Academic Excellence

Craft Academy students recognized at regional business competition

30 March 2020

Students from Morehead State’s Craft Academy for Excellence in Science and Mathematics and their faculty coaches from the School of Business Administration (SBA) earned four first-place awards at the Entrepreneurial Coal Land Redevelopment Program (ECLRP) Regional Challenge held Thursday, March 12.

Coached by Dr. Amad Hassan, associate professor of management, and Dr. Fatma Mohamed, associate professor of management, the students earned first place awards in business development, regional challenge presentation and overall regional challenge for their presentation, “Reclamation of Unused Coal Fields through Bluegrass Adventures.” Hassan and Mohamed won the Coaches Award. Students involved in the challenge were:

Sheridan Combs, a junior form Hazard.
Anya Deaton, a senior from Alexandria.
Lydia Deaton, a senior from Alexandria.
Leanna Shelton, a senior from Vancleve.
Haley Turner, a junior from Hazard.

“I am so inspired and honored to participate in the ECLRP project and to be part of the efforts to improve the quality of life of many communities in Eastern Kentucky,” said Hassan, who praised the students involved for their work on the project. “Throughout the project, the team demonstrated great perseverance, enthusiasm and initiative. It was a pleasure to lead this group of hard working, intelligent and inquisitive young entrepreneurs.”

“My most important takeaway from this amazing program would be that it is possible to bring Eastern Kentucky up and away from poverty,” said Turner. “I have learned to advocate for the mountains instead of dismissing them.”

“Having the opportunity to complete this program was amazing. It taught me ways to be proactive in contributing to the economic situations around me and allowed me to educate others on the economy of Eastern Kentucky,” said Shelton. “My team and I have been shown kindness and saw the eagerness of wanting to help from members of the community. The value of constructive criticism and team member collaboration was illustrated through this program. The skills that I have learned and the passion I have saw [sic] throughout this program is something that I will carry with me throughout my career and life.”

"It is always wonderful to see great faculty and students recognized for great work. I couldn't be more proud of Dr. Hassan and Dr. Mohamed and the Craft Academy students that they have been working with,” said Dr. Johnathan Nelson, associate dean of the School of Business Administration. “I have seen the significant time that professors Hassan and Mohamed have devoted to coaching these students and know that these students have worked hard as well. I am proud of the way in which they have all represented MSU."

CEDAR, Inc. sponsors the ECLRP.

The students, Hassan and Mohamed, along with Craft Academy Research and Project Manager Rachel Blackwell, also presented their work at the 2020 Posters-at-the-Capitol event in Frankfort on Thursday, March 5.

For more information about programs in Morehead State’s School of Business Administration, visit www.moreheadstate.edu/business, email cbt@moreheadstate.edu or call 606-783-2090.

To learn more about the Craft Academy, visit www.moreheadstate.edu/craft-academy, email craftacademy@moreheadstate.edu or call 606-783-2093.

Photo caption: Pictured above, from left to right, are Dr. Amad Hassan, Craft Academy Students Sheridan Combs, Anya Deaton, Leanna Shelton, Lydia Deaton and Haley Turner, and Dr. Fatma Mohamed.