Inside Appalachia: Four Women's Journeys to the Top

This week on Inside Appalachia, we’ll hear stories of women whose grit and determination changed their own lives – and changed other people’s lives, too. We’ll hear from women who overcame a lot of challenges to succeed as students, musicians, entrepreneurs and educators.

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This week, we’ll hear from:

• Mrs. Eunice Fleming: An African American woman who went to school in the 40’s and went on to inspire others as a school teacher.

• Dr. Ollie Watts Davis: Once Mrs. Fleming’s student, Davis has had a very successful classical music career. She received a DMA in music from the University of Illinois, and she’s performed all over the world. When she made her debut at Carnegie Hall in 1990, Mrs. Fleming traveled to New York to see it.

• Dr. Kendra Boggess:  From scrubbing floors at her parents’ business in Florida to a University president in West Virginia, Boggess doesn’t have your typical higher education background.

• Judy Sheppard: The leader of a successful business based in her home state. Sheppard grew up with what she calls “nothing” – no electricity, no running water, no telephone, no television, and no toys.  

What’s in a Name … a segment on Inside Appalachia that explores the history and folklore of the names of Appalachian places.

This week …

        How did Mt. Hope, West Virginia get its name?

1. Was it because it was founded by Bob Hope?

2. Was it named after the inspiring views that incoming settlers first noticed?

3. Was it named after a young girl named Hope who lived in the area?

Listen to the episode to find out. 
    

If you have another story about Mt. Hope, or know of another place in Appalachia with an interesting sound or mysterious folklore behind it, send us a tweet @InAppalachia #WhatsinaName.

We had help producing Inside Appalachia this week from Inspiring West Virginians. Music in today’s show was provided by Darlingside, with “God of Loss”as heard on Mountain Stage, Ollie Watts Davis, Ethel Caffie Austin, and Jake Schepps. Our What’s in a Name theme music is byMarteka and William with “Johnson Ridge Special” from their Album Songs of a Tradition.

We’d love to hear from you.   You can e-mail us at feedback@wvpublic.org. Find us on Twitter@InAppalachia or@JessicaYLilly.

Never miss a show! Subscribe to our Inside Appalachia podcast here or on iTunes here, or on Soundcloud here or on Stitcher here.