By Vince Teresi
Mount Angel’s Kurt Berning has an unquenchable thirst for learning new things, soaking up knowledge.
The former Kennedy High School valedictorian and student body president recently received his diploma from the University of Portland. His next educational adventure will be studying at University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom, all made possible by receiving the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship.
The “Fulbright” is given to those interested in studying, assist in teaching English or conducting research abroad. About 1,700 students receive a Fulbright U.S. Student grant to go overseas each year.
Berning applied to study in the United Kingdom. In 2010, 603 students applied and only 26 received the scholarship. Earning a Fulbright will help Berning in his career goals.
“I’m interested in improving education systems in developing countries, so pursing a master’s degree in development and education is the perfect route toward attaining that goal,” Berning said. “This type of degree would give me the skills, insight, and network needed to work on a global scale and empower communities to improve educational systems.”
Berning selected the University of East Anglia because it offers the top education and development program in the United Kingdom.
“It is hive of international development, and its universities welcome students from the entire world to study and achieve prestigious degrees,” he said. “UEA’s academic quality is ranked next to Oxford for its performance in development, studies, and its specific education and development program is exactly suited to my career goals.”
Berning earned a 3.90 grade point average at the University of Portland, majoring in finance and operations, plus technology management. He attributes much of his academic achievement to his motivational foundation at the high school level.
“Kennedy High is a small high school in a small town, meaning that the level of connectivity and community at the school is quite unique,” Berning said. “When you are in that type of community, surrounded by a group of skilled and dedicated educators, you become confident and driven to succeed.”
“Kennedy taught me the same academic skills as almost any other high school, but what I learned that set me apart was the value of community and relationships.”
Berning said he believes there are many weaknesses in the current educational approach in America.
“I think our basic education system is based off an old model that doesn’t address the needs of today’s students,” Berning said. “First of all, our education system doesn’t do enough to lessen the inequality gap between groups of class or ethnicity.”
He said he is an advocate of year-round schooling (spreading the summer break into three one-month breaks), and full funding for Head Start programs around the country, which have been shown to improve the results of both students and parents.
“I also believe teachers should be paid higher salaries, and middle and high schools should have a multitude of programs that involve students in business/community activities and meaningfully engage them outside of the classroom,” he said.
Berning said math and science are important to emphasize, but he thinks a quote by Albert Einstein summarizes his views on schools: “Everybody is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
Berning said he didn’t succeeded in college because of his intellectual ability.
“I’ve succeeded because I love connecting with people, and I value the relationships I build with friends, business mentors, and professors,” he said.
