For Release: 2008-09-08 13:37:00
How do college students from the mountains of Eastern Kentucky fare when they arrive at the University of Kentucky? Appalachia in the Academy: The Making of Eastern Kentucky Scholars, airing Sunday, Sept. 21 at 10/9 p.m. CT on KET2, shares the experiences of three Appalachian students during their first year at UK.This documentary follows three UK freshmen through their first year of college, beginning in April 2007 as they finish their senior year of high school. The students, Katie, Josh and Samantha, are from Inez, Jeffersonville and Pikeville, respectively. Parents, teachers and the students themselves reflect upon their experiences while viewers go along with them to their classes, dorm rooms, on social activities and visits home.
Katie is the daughter of two teachers, eager to start college following a career as an exceptional student in her Martin County high school. Over the course of her freshman year at UK, she moves through an on-again, off-again relationship with a boy from home, faces academic challenges and ultimately achieves great academic success.
Josh’s year is marked by his movement from an “old country church” to conversion to the Latter-day Saints faith. He has little interest in traditional college activities and opts for involvement with the university role-playing club.
Samantha is a first-generation college student who did not expect to gain acceptance to UK. Very active in ROTC in high school, she continues the activity in college — only to opt out midway through the year. She grows quite independent after that decision and begins to focus on nurturing her creativity and intellect.
Appalachia in the Academy: The Making of Eastern Kentucky Scholars is produced by Chris Stapel of Lexington and directed by Faroukh Virani. This film is supported by the KET Fund for Independent Production. More information about KET programming and education services, as well as how to support KET, can be found at www.ket.org.
Contact: Ellen Soileau
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