX Given by:

Mr. Tim Cox

SPENCER SCHARSTEIN Given by:

Ms. Lydia Fogel Mr. Tim Crum

TRIBUTE GIFTS

September 1, 2023, THROUGH January 31, 2023

CREATE A LASTING IMPACT AT UCUMBERLANDS.EDU/GIVE IN MEMORY OF: FRAN CLAYTON

GEORGE & MARTHA ROBERTS

MAYNARD CROSS

NORMA PATRICK

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Dr. William Payne, Sr.

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Dr. & Mrs. Walter Early, III

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PAUL & HELEN MURNAGHAN

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MR. CLYDE EVANS OF EVANS CABINET

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Bank of Dudley

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Mrs. Norma Jean Scrivener Mr. Michael Kellett

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MARY PHYLLIS LATHROP Given by:

Mr. & Mrs. Robert Hollingsworth

The following given by:

Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Jones in support of the Charles Jones, Jr., Scholarship Fund. Charles Jones, Jr., was a sophomore at Cumberlands in 1982 when he sadly passed away after a motorcycle accident. That year, a scholarship was created in his name. Since 2005, Charles' parents have given toward the scholarship in loving memory of others.

In Memory Of: The mother of Mrs. Peggy Duncan The mother of Mrs. Kathy Coleman The wife of Mr. Tom Campbell The father of Mr. Eric Bacon The husband of Mrs. Marcella Barrett The husband of Mrs. Betty Smith The nephew of Mrs. JoAnn Johnson The nephew of Mrs. Karen Mitchell The brother of Mrs. Linda Mansfield The grandfather of Mr. Ryan Reagan and Family

The husband of Mrs. Elizabeth Carnahan The father of Mr. John Teubert The mother of Mr. Grady Sizemore The husband of Mrs. J.D. Bullock The mother of Mrs. Betty Ingram The mother of Mr. Stan Hardaway The brother of Mr. Ralph Barrett The brother of Mrs. Dave Muyskens The mother of Mrs. Kathy McManus The husband of Mrs. Betty Dickens

The sister of Ms. Debbie Pounds The grandfather of Rev. And Mrs. Kevin Minchey The father of Mr. and Mrs. Clint Brown The sister of Mr. And Mrs. Barry Summerville The husband of Mrs. Mary Lucille Lovelace The grandfather of Mr. Nathan Clark The mother of Mrs. Karen Willey The sister of Mrs. Kathy Allen

Listings reflect Tribute Gifts received September 1, 2023 through January 31, 2023. In preparing this list, every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and completeness. If a mistake was made in the way you were identified or if your name was omitted, we sincerely apologize. You can help us set the record straight. Please notify the Office of the President regarding any changes in the way your gifts should be recorded in future reports. Email presoff@ucumberlands.edu.

Anyone interested in making a Gift-in-Kind donation is encouraged to contact the Office of the President or visit www.ucumberlands.edu/give2uc. Please make support payable to University of the Cumberlands.

Office of the President 6191 College Station Drive Williamsburg, KY 40769

UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS

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Office of the President 6191 College Station Drive Williamsburg, KY 40769

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LOUISVILLE, KY PERMIT #879

IT'S ALL THANKS TO GOD AND YOU! We truly can't thank you enough for all the ways you have benefitted the lives of our students and our local community.

By funding programs that teach our students leadership, teamwork, work ethic, time management, spiritual growth, and other skills, you are helping our students grow up into the men and women God created them to be. After all, college isn't only about the schoolwork, it's also about the life that happens outside the classroom.

You make a difference in our students' lives. And those students in turn change the lives of others around them. And it's all thanks to God... and you. Thank you!