Recipients of the Bryan Caring Award 2008: Student Receipt Matt Cupstas, Dr. McLeod Bryan and Faculty/Staff Recipients Sam and Janet Bingham. The award banquet was held March 31, 2008.

Caring Award Recipients and Keynote Speakers

2006-2007

Faculty/Staff Recipient: Kevin Barnette

Student Recipient: Mary Margaret Fulk

2005-2006

Faculty/Staff Recipient: Leslee Johnson

Student Recipient: David Thon

2004-2005

Faculty/Staff Recipient: Julia Nooe, Social Work Department, recognized for leadership in race relations, especially her leadership on the board of the Martin Luther King Annual Prayer Breakfast, for her work with animal rescue, and for her steady support for students of color

Student Recipient: Kristalyn Bunyan, recognized for founding the student Peace and Justice Coalition, work with Habitat for Humanity, and community-based research work with local Hispanic families

Keynote Speaker: Dr. William H. Turner, Vice President for Special Initiatives and Associate Provost for Multicultural Affairs at the University of Kentucky

2003-2004

Faculty/Staff Recipient: Jim Utterback, Business Department, recognized for leadership on the board of our local chapter of Habitat for Humanity

Student Recipient: Frank Beacham, recognized for consistent participation in the local Kiwanis club and service in health care organizations

Keynote Speaker: Ken Sehested, Senior Fellow, Institute for Servant Leadership

2002-2003

Faculty/Staff Recipient: Dr. Grainger Caudle, Business Department, recognized for board work with several community organizations, including Habitat for Humanity and HelpMate

Student Recipient: Amy Hanes, recognized for significant work with women’s issues, particularly the Clothesline Project in collaboration with HelpMate to raise awareness of domestic violence

Keynote Speaker: Gary Gunderson, Public Health expert with The Carter Center

2001-2002

Faculty/Staff Recipient: Dr.. Tom Plaut, Sociology Department and CARA—the Center for Assessment and Research Alliances, recognized for long years of service building grassroots health coalitions in rural counties

Student Recipient: Angela Dolezal, recognized for significant work with the Hispanic community in Yancey County

Keynote Speaker: Will Campbell, author, civil rights activist

2000-2001

Faculty/Staff Recipient: Debra Huff, Associate Campus Minister, recognized for significant work with Mount’n Hopes Therapeutic Riding Center as well as many alternative break service trips with New Beginning Singers

Student Recipient: Beth Honeycutt, recognized for leadership in getting Christian Student Movement more involved in community service, and for making the connections between service, spirituality, and social justice

Keynote Speaker: Huston Robertson, author, expert on world religion

1999-2000

Faculty/Staff Recipient: Dr. Betty Powell, English Department and Women’s Studies, recognized for making connections between her English courses, women’s studies courses, and various community causes, including domestic violence, environmental protection, and human rights

Student Recipient: Selena Hilemon, recognized for establishing an after school enrichment center in a local public housing development

Keynote Speaker: Phyllis Tribble, Wake Forest Divinity School

1998-1999

Faculty/Staff Recipient: Kathy Meacham, Department of Religion and Philosophy, recognized for years of service-learning work, taking student groups to the Open Door in Atlanta, Jubilee Partners in Comer, Georgia, Hospitality House in Asheville, and countless other connections.

Student Recipient: Joseph Jenkins, recognized for significant work with Manna Food Bank and for tutoring and mentoring work with children in local schools

Keynote Speaker: Archie Logan, Executive Director, General Baptist Convention of NC

1997-1998

Faculty/Staff Recipient: Rev. Paula Dempsey, Campus Minister, recognized for her work in establishing a partnership between Mars Hill and Piedrecitas, Cuba, and for strengthening our ties with African American churches in the Asheville area

Student Recipient: Criss Barin, recognized for her work in establishing a literary/philosophy circle in the Black Mountain Women’s Prison

Keynote Speaker: George Williamson, Founder, Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America