Students embody servant-leadership “here and now”

The histories of Carson-Newman University and Jefferson County are inseparable. One cannot be told without the other. Carson-Newman was founded in 1851 with the name “Mossy Creek Missionary Baptist Seminary,” and Jefferson City was known simply as, “Mossy Creek.” Both have grown since those early years, with Carson-Newman enjoying the support of the local community and government. In return, the University has become a major economic contributor to the county, having an annual economic impact of more than $100 million on the Jefferson County economy, as reported in a 2023-24 Younger Associates study.

But even beyond that, Carson-Newman’s Christ-centered mission compels faculty, staff and students to have an eternal impact on the world around them – starting at home.

Situated on the southern portion of Carson-Newman’s campus, sits a building that houses ongoing activity and a heart full of that very mission. Carson-Newman’s Center for Community Engagement (CCE) is a hub for fostering an inviting spirit of collaboration and – as the name states – community.

Overseeing the center’s operation is its director, Courtenay Folk. It’s a role she has relished since arriving on campus in 2023. Her journey to Carson-Newman began while working with her husband as full-time missionaries in Costa Rica. Reflecting on that experience, Folk has no problem connecting the dots to where she is now.

“I fully think God was preparing me with what He was having me do there,” she said, pointing to similarities she found when she embraced the role of CCE director.

“What I enjoy most about my job is getting a front-row seat to watch students grow into servant-leaders who actually change our community for the better. I love seeing the switch flip when a student realizes that their gifts, their major, and their faith can all come together in very practical ways to love their neighbors.”

The idea of training a generation of servant-leaders was already close to Folk’s heart. Empowered and encouraged by Carson-Newman’s administration, Folk has taken ideas and made them realities. This is evident in the creation of “Six8 Scholars,” based on Micah 6:8 in the Bible.

“I love that verse,” she said. “‘To do justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God’- those three things. I just really feel called to the idea of raising up servant-leaders.”

The program benefits students with scholarship money while emphasizing a commitment to service and academic development – rooted in Biblical servant-leadership.

Six8 Scholars joins two other service scholarship programs within Carson-Newman’s CCE: Community Connections Scholars and Bonner Scholars.

Each offers different opportunities for students to grow, develop and discover their purpose while earning valuable scholarship dollars.

In what even became the focus of C-N’s new enrollment campaign, students are taught that they do not have to wait to graduate to have a positive impact. They are empowered to be difference makers, “here and now,” in the lives of those around them. That difference is seen throughout the greater community as it receives over 18,000 total student service-hours per year.

Part of this was witnessed during the University’s annual Serve Day in the fall, where over 600 participants took part in outreach projects across Jefferson County and the surrounding area. Such local project sites included Agape Acres, Jefferson County Baptist Association, Isaiah 117 House, Newborns in Need, area schools and churches, Renovatus, Boys and Girls Club of Dumplin Valley, Head Start, LifeCare, and White Pine Senior Citizen Center.“Through hands-on service, whether packing meals for local non-profits, reading with children, or supporting area ministries, participants became the hands and feet of Jesus to our neighbors,” said Folk.

Freshman Nate Ball and his team helped with needs at the University’s Appalachian Ministries of the Smokies (AMOS). “It was such a great experience,” said Ball. “We helped move paint, carried boxes, and even built a shelf together. Already can’t wait for next year.”

Whereas Serve Day allows for students to go out into the community, “Eagles Night” invites the community to campus for an evening of family fun. In only its second year, Folk says Eagles Night has already had a tremendous impact. Featuring food, a variety of games with members of the Eagles athletic teams, and photos with C-N’s mascot “Talon,” the occasion also supports local ministries.

“From the requested donation items at the door, to the money spent on food, this event directly supports Isaiah 117 House and Appalachian Ministries of the Smokies (AMOS),” said Folk. “So families can know that their fun night out is also blessing vulnerable children and families in our region.”

Folk says that both Serve Day and Eagles Night are just two examples of the many ways the University is preparing students to serve their community, region and the world around them.

“I hope that as the bonds between Carson-Newman and local organizations deepen, our community partners will see our campus as a trusted, long-term ally in addressing real needs,” said Folk. “Ultimately, my prayer is that Jefferson City and the surrounding region will be different because generations of Eagles learned here how to love God and love people in very practical, relational ways.”