From the Nominator

"Hopkinsville Community College hosted the commemoration of the 70th birthday of the late Gloria Jean Watkins, better known by her pen name bell hooks, on Sept. 25, 2022, in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. The event provided the opportunity to celebrate and honor the legacy of hooks in a campus space ideal for commemoration—Round Table Literary Park. Representation of the world-renowned author on the preeminent post-secondary educational institution in the region was important to organizers as well as the community and college foundation. The HCC Foundation sought to provide long overdue homage to bell hooks and to add tangible representation to the beautiful park on campus.  

Over 100 guests attended the ticketed luncheon, heard inspirational speeches by young people from the community, witnessed the reveal of the bronze feature of a young African American girl and the community connection to the college, intentionally cognizant of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging goals. In anecdotal surveys, we discovered that many residents of Christian County did not know who bell hooks was or anything about her life’s work. The absence of teaching, particularly about significant African American figures in Kentucky and world history like hooks will be addressed, and her story amplified as the feature is added to the park."

From the Judges

The panel felt this was a sincere event, with an excellent focus on bringing the community together around a prominent hometown figure. Judges felt that, while the specific focus on the event was very unique to your area, this approach to celebrating those community members who have great local importance is replicable for an institution of any size or location.