The University of Kentucky (UK) Human Development Institute (HDI) has awarded the prestigious Paul Kevin Burberry Award to Bethaney Curry. Bethaney is a Senior Return-to-work Specialist for the RETAIN project and is enrolled in the doctoral program at the University of Kentucky College of Social Work.
Dr. Kathy Sheppard-Jones, Executive Director of HDI explained that “We offer the Burberry Award to highlight the achievements of students at the University of Kentucky who exemplify the achievements and life of Paul Kevin Burberry, himself a UK student. As both a UK student and staff at the HDI, Bethaney carries on the strong tradition of awardees. We are proud of her accomplishments and cannot wait to see what the future has in store for her”.
The award was presented by Dr. Tony Lobianco at the HDI All-Staff Meeting who said that “Bethaney writes eloquently about how support systems vary from person to person, and how a change in perception can make all the difference in a young person’s life trajectory”.
Dr. Natalie Pope, Associate Professor and PhD Program Director was excited to hear about Bethaney receiving the 2022 Burberry Award. “As a social work PhD student, Bethaney exemplifies the interdisciplinary nature of the profession. She brings with her a background in occupational therapy, public administration, and therapeutic sciences. Bethaney is a student who truly seeks to advance social justice through an interdisciplinary lens”.
The annual Paul Kevin Burberry Award honor is given to a student who has demonstrated a strong commitment to people with disabilities, academic excellence, and the leadership qualities exemplified by Burberry’s own life. It is named in memory of the Berea native who was the first student with significant physical disabilities to graduate from Berea Community High School. He went to Berea College and UK, as a philosophy major. While a student at UK, Burberry worked with HDI to create training modules to train medical and allied health students on developmental disabilities. Though his life was cut short before graduation, he was posthumously awarded his UK degree with highest honors in 2004.
Congratulations, Bethaney Curry!