"Jacob Johnson has maintained a 4.0 GPA as a History major with a minor in Appalachian Studies and a certificate in Environmental Education. These intertwined academic pursuits are reflected in the stellar work he has performed throughout his time at EKU. Beginning with the support of the McNair Summer Research Program in Summer 2021, Jacob has crafted a powerful research project titled, “Hell in the Hollows: Community Response to Strip Mining in Eastern Kentucky from 1946-1981.” This project examines the history of strip mining in Appalachia, the grassroots organizations that rose in opposition to and support of strip mining, and the impact of these developments on the idea of the commons in reclamation projects throughout the region.
