UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
EARLY CHILDHOOD, SPECIAL EDUCATI
Burberry Award Winner Believes
Every Child Can Learn
The University of Kentucky Human Development Institute
(HDI) has named Allie Rhodes winner of the 2014 Paul
Kevin Burberry Award.
Rhodes is a a doctoral student in the Department of Early
Childhood, Special Education, and Rehabilitation in the UK
College of Education and the HDI Evaluation Unit research
assistant. Her doctoral work has focused on communication
disorders.
The award is named in memory of the Berea native who
pioneered a trail in the public school system as the first
student with significant physical disabilities, due to cerebral
palsy, to complete Berea Community High School. Burberry
graduated with highest honors and went on to attend Berea
College and the University of Kentucky, where he was
majoring in philosophy. He was an exemplary student whose
life was cut short prior to his anticipated graduation, with
honors, in May 2004.
The award — the highest student honor awarded annually
4
by HDI — is given to a student involved with HDI who has
exemplified in his or her life the leadership, advocacy and
commitment to persons with disabilities and their families
that Burberry demonstrated in his own life.
“More than anything else, Allie shows us that every child
can learn, that every life must be meaningful, that every
person has something valuable to contribute,” said Chithra
Adams, HDI director of evaluation and Rhodes’ supervisor.
“In other words, she is the very personification of HDI and
what we stand for.”
HDI Director Harold Kleinert commended Allie for her
“passionate focus” on the application of assistive technology
to improve the life of individuals with the most significant
disabilities.
“Allie is a tremendously positive person, who deftly handles
the demands of wife and mother, doctoral student, and
evaluation assistant, with a truly balanced and wise outlook
on those parts of our lives that matter most deeply,” he said.
COE COMMUNICATOR | SEPTEMBER 2014