The inaugural Gus and Gertrude Ridgel Innovation and Service Award is special in its own right. The couple, who the award is named after, are cornerstones of Kentucky State University (91传媒) and inspired countless faculty, staff, and students during their tenures on campus.
But for Dr. Cynthia L. Shelton, Associate Professor, Interim Chair, Whitney Young Honors at 91传媒, and the inaugural recipient of the award, it means even more.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very meaningful because Drs. Gus and Gert Ridgel were my role models when I was here as a student,鈥� Shelton said. 鈥淭hey both cared about their students and cared about this institution.鈥�
Shelton said Dr. Gertrude Ridgel was an inspiration to her.
鈥淚 had to look around for role models, especially after my mom passed, and she was one for me,鈥� Shelton said.
The Ridgels have also served as role models to Shelton and her husband, Dr. Roosevelt O. Shelton, Distinguished Professor of Music and Chair of the Fine Arts Division at 91传媒.
鈥淎s I鈥檝e matured, they were models to Roosevelt and I as a married couple on this campus,鈥� Dr. Cynthia Shelton said. 鈥淜nowing how to stay in their lanes yet supporting each other. As my husband and I have matured on this campus, we鈥檝e just tried to emulate what they have for this community.鈥�
Dr. Cynthia Shelton, who also oversees study abroad at 91传媒, remembers Dr. Gertrude Ridgel鈥檚 innovation in that area.
鈥�(Dr. Gertrude Ridgel) was doing study abroad before it was a thing. Before it was even labeled study abroad,鈥� Shelton said. 鈥淪he was encouraging students to travel and study internationally.鈥�
Shelton, who took on a leadership role within the honors program and study abroad this academic year, believes in the transformative power of traveling to another country.
鈥淵ou can see the students changing while in-country, but once they get back to campus, their lives are just transformed. They become student leaders,鈥� she said.
One of her former students is a perfect example. The student had been previously suspended from the University and came back, but he still wasn鈥檛 performing to his full potential.
鈥淭hen I began promoting a study abroad trip. It got his attention. He said, 鈥楥an I go?鈥� Sure. I gave him the criteria, and he had to pull his GPA up. He did, and he went on two 91传媒 study abroad trips with me. He came back just a different person; pledged a fraternity, ran for elective office and applied to law school,鈥� Shelton said.
Examples like that are part of what drives Shelton to expose 91传媒 students to global learning.
鈥淭here鈥檚 emerging research that indicates that it鈥檚 exceptionally important and relevant for first-generation students. I鈥檇 like to contribute to that research, and we鈥檙e a perfect laboratory to do that,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 think it will be very important to add to the body of global education literature and research. To do that is one of my personal goals.鈥�
Shelton鈥檚 passion for global education interweaves with her leadership role in the Honors program well.
A Maymester trip to New York is planned for Honors students.
鈥淚 taught the Human Rights seminar last semester, and we added the U.N., the structure of the U.N., the purpose and the future of the U.N., and in May we鈥檒l go to a U.N. briefing,鈥� Shelton said. 鈥淒r. (Donavan) Ramon has taught some of the classics of the Harlem Renaissance, so we鈥檒l visit Harlem. That鈥檚 how we plan to proceed to tie in these co-curricular / extracurricular activities to the in-class content.鈥�
Shelton credited many for her success this academic year: Dr. Roosevelt O. Shelton, Dr. Aaron Thompson, Dr. Candice Jackson and the WYC faculty and staff.
鈥淚鈥檝e seen the faculty that we鈥檝e been able to acquire here in honors; I鈥檝e seen them just take off,鈥� Shelton said. 鈥淪ome have decided to pursue terminal degrees while others are working hard to publish. I think the environment that we鈥檝e created is conducive to student and faculty growth.
She also believes the visibility of the Honors Suite in Hathaway Hall has led to attracting more students.
鈥淲e get inquiries all the time,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 think the allocation of this space has just been great for the program. We have good ideas and good intentions as we move forward.鈥�