Students Embody the Spirit of Servant Leadership
Juniors Avala Elwood of Carpinteria and Isaiah Conway of Spring Valley won David K. Winter Servant Leadership Awards for their selflessness and humility as effective leaders. Angela D’Amour ’01, dean of students, presented the 26th annual awards to the students in Murchison Gym.
“Being a servant leader in our culture today is rare and desperately needed,” D’Amour said.
Elwood, a political science major, serves as a captain of the women’s tennis team, and has created an uplifting team atmosphere. She arranged to have role models speak with the team and organized team chapels and other gatherings for teammates to share devotionals.
“Avala’s influence extends into the classroom and the broader campus community,” D’Amour said. “She is always intentional about supporting others. Her ability to lead with compassion and clarity fosters an environment where individuals feel valued, confident and empowered to succeed.”
Conway has served as a resident chaplain for the past two years and as a student leader representative for outreach events for the physics and math departments.
“Isaiah truly enjoys lifting others up, which is a very rare quality in our competitive world,” says professor Adam Goodworth. “He actually views success as others doing well and him playing a role in this lifting up of others reaching their potential, and living the life God wants.”
“I am so grateful for every class that I have with Isaiah in it because I know that he will set an example that will immediately positively impact all of the other students in the class,” says professor Anna Aboud.
The award is named in honor of David K Winter, who served as Ƶ president for 25 years and modeled both skilled leadership and a huge servant’s heart.