EASTERN KENTUCKY—After a two-year hiatus, because of COVID, Temple Honors Appalachia (THA) returned to the region this May. This service-learning opportunity was started in 2008, and the most recent trip marked the thirteenth installation of the program.  Leaving just a few days after graduation, a caravan of minivans marked with “THA” sides on their doors left Philadelphia and made their way to Eastern Kentucky, communicating by walkie-talkie along way. Anyone eavesdropping on Channel 8 would have heard a barrage of jokes and nicknames from van to van.  In partnership with Appalachia-based organizations Good Neighbors Inc., and Housing Development Alliance, THA provides a unique outlet for Honors students to engage in service work and bond with other Honors students, all while enjoying the beauty of Eastern Kentucky in the early summer.  

Volunteer projects for THA work groups concentrated on home repairs and included constructing wheelchair ramps, pouring concrete, setting up and mending fences, repairing roofs, and painting interior spaces. This year students focused their efforts in the towns of Paintsville and Hazard.  

THA student leaders led weekly meetings leading up to the trip.  These laid the groundwork for expectations and cultural training about Appalachia. Honors Staff members provide support, but the bulk of the trip is made possible by students, for students. “The students this year were phenomenal,” said Shannon Martin, Honors Advisor and THA Staff Leader. “Their passion and care for the project also ignited a collective excitement for the work we did down in Kentucky.”  

During the trip itself, work groups are on site from 8am-4pm daily. Away from the job sites, students met with local community members and learned more about the past and present in Eastern Kentucky. Group activities included visiting the Country Music Highway 23 Museum, line dancing, and cookouts. At night, THA members built bonfires, played card games, and staged a succession of mancala tournaments. The group also spent time enjoying Kentucky’s abundant nature, swimming and hiking in the area’s robust system of state parks. One highlight was a full-group day trip to Red River Gorge National Forest. 

Is THA right for you? Short answer, yes. But expect a growth spurt in your comfort zone. A cell service dead-zone, a brand-new environment, and a unique combination of students from all different majors may initially seem daunting. “Being an introvert, I was nervous going on this trip my first year,” said Zara Wahdan, a 2023 Paintsville Site Leader. But in the end, it was worth the nerves. “Being pulled out of my comfort zone allowed me to have meaningful experiences and make friendships I would have never made without this trip… These are memories that I will always hold close to me,” Wahdan added. “The overall anxiety of the unknown melted away.” Rayna Mook (KLN ’26), a Paintsville volunteer, was also initially hesitant. “I was the only freshman in my group, and I was scared that everyone participating already knew each other…I had to remind myself why I applied to THA in the first place.” Rayna’s advice for a curious first year student? Be open and vulnerable. “Putting yourself out there,” she remarked, entails at least some level of vulnerability, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it.

The name, Temple Honors Appalachia, has a double meaning, Honors Director Dr. Amanda Neuber explained. “Temple Honors Appalachia is the name of the trip, but also, through the experience, we try our best to honor Appalachia - by immersing ourselves in its rich history and culture, and by listening and learning while we work alongside members of the community.” THA is both the name of the program, and the immediate mission of the trip itself—to honor Appalachia, to live simply, and to engage in the process of building community both in Kentucky and at home in Philadelphia.  

A unique opportunity to unplug and understand, Temple Honors Appalachia exemplifies the core tenets of Honors community—vulnerability, experience, humility, and hard work. Interested in the emotional richness of service and learning? It’s all happening in the misty hills of Kentucky. 

Applications for 2024 THA open February 2024. Follow Temple Honors’ Instagram and (for current Honors students) be sure to read the daily Honors Bulletin for updates.

For More Information about THA partners in Eastern Kentucky, visit the Housing Development Alliance website at https://www.hdahome.org and Good Neighbors Inc. at https://www.goodneighbors-inc.org/