Aaron Blankenship, West Virginia Collegiate Recovery Network (WVCRN) team member and peer recovery support specialist at Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College will be honored with the ARHE Cornerstone Award for Student Support at the 2024 Association of Recovery in Higher Education (ARHE) National Collegiate Recovery Conference in San Diego, California, this summer. The award honors an individual or organization who has gone above and beyond to support students in recovery.
The Cornerstone Award recognizes and celebrates the core of what the field is about: supporting students in recovery.
The WVCRN is housed in the Marshall University Research Corporation at Marshall University under the direction of Susie Mullens with support from the Marshall University Center of Excellence for Recovery.
“Through his unwavering dedication and tireless efforts, Aaron Blankenship exemplifies the essence of the ARHE Cornerstone Award for Student Support,” said Dr. Pamela Alderman, president of Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College. “His commitment to going above and beyond in supporting students in recovery transforms lives and serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration for our community. We celebrate Aaron’s profound impact and recognize him as a cornerstone of support for those navigating the recovery journey.”
His role as a peer recovery support specialist is pivotal in providing comprehensive support to students at various stages of their recovery journey. Alderman says he goes the extra mile to ensure that every student, staff, faculty and community member has access to the resources and training they need to thrive in recovery.
“His recovery has given him the empathy and drive to work passionately with students and the recovery community,” said Hattie Newsome, student success coordinator for Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College.
The ARHE National Collegiate Recovery Conference serves as a platform for professionals, advocates and individuals passionate about collegiate recovery to come together, share insights and celebrate achievements in supporting those on the path to recovery.
For more information about the West Virginia Collegiate Recovery Network or the Association of Recovery in Higher Education (ARHE), please visit https://www.wvcollegiaterecovery.com/ and https://collegiaterecovery.org/.