Kentucky Historical Society
Eleven Kentuckians Graduate from Community Scholars Program

Frankfort, KY - Eleven Community Scholars from central Kentucky are the most recent graduating class of the Kentucky Folklife Program's Community Scholars program, and they join the growing network of over 100 adults trained to collect, preserve, and present local traditions and art forms.

"These individuals are rich cultural resources," says Bob Gates, director of the Kentucky Folklife Program. "They have been trained to study and document the community's diverse heritage and present it to the public through local programs and events."

Receiving honors on Saturday, June 23, were Elaine Simms of Springfield; Gary Ferguson of Smiths Grove; Amy Sparrow Potts of Hodgenville; Beverly Heath of Hodgenville; Hamilton Simms of Springfield; Jon Allen of Campbellsville; Beverly Cox of Danville; Alwilda Marcum of Hodgenville; and Carolyn Crabtree of Parksville. Wanda Washington of Campbellsville and Shirley Sheperson of Danville attended the class and are continuing their requirements to graduate at a later date.

Since completing the intensive, experiential, six-week training, participants join a growing network of Community Scholars across Kentucky trained to use folklore fieldwork skills to identify, document and present folk artists in their communities Included in the sessions are training in oral history and community documentation techniques, archival basics, and methods of public presentation.

The training was conducted in partnership with the Rural Heritage Development Initiative and the Kentucky Heritage Council, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. Once they are certified, participants are eligible to apply for Community Scholar Survey grants from the Kentucky Arts Council. For more information on the Community Scholars program, click here. The Kentucky Folklife Program is an interagency program of the Kentucky Historical Society and the Kentucky Arts Council.

High-resolution photos are available upon request by contacting Stephanie Siria at 502-564-1792, ext. 4504.

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An agency of the Kentucky Commerce Cabinet, the Kentucky Historical Society, since 1836, has provided connections to the past, perspective on the present, and inspiration for the future. KHS operates the Old State Capitol, the Kentucky Military History Museum, and its headquarters, the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History. Since 1999, the thirty-million- dollar Center has welcomed more than one million visitors. For more information about the Kentucky Historical Society and its programs, visit our Web site.