“Monkey Dumplins”
Year: 2021
Award Level: Bronze
Award Winner(s): Berea College
Award: Circle of Excellence
Category: Writing | News/Feature (1,000+ words)
From the Nominator
A scrappy group of volunteers in Clay County, Kentucky, band together to revitalize their town through local theater and other efforts. This article takes on “deficit narratives” of Appalachia prevalent in national media, while highlighting Berea College’s service to the region through its Brushy Fork Leadership Institute.
From the Judges
This story provided a refreshing and original take on the often-derided and/or sympathized plight of the Appalachian people. This is an excellent demonstration of how to tell a story about your school's context in an uplifting way, without glossing over struggles or challenges.