By TWC Communications
ATHENS, Tenn. (July 2, 2015) -- Tennessee Wesleyan College professor of religion and philosophy Dr. Sam Roberts received the Francis Asbury Award at the Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church’s Holston Conference on June 9 in Lake Junaluska, N.C .
“It’s nice to be recognized by colleagues and peers,” Roberts said. “It’s especially nice to be recognized by the church. I’ve always taken the college’s relationship with the church seriously and tried to respect and honor that.”
This award honors a person who has made a significant contribution to the fields of higher education and campus ministry at the local, district, or annual conference level of the United Methodist Church. United Methodists were encouraged by Bishop Francis Asbury to build schools near churches so that young people would have easier access to education and more opportunities to expand their horizons.
“The important thing for me has always been the students,” Roberts said. “I would like for them to understand themselves as part of a community. Our students care about each other. In this community, we get a glimpse of what is promised to come.”