Milligan College took the opportunity to honor seven residents from the area for being servant leaders during the annual Leaders in Christian Service Convocation inside Seeger Memorial Chapel Tuesday morning.
“The purpose of this program is to provide examples of people who are doing an outstanding job of integrating their faith with their profession,” Milligan President Dr. Bill Greer said in a statement issued to the Elizabethton Star. “We see in these individuals wonderful examples of what servant leadership is all about and what it can look like on a daily basis in a variety of professions.”
The 2017 Leaders in Christian Service were introduced by Dr. Garland Young, vice president of Academic Affairs and Dean. The individuals honored include:
• Betsy Beaver, Johnson City — A community volunteer and founder of The River, a ministry that has served over 500 women and children. She attends First Presbyterian Church in Johnson City.
• Jeff Dykes, Johnson City — The CEO of Johnson City Power Board. He attends Southside Christian Church in Elizabethton.
• Pat Hicks, Elizabethton — A retired teacher and administrator that serves on the Carter County Board of Education. He attends Southside Christian Church in Elizabethton.
• Jeff Keeling, Johnson City — The vice president of communications for Appalachian Community Federal Credit Union and former reporter for various newspapers. He attends Grandview Christian Church in Johnson City.
• Carolyn Kerr, Johnson City — Office manager of the Outpatient Cytopathology Center. She attends Piney Flats United Methodist Church.
• Martha Laws, Johnson City — A retired teacher from the Elizabethton City Schools System. She attends First Baptist Church in Elizabethton.
• Lisa Tipton, Johnson City — Executive director of Families Free. She attends Christ Fellowship in Kingsport.
Dr. Greer welcomed attendees and praised the effort of each and every individual that was honored during the day. Along with the welcome, the president welcomed Dykes — who served as the guest speaker.
An Elizabethton native, Dykes is no stranger to being a leader. For over 25 years, the current Power Board CEO has worked at different locations, including Savannah River Site in South Carolina, Veolia Kansas City Energy and Veolia Missouri Energy, Newport Utilities and the Elizabethton Electric System before coming to Johnson City. Dykes’ wife, Ricki, also teaches special education at Lake Ridge Elementary in Johnson City.
With a bevy of knowledge and experience to pull from, Dykes spoke to students and shared stories of fatherhood, his work in the power industry and even shared some moments during his basketball playing days at Elizabethton High School and discussing his talks with his father.
While noting the good and the bad in life, Dykes encouraged students to always keep their heads up and put their faith in Christ once they graduate from Milligan.
“Never get too low to where you can’t look up,” Dykes said. “Always look up to know you can see your Father’s eye looking down on you for guidance … Milligan is preparing you to go out in this world with a great Christian background and to be next leaders of the community.”