Community Service Awards 2019

At the April 4, 2019 dinner meeting, the Sewanee Civic Association (SCA) presented the 36th annual Community Service Award, and a Summa Cum Laude Award. The 2019 Community Service Award co-recipients were the Sherrill family and Amanda Knight. Kiki Beavers received the Summa Cum Laude Award.
If you need help, tell a Sherrill, or so goes the local maxim. Family patriarch James Sherrill served in an array of civic roles—cemetery caretaker, police officer, firefighter, and post office agent to name a few. His wife Cleo Sherrill was also an active community volunteer. The Sherrill children and grandchildren have extended the family legacy of community service coordinating the July Fourth celebration, assisting with Operation Noel, serving as firefighters and police officers, and reaching out to anyone in need. The family’s garden continues to feed the Sewanee flock. Police Officer Dylan McClure, grandson of James and Cleo, received the award on the family’s behalf.
Midway resident Amanda Knight’s gift is for making magic happen behind the scenes. Knight orchestrated receiving a grant to improve the Midway playground, organizes trunk or treat, meet Santa, and Easter egg hunts events, and helps coordinate the summer meals program. She’s worked for years on behalf of the Cowan-Sewanee Little League program and keeping the ball park in repair, along with organizing fundraisers and working at the concession stand. She also serves on the Sewanee Elementary School Parent Organization and the Community Council Parks Committee. Knight turned the opportunity to comment into an act of community service, remarking “If anyone would like to donate to the ball field, we’d really appreciate it. We need lights.”
Kiki Beavers received the Summa Cum Laude Award. The award recognizes volunteers whose longtime commitment to the community and behind the scenes work often goes unacknowledged. Beavers’ gift for organizing and promoting saw the SCA through successful Community Chest fundraising campaigns. As SCA president, Beavers was the driving force behind fundraising and coordinating the Elliott Park renovation, seeing the years’ long project through to completion. Outside the SCA, Beavers has volunteered for the St. Andrew’s-Sewanee Parents’ Council auction, worked with the youth soccer organization, and helped with many other youth activities.
In receiving the award, Beavers said, “I accept this award on behalf of anyone who ever stood up and said, ‘I’ll go coach that team, I’ll be on the PTO. I’ll run your fundraiser or spaghetti dinner.’ On behalf of anyone who went out and mowed the soccer and baseball fields every single week, on behalf of anyone who has ever done anything community minded. Everyone has something to give, whether it is time or money. You need to support what matters.”