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Sullivan Connections

This photo shows Spud Marshall leading a session for the Sullivan Foundation's Ignite Retreat for changemakers

The Fall 2021 Ignite Retreat: One Person Really Can Change the World

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September 2, 2021

This year’s Ignite Retreat, hosted Oct. 8-10 by the Sullivan Foundation in Asheville, N.C., makes leading social change a little easier—and a lot more fun.

Ignite Masterclasses for Student Changemakers Return in September 2021

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August 2, 2021

The Sullivan Foundation's innovative masterclass series is back for Fall 2021, bringing together students from across the globe to learn how they can make a difference on their campuses and in their communities.

Toy Story: How Amanda Arseneau Jumped Off the Corporate Ladder and Found True Success With My Little Pony

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July 28, 2021

This Sullivan Award recipient from the University of the Cumberlands overcame generalized anxiety disorder and freed herself from the corporate world to build a business she loves, Amanda's Treasure Dungeon.

this artwork by queer artist Wylie Caudill was created in honor of an LGBTQ scholarship created by the University of Kentucky

This LGBTQ Scholarship Is the First of Its Kind in the SEC

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June 25, 2021

To promote diversity and representation, The University of Kentucky has launched the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Fund.

Elizabeth Rogg: Doing the Most Good

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June 24, 2021

Working with children in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya, sparked this Sullivan Award recipient's passion for social work and breaking the cycle of systemic poverty.

A Gifted Artist and a Business Major Receive Sullivan Awards from Carson-Newman University

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June 21, 2021

Jessica Borchert, a prize-winning filmmaker, was a Faith and Justice Scholar and tireless volunteer, while Miguel Flores logged more than 1,650 service hours and lent his business skills to numerous local projects.

Sullivan Stars

this photo shows Sydney Stepney accepting the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award during a ceremony at Queens University of Charlotte.

Trio of Servant Leaders Receive Sullivan Awards at Queens University of Charlotte

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May 30, 2021

Sydney Stepney received the student award, while Judy and Paul Leonard were honored for their lifetime of service, including their work with Habitat for Humanity.

How Sullivan Award Recipient Issy Rushton Guided Her Campus Through the Pandemic

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May 30, 2021

Rushton, a senior at the University of South Carolina, helped create and lead a citywide social responsibility campaign that encouraged locals and students to wear a COVID-19 mask.

Adarsh Shidhaye Receives Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award at University of South Carolina

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May 30, 2021

Shidhaye, a native of Elgin, South Carolina, said he "aimed to make an impact" with his volunteer work from the day he arrived on the UofSC campus.

Past Sullivan Award Recipient Named to List of "People to Watch" in NYC's Theatre Community

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May 30, 2021

Danielle Biggs, an Elon alumnus, wants to create a “limitless world” for young Black children pursuing the arts and education.

this is a photo of Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award recipient Lucy Burch playing tennis for Huntingdon College

Lucy Burch, a "Unicorn" at Huntingdon College, Honored With Sullivan Award

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May 26, 2021

The tennis star "has a clear sense of calling, a multitude of spiritual gifts, and a well of faith that will sustain her for years to come," says College Chaplain Rhett Butler.

John Amodeo, One of Three Duke Sullivan Award Recipients, Teaches Children's Ministry in Durham

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May 11, 2021

Amodeo also volunteers at a vaccination clinic, while Tatayana Richardson mentors students for success and Dr. Anika Lucas provides implicit bias training to nephrologists and performs service work in Kenya.

Sullivan Alumni Spotlight

Danielle Biggs: "Lean into Your Truest Self and Lead Out Loud!”

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May 11, 2021

A passionate supporter of the arts, this Elon University graduate has coped with "fleeting bouts of imposter syndrome" on her way to becoming a "fierce female leader" and changemaker in her community.

Julie Copeland: Time Can Be Your Greatest Ally and Your Worst Enemy

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April 5, 2021

This Wofford College alumnus and Sullivan Award recipient chose a career in HR because "human capital is an organization's greatest asset, and, hence, I wanted to have an influence and impact on people."

Police Psychologist Kimberly Miller Works Through Law Enforcement to Help the Underserved

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April 5, 2021

Dr. Miller, a 1993 Auburn graduate and Sullivan Award winner, believes God put her on the planet to make it a better place.

Rafael Egues, Jr.: We're All Unique and Important Pieces of a Larger Puzzle

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April 5, 2021

This Auburn alumnus and 1981 Sullivan Award winner cares deeply about mental health, substance abuse and the homeless, but he's most passionate about combating hopelessness.

Campbell University Grad Shelley Varner-Perez Focuses on Spiritual Care Outcomes for Patients

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March 3, 2021

Shelley Varner-Perez, who holds a Master of Divinity degree, combined her interests in religion, community service and the humanities to become a spiritual care researcher.

True Romance: Alice Lloyd College Grads Reflect on Decades of Teaching Kentucky's Youth

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February 2, 2021

As long-married educators, Johnny and Mary Belcher, both past winners of the Sullivan Award from Alice Lloyd College, have dedicated their lives to helping their students unlock their hidden potential and escape poverty.

Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation

The Summer of Sullivan: Summer Workshops for Leadership and Transformative Action Kick off May 18

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May 11, 2021

The 10-day workshop experience, taking place May 18-28, will reenergize college students' passion for changemaking and community leadership after a long, challenging pandemic year.

Changemakers Can Leap Back into Action With Sullivan's Summer Leadership Workshops in May

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April 5, 2021

The Summer Workshops for Leadership and Transformative Action program will help students build their leadership skills and create transformative action plans for solving real-world problems.

this is a promotional photo showing plant-based foods available from national wholesaler VEDGEco

Purpose-Driven VEDGEco Is First National Wholesaler of Plant-Based Foods

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March 30, 2021

Founder Trevor Hitch said VEDGEco, headquartered in Kailua, Hawaii, has been a purpose-driven business from the start, prioritizing people, animals and the planet over profit.

Rapper J.I.D. and MOD Pizza Join Forces to Help People Struggling in the Pandemic

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March 25, 2021

To launch Random Acts of MODness, MOD Pizza, a leading social-impact company in the restaurant sector, and the Grammy-nominated rapper presented a new car to a woman who lost her job and insurance in the pandemic.

this shows the founders of Bold Xchange, a company that helps black-owned businesses find new customers

Elon University Social Entrepreneurs Help Black-Owned Businesses Find New Customers

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March 19, 2021

Founded by Danielle Deavens and Doug Spencer, Bold Xchange offers a convenient way to find Black-owned companies across the country and promises fast shipping, vetted products and loyalty rewards.

this photo shows news anchor Lu Parker wearing a t-shirt from her company, Be Kind & Co.

The Citadel Alumnus, Former Miss USA Lu Parker Spreads Kindness Through Entrepreneurship

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March 15, 2021

"I have never given up on the belief that kindness can create huge change," says L.A. news anchor Lu Parker, founder of Be Kind & Co., which recently launched a new line of kindness apparel.

Education and Community Development

Ferrum College Students Donate $5,600 in Labor to Campus Beautification

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September 27, 2021

As part of a three-week Environmental Planning and Development Experiential Term, the students built, repaired and beautified three sites around the Ferrum campus.

this photo shows Abby Bauleke, a women's wheelchair basketball athlete whose team won the bronze medal at the Tokyo Paralympics

University of Alabama Athletes Win Bronze at Tokyo Paralympics

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September 21, 2021

Lindsey Zurbrugg, Bailey Moody and Abby Bauleke shone as Team USA women's wheelchair basketball athletes in the international competition, which wrapped up in early September.

UNC Takes Lead in Developing AI Tools for More Equitable Classrooms

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September 20, 2021

University of North Carolina researchers will develop advanced educational and analytical AI tools for the new NSF-funded Artificial Intelligence Institute for Engaged Learning.

Meet 100-Year-Old Rose Bowden, Lees-McRae College's Oldest Living Alumnus

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August 31, 2021

In the final days of the Great Depression, Lees-McRae helped this North Carolina farm girl launch a career as a medical secretary and gave her a lifetime of happy memories.

This photo shows Clemson Head Football Coach Dabo Swinney leading a group of young people with intellectual disabilities onto the field before a football game.

How Clemson's Coach Dabo Swinney Works Miracles Off the Field

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August 26, 2021

His foundation raises funds for everything from breast cancer research and substance addiction prevention to creating better lives for students with intellectual disabilities.

this photo shows a group of Auburn University faculty dedicated to improving STEM education opportunities for people with disabilities

Auburn to Lead STEM Education Initiative for Students With Disabilities

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August 25, 2021

Persons with disabilities are one of the most significantly underrepresented groups in STEM education and employment, according to an Auburn official.

Environment and Climate

Ole Miss Journalism Students Investigate Climate Change in Mississippi

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April 23, 2021

Charlie Mitchell, a journalism professor, said the project is designed to educate people who have formed opinions about climate change without understanding how it relates to their daily lives.

this photo shows biodegradable, sustainable straws and eating utensils being tested at Shake Shack

Shake Shack Starts Testing Sustainable, Biodegradable Straws and Cutlery

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March 4, 2021

Manufactured by Restore Foodware, the plastic-free straws and cutlery are made with AirCarbon, a natural, carbon-negative material that feels like plastic but degrades naturally if it ends up in the environment.

this photo shows several vet techs working with a huge elephant at the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee

For the Love of Elephants: Furman University Alum Educates Public About Plight of Pachyderms

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February 17, 2021

Joy Owens, an educator at the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tenn., wants people to understand that elephants are highly intelligent animals with complex emotions and health needs.

This photo shows a young woman walking across a beautiful bridge in a scenic area of Warren Wilson College, one of the country's top sustainable campuses.

Warren Wilson Recognized as a Top Sustainable College

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December 17, 2020

Warren Wilson College, which has made sustainability a key part of its mission, ranked third place overall among baccalaureate institutions in AASHE's 2020 Sustainable Campus Index.

this photo shows a pizza made with food waste ingredients from Shuggie's Trash Pies and Natural Wine, a sustainable restaurant opening this spring in San Francisco

This Sustainable Restaurant Will Top Its Pizzas With Rejected Veggies to Combat Food Waste

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November 18, 2020

Founded by Kayla Abe and David Murphy, Shuggie's Trash Pies and Natural Wine, opening this spring in San Francisco, will help customers fight climate change through their food.

this photo shows a sheep grazing on the grass around Furman University's solar farm

Furman University Announces New Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities

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November 12, 2020

The Shi Institute, an outgrowth of Furman's David E. Shi Center for Sustainability, promotes sustainable human flourishing through its centers for sustainability education, research and leadership.

Social Justice and Equality

This LGBTQ Scholarship Is the First of Its Kind in the SEC

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June 25, 2021

To promote diversity and representation, The University of Kentucky has launched the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Fund.

UK Alum Creates Scholarship Foundation for Black Students with GPA of 2.0 or Better

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April 11, 2021

Aaron Porter, a journalism graduate from the University of Kentucky, and his cousins have started the Lawson Porter Scholarship Foundation to ease the burden of college expenses for Black students.

this photo, showing a sad, frightened little girl in a developing nation, illustrates the problem of human trafficking

North Carolina Wesleyan College Joins the Battle Against Human Trafficking

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March 26, 2021

With its upcoming Barefoot Mile fundraiser, NC Wesleyan wants to raise $15,000 for JOY International, a nonprofit that has helped more than 2,000 victims of human trafficking, including children, teens and women.

this photo shows Christine Condo, a prominent advocate for people with autism and invisible disabilities

George Mason Graduate Student Advocates for Those With 'Invisible Disabilities'

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March 25, 2021

Christine Condo earned her diploma and two bachelor's degrees before being diagnosed with autism, but she still feels the need to hide it, which leads to what she calls the "Autism Paradox."

Elon University Social Entrepreneurs Help Black-Owned Businesses Find New Customers

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March 19, 2021

Founded by Danielle Deavens and Doug Spencer, Bold Xchange offers a convenient way to find Black-owned companies across the country and promises fast shipping, vetted products and loyalty rewards.

This Black-Owned Food Delivery Company Helps Make Black-Owned Restaurants More Competitive

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February 23, 2021

Twin brothers David and Aaron Cabello founded Black and Mobile to provide exposure for Black restaurateurs in urban communities, and their business now operates in three major cities.

Poverty and Hunger

Berea College Program Serves Thousands of Free Nutritious Meals Three Days a Week to Children in Need

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February 12, 2021

A partnership between Berea College, Grow Appalachia, the USDA and the Kentucky Department of Education, Berea Kids Eat also helps keep local restaurants in business while supporting area farmers.

this is a photo of a group of cute kids who benefit from No Kid Hungry's campaign to combat food insecurity

President's Executive Order Will Provide More Federal Aid for Anti-Hunger Nonprofits

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February 10, 2021

President Biden has directed FEMA to increase its share of funds supporting nonprofit/restaurant partnerships that address food insecurity, ensuring more free meals can be delivered to people in need while also saving jobs for restaurant employees.

UVA Pediatric Team Works to Bring Fresh, Healthy Foods to Families in Need

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January 25, 2021

A food insecurity project, spearheaded by UVA pediatric surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Gander in partnership with Local Food Hub's Fresh Farmacy program, also aims to help combat childhood obesity.

Berry College Partners With Homeless Shelter to Train Urban Farmers

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January 7, 2021

Berry College's environmental science and studies students will also work alongside shelter residents in the gardens and farm to provide fresh produce for the shelters’ dinners.

LMU Students Lead Drive to Help Address Food Insecurity During the Holidays

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December 8, 2020

Lincoln Memorial University students donated a total of 1,561 cans and 77 decorated Thanksgiving meal boxes in a late-November food drive for Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.

Campbell University Volunteers Brighten Holidays for Dozens of Families in Need

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December 3, 2020

As part of CU's 10th annual Community Christmas Store, more than 100 faculty, staff and students volunteered their time and resources to wrap gifts and prepare food boxes for people in need.

Health and Wellness

UA Nursing Student Focuses on Taking Care of the Underserved in Birmingham

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April 22, 2021

LaDarryl Banks, who graduates from the University of Alabama's Capstone College of Nursing RN Mobility (RN to BSN) program this May, pursued a career in nursing because he has always been a natural empath and caregiver.

These Mercer University Student Volunteers Have Administered Thousands of COVID-19 Vaccines

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March 25, 2021

"I’ve given so many shots, but I’ve never given a shot that made me feel like I was actually, really changing lives,” said one student in the physician assistant program in Mercer's College of Health Professions.

Ole Miss Pharmacy Professor Helps the Underserved of the Mississippi Delta

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February 27, 2021

Through her work with the Mississippi Delta Health Collaborative, Meagan Brown shows that pharmacists can make a real difference for patients dealing with cardiometabolic diseases.

Nursing Students at Tennessee Wesleyan University Volunteering to Boost Vaccination Efforts

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February 17, 2021

More than 30 TWU student and faculty volunteers have dedicated 250-plus hours of service at Covenant Health locations around Knoxville, Tenn. in the fight against the pandemic.

UVA Pediatric Team Works to Bring Fresh, Healthy Foods to Families in Need

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January 25, 2021

A food insecurity project, spearheaded by UVA pediatric surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Gander in partnership with Local Food Hub's Fresh Farmacy program, also aims to help combat childhood obesity.

New Research Division at Duke University Merges AI With Medical Science

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January 21, 2021

The Division of Artificial Intelligence and Computational Pathology, a joint project between Duke's engineering and medical schools, will support research to develop artificial intelligence technologies for better diagnosing and predicting cancer and other diseases.

Service, Social Entrepreneurship, and Changemaking News Across the American Southeast

Sullivan Connections

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