Oct. 9, 2012

For Immediate Release

By Joan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — Students in Campbellsville University's School of Education learned about Christian servant leadership as they were inducted into Alpha Epsilon Omicron chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, the international honor society in education, Oct. 7 at Ransdell Chapel.

Dr. Ted Taylor, professor of Christian studies, director of Leadership/Character Development Institute and lead professor of the sports ministry program, a member of KDP as is his wife and daughter, said the mission of KDP is close to CU's mission of preparing Christian servant leaders. He spoke of characteristics of Christ that the initiates should emulate.

He said they should live a life of passion. “Jesus was passionate,” Taylor said. “He knew who he was, and he wouldn't give up.”

He said the students should have heart and humility. He said servant leaders are humble and ego is another word for “edges God out.”

He urged the students to always put others before themselves and to live a life of service not status.
He quoted Luke 14:8-10, which says: “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

He told the students they will have to start at lower levels in their careers and must “pay your dues.”
Taylor pointed out that Jesus prayed for the man holding the hammer who was placing nails in his hands at the crucifixion. “Jesus knew Judas betrayed him, but he still washed his feet,” he said.

He quoted Mother Teresa who said, “We can do no great things; only small things with great love” and Albert Schweitzer who said, “The purpose of human life is to serve and show compassion and the will to help others.”

Taylor, who has been a pastor and professor for 40 years, gave the servant leadership lessons he has learned:
Servant leadership can be taught and learned but in order to be absorbed, it must be practiced; put people first … if we lose sight of people, we lose sight of the very purpose of servant leadership;

Servant leadership builds leaders for the next generation, and this happens when we invest into the lives of others; when we add value to people's lives, it usually means we get our hands dirty;

Serving others creates a culture that will live on through succeeding generations; servant leaders focus on the journey and those who will join them on the journey; the journey with people is as important as the destination;
Servant leadership looks for ways to build up people's lives; servant leadership flips the world's model of leadership upside down, and servant leaders produce servant leaders.

Kappa Delta Pi new initiates and officers for the Alpha Epsilon Omicron Chapter include from left: First row - Kristi Stillwell, Chasity Ballard and Megan Hermann. Second row - Nancy Newberry, Danielle Bastin, Jessica Egbert, Kelly Hill and Dr. Donna Hedgepath. Third row - Dr. Beverly Ennis, Jamaal Stiles, Bianca Graves-Lockhart, Paige Thompson, Marissa Brooks, Devin Reynolds and Alena Maggard. Fourth row - Dr. Carolyn Garrison, Dr. Ted Taylor, Brent Hatfield, Megan Parson, Courtney Gupton, DeMarcus Compton and Kaylynn Best. (Campbellsville University Photo by Joan C. McKinney)

The student initiates present at the ceremony were: Chasity Ballard of Bardstown, Ky., an elementary education major; Danielle Bastin of Yosemite, Ky., an elementary education major; Marissa Brooks of Louisville, Ky., interdisciplinary early childhood education major;

DeMarcus Compton of Campbellsville, special education major; Jessica Egbert of Madisonville, Ky., interdisciplinary early childhood education; Megan Herrmann of Burlington, Ky., middle grades mathematics major;

Kelly Hill of Springfield, Ky., middle grades mathematics and English major; Bianca Graves-Lockhart of Louisville, Ky., special education major;

Jamaal Stiles of Campbellsville, special education major; Kristi Stillwell of Elizabethtown, Ky., interdisciplinary early education major; and Paige Thompson of Campbellsville, middle grades English major.

Not present for the ceremony were Shelly Jeffries of Garfield, Ky., special education major; Sharri Trowell of Louisville, Ky., interdisciplinary early childhood education major; and Monika Wilson of Bowling Green, Ky., special education major.

Nancy Newberry, assistant professor of early childhood education, who teaches at the Louisville Education Center, was a faculty initiate.

The officers of Alpha Epsilon Omicron chapter of Kappa Delta Pi were sworn in as follows: Alena Maggard of Burnside, Ky., president; Devin Reynolds of Campbellsville, vice president; Megan Parson of Greensburg, Ky., secretary; Brent Hatfield of Campbellsville, membership chair;

Paige Thompson of Campbellsville, historian; Courtney Gupton of Knifley, Ky., treasurer; and Kaylynn Best of Harrodsburg, Ky., Student Government Association representative.

Dr. Beverly Ennis, left, and Dr. Carolyn Garrison, co-counselors for the chapter, look over the program for the initiation. (Campbellsville University Photo by Joan C. McKinney)

Installing the officers were Dr. Carolyn Garrison, professor of education, and Dr. Beverly Ennis, associate professor of education, who serve as co-counselors for the chapter.

Maggard led in the initiation of the members, and Hatfield and Reynolds presented the students' certificates. Hatfield introduced the guests present, and Best introduced Taylor.

Dr. Donna Hedgepath, associate professor of education, associate dean and chair of the undergraduate program, welcomed the audience and gave an opening prayer. She thanked the families who attended with their students and for the families' support.

Thompson gave a history of KDP, which began in 1911 at the University of Illinois. She said KDP was established to foster excellence in education and promote fellowship among those dedicated to teaching. The founders chose the name from the Greek words to represent knowledge, duty and power.

She said there are 600 chapters and more than 45,000 members in the international organization. The Rock of Ages Gospel performed special music. Members include: Brooke Gupton, CU financial aid counselor for regional and online programs, vocalist; Jerry Bagby, vocalist/guitar; Josh Gupton, vocalist/piano; Aron Neil, percussion, and Philip Price, bass guitar.

Campbellsville University is a Kentucky-based Christian university with over 3,600 students offering 63 undergraduate programs, 17 master's degrees and five postgraduate areas. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.