DOBSON — Kennette Lawrence Thomas, an English instructor at Surry Community College, was the recent recipient of the Francis Asbury Award, presented to her by Rev. Lory Beth Huffman, director of connectional ministries in the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church. The award was made earlier this year and announced later at the Western North Carolina Annual Conference at Lake Junaluska.
The Francis Asbury Award is given annually to one clergy person involved in campus ministry within each conference and is sponsored by The General Board of Higher Education & Ministry of the United Methodist Church, according to information from the community college. “Francis Asbury was a prominent early American Methodist bishop,” the college said.
Alongside co-advisors Laura Hudson, SCC lead Spanish instructor, and Leslie Faistl, SCC accounting instructor, Thomas has been involved with campus ministry for the past decade through Alpha Omega Campus Ministry and Fellowship, which has offered or participated in leading on-campus book studies, devotions, prayer time, opportunities for campus service. Among those services are Eggstravaganza, Open House, and Angel Tree, special observances including Ash Wednesday and National Day of Prayer, community outreach, and encouragement of faculty and staff, with a Blessing of the Hands to start the academic year.
In addition to helping lead Alpha Omega, Thomas worked with community partners to establish The Little Free Pantry of Surry Community College in 2018 and has secured grant funding, financial donations, and contribution of various supplies such as diapers, back-to-school items, and knitted caps from individuals, as well as campus and community organizations, to sustain this resource for the college campus.
Central United Methodist Church, where Thomas is a part-time clergy staff member, has been one of the most significant contributors to stocking the pantry over the past several years, with the most recent campaign providing “Dinners in a Bag” prior to the holidays and during the spring months. During the pandemic, Thomas partnered with members of the congregation to sew, pack, and stock the pantry with masks, hand sanitizers, prayer/comfort squares, and encouraging notes. The church will also be contributing to the pantry with Welcome Back to SCC kits this August.
Thomas has been a faculty member within the English and Humanities Division since 2003 and teaches composition, literature, and humanities and religion courses.
