Serving Appalachia
At a Glance
74%
The percentage of students from Kentucky and ARC counties
Build brighter futures in the region
72%
of alumni reside in-territory (Kentucky and Appalachian region)
Jamie's Story
Jamie Oleka ’13 refers to herself as “Appalasian,” or a person of Asian descent who grew up in Appalachia. Filipino-American, Jamie hails from West Liberty, Kentucky, a hamlet of less than 3,500 people. Inspired by her mother, a nurse at Appalachian Regional Healthcare Center, Jamie carried with her a passion for helping people.
David's Story
The director of Grow Appalachia, David Cooke ’82, was born in Mingo County, West Virginia, the youngest child of a coal miner and a school teacher. After graduating from Berea College, he obtained a master’s degree from WVU, and has worked as a high school teacher, woodworker, and county extension agent.