The long road that brought Kamuskay ’27 to Berea College began when his father tragically passed away in 2019. With the loss of his father, Kamuskay was forced to set aside his education and help provide for his family. When a friend told him about Berea, he was sure it was too good to be true.
“I honestly didn’t want to apply because I thought it was a scam,” he said. “Even when I got accepted to Berea, I still didn’t believe.” It took some investigation, but after learning Berea’s opportunities were genuine, Kamuskay made the long journey from his home in Sierra Leone to Appalachian Kentucky.
Berea allowed Kamuskay to get his education back on track. From the start, he felt compelled to find a way to give back. “I feel like I have a role to play in making sure other people can access this opportunity,” he explained. “I feel like I have a responsibility now to help other people get the same opportunity I’m having right now.”
That conviction led Kamuskay to Berea Patrons. Berea Patrons is a club for students who want to give others the same opportunity for transformative and tuition-free higher education. Patrons donate a few dollars each month to help fund Tuition Promise Scholarships for future Berea students. Since joining Berea Patrons, Kamuskay’s enthusiasm for giving back has inspired students and staff.
“From the moment I met him, I knew Kamuskay was special,” said Daniela Pirela-Manares ʼ20, the philanthropy program manager who coordinates Berea Patrons. “He goes above and beyond in every single one of his endeavors. Kamuskay always has the right thing to say and is on a mission to leave his mark on campus. I’m excited to work with him this year, and I’m looking forward to seeing how far he will go.”
For Kamuskay, asking himself “What value can I bring to the institution?” is what being a patron is all about. “This is going to touch lives and it’s going to change stories because it’s changed my story,” he said. Berea Patrons taught Kamuskay that people are excited for a chance to do good.
“People want to help people; they want to do amazing things,” he explained. Many obstacles often lie between the urge to help others and finding ways to do it. Berea Patrons makes it easy for busy students to make a difference.
“Not everybody can start up a whole organization that’s doing amazing stuff, but the little we can do counts,” Kamuskay said. Since 2013, Patrons have raised more than $200,000 to pay forward the gift of a Berea education.
The spirit of love and service that is central to Berea’s mission shines brightly in the students who give back through Berea Patrons.
“You’re making a huge impact in somebody else’s life. It gives you a sense of fulfillment that you have a purpose,” Kamuskay said. “Back home we have a saying that if you don’t invest in something, then you’re not valuing it.”
Through Berea Patrons, students like Kamuskay are investing in their College, in each other and in themselves.
