For ALC employee Mary Turner, going to the Knott County Gingerbread Festival Civic Night was another opportunity to support her community. Little did she know, the community was recognizing her as the 2020 Young Woman of the Year.
Since 2005, when Mary first stepped on Caney Creek as an Alice Lloyd College student, she quickly welcomed Knott County as her new home. For 14 years, she has worked as an ALC Admissions Counselor, where she sees firsthand students’ desires for education and strives to meet their needs for the upcoming school year. Every year she asks her friends and neighbors to “adopt” a student in order to provide dorm room supplies he or she may lack. In addition to making sure students have school supplies to begin the year, Mary also sets up a Blessing Corner where she keeps it stocked with snacks, meals, cleaning supplies, and personal hygiene products for students.
Mary shares her heart for giving back by sponsoring ALC’s Campus Ministries. Through the program, she provides students with several opportunities to serve Knott County and the Appalachian region. Organizing a clean-up day at Camp Nathaneal, making blankets for the nursing home residents, and participating in Operation Christmas Child are just a few of the service projects Mary Turner has helped organize. She also promotes Campus Ministries’ Wednesday evening studies.
During her time at ALC, Mary has demonstrated what it means to be a true servant leader. Her desire to give back is infectious, and each new school year, she inspires a new group of students to serve their community. ALC is thankful to have such a wonderful staff, alumni, and community member living out their purpose on the Purpose Road. Congratulations, Mary Turner, on being named the 2020 Young Woman of the Year.