Dear Alumni and Friends,
I recently returned from a conference where the governor of Maryland and the mayor of Baltimore participated in a Q&A with attendees. During the conversation, Gov. Wes Moore shared a statement that resonated deeply with me: “The definition of success isn’t leaving, it’s staying and serving.”
In the context of this issue of Berea College Magazine, that statement reflects the heart and path of the individuals whose stories fill these pages. Beginning in the early 20th century, economic collapse and limited opportunity forced many Appalachian families to leave the region. For more than a century, Berea has recruited students from Appalachia to provide exceptional education and opportunity, while encouraging graduates to return and use their skills in service to their home communities. For many Appalachian students, success isn’t leaving the region; it’s embracing the rich culture, beauty and resources of Appalachia and staying to serve those who came before them and those who will follow.
That same culture and beauty can anchor the souls of those who come from outside Appalachia and never want to leave. I’m one of them. As a child in a military family, I lived in many places across the U.S. and abroad. But when I arrived in this small town nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, the beauty, hospitality and sense of connection beckoned me to stay. Though I went to Washington, D.C., for an internship after graduating, I missed the belonging I found at Berea. I married a man with deep regional roots, and together we chose to stay and build our lives here.
In this issue, you’ll read stories of alumni who left their Appalachian towns for college and returned to serve their hometowns, others who came to Berea and knew they had found home, and a non-traditional student whose search for community ultimately led him here.
Being rooted in community takes many forms, but the heart of Berea—service and connection to place—becomes the heart of so many Bereans. Whether we stay or return after a long absence, it always feels like coming home.
Abbie Tanyhill Darst ’03
Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communications
Meet the New Editor
Whitney Leggett is a storyteller at heart, shaped by a background in community journalism and communications across the healthcare, nonprofit and public sectors. She is drawn to share the stories that connect us, uplift missions and remind us there is purpose in our work. She enjoys spending time with her big family and exploring art, plants and sustainable fashion.
