Dalton McBeath in Nicaragua
Lee University presented Dalton McBeath with the 2017 Zeno C. Tharp Award. Dr. Paul Conn, president of Lee, presented McBeath with the award during Honors Chapel.
Established in 1955, this annual award is given to a Lee senior who shows the greatest promise of making a significant contribution to the church. It is named in honor of the sixth president of Lee who served from 1935-44. Each department may nominate one student for the award, and of these nominees, a winner is selected by faculty vote. Mr. McBeath was nominated by the Department of Language and Literature.
“Dalton McBeath is a living testimony that there is no challenge too great to keep us from reaching the call God has on each of our lives,” said Dr. Chris Blake, associate professor of TESOL and linguistics. “When I think about the day I first met Dalton when he arrived at Lee and consider what an impact he has made on the TESOL program in the few short years he has been with us, I’m so grateful the Lord chose to bring him our way.”
Mr. McBeath will graduate this May magna cum laude with a double major in Theological Studies and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.
During his time at Lee, Mr. McBeath has been involved in a variety of campus clubs and organizations. He participated in Leetinos, Campus Choir, Residential Life and Housing, and has spoken several times for various chapel services. Mr. McBeath also served with various Cleveland organizations such as The Haven Place and Y-CAP, an intervention program that works with young students who have been referred through the juvenile court or school systems.
“Sequence of events at the beginning of my life subsequently defined the meaning of my existence,” said Mr. McBeath. “I am committed to sharing the same love that God has shown me to others.”
Mr. McBeath has taught English in the Lee English Language Center, at Lee TESOL camp, and at a school in Nicaragua.
“In powerful ways Dalton has already demonstrated to us his commitment to serve the Lord in his life—in who he is and in what he does,” said Dr. Jean Eledge, chair of the Department of Language and Literature. “His deep sense of calling and his academic preparation are now merging into his plans for future ministry, training, and teaching in a life dedicated to the Kingdom of God. We could not be more pleased that Dalton has received this deserved recognition as he graduates.”
Upon graduating, Mr. McBeath plans to attend graduate school and then go into evangelistic ministry and missions.
“I want to bring people into a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and be able to disciple them,” said Mr. McBeath. “I hope to be involved in a Bible school where I can train ministers to share the gospel while teaching them English for theological research and bivocational purposes.”