Ashley Matthews is pictured here during her trip to Guatemala.
Lee University recognized Ashley Matthews as the 2015 recipient of the Zeno C. Tharp Award during Honors Chapel. She will be recognized for this honor again at Lee’s Commissioning service on Friday, May 8.
Established in 1955, this annual award is given to the 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 a faculty vote. Ms. Matthews was nominated by both the Language and Literature and the History, Political Science, and Humanities departments for the award.
“Ashley’s life, not just in action, but in attitude of deepest humility, points anyone who interacts with her to Christ,” said Dr. Jean Eledge, professor of French and chair of the Department of Language and Literature. “Serving the Kingdom of God is not just something Ashley Matthews has done or even will do—it is absolutely who she is.”
A native of Sanford, North Carolina, Ms. Matthews is graduating magna cum laude with bachelor’s degrees in Spanish education and history. She is currently teaching Spanish II at Bradley High School as an interim teacher.
Ms. Matthews, an All-American cross-country runner, has been on the team since coming to Lee in 2011. She serves as president of Sigma Delta Pi, the national collegiate Spanish honor society.
“My own faith is shaped by these moments when God did not have to choose me, but He loved me enough to make me uncomfortable and draw me closer to Himself,” said Ms. Matthews.
She has served in numerous missional positions, including camp director for TEAMeffort Youth Missions in Puerto Rico, Antigua, and Guatemala; translator for Sharing Christ Our Redeemer Enterprises (SCORE) International; camp counselor for Word of Life in Costa Rica and Panama; and day care worker for First United Methodist Church in Cleveland.
“Ashley serves as a role model for anyone who hopes to advance the gospel,” said Dr. John Coats, associate professor of history. “She not only seeks out ways to serve others and further the work of Christ, but she does so with great humility and grace.”