Matt Crumb of Mokena, Ill., and Bobbi Thornton of Tiverton, R.I., have been named the 2012 recipients of the Servant Leadership Award from Palm Beach Atlantic University.
Matt Crumb
Matt CrumbThe Servant Leadership Award recognizes students who are leaders in the areas of ministry and community service. Awards are provided through a generous donation from Sam and Betsy Reeves of North Palm Beach.
The award totals $1,000 with $750 going toward a scholarship and $250 contributed to a charity of the recipient’s choice. A committee of University faculty and staff chose Crumb and Thornton for their acts of service on campus and beyond.
Crumb is a junior who is majoring in political science and minoring in ministry leadership studies. He has been a member of the varsity men’s soccer team since 2009 and was named team captain in 2011.
He has served as a resident assistant and assistant resident director, and he has been a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Leadership Team since the fall of 2009. Crumb presently serves as an intern to U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Plantation.
He said his desire to serve others comes from his status as a servant of Jesus Christ. “There is no better feeling in life than bringing joy to others, and that is all the motivation I need,” he wrote in his application for the award.
Crumb has chosen Feeding Children Everywhere, Crossroads Community Church and PBA missions as his charities.
Bobbi Thornton
Bobbi Thornton
Also in her junior year, Thornton is majoring in business management and minoring in public relations. Her on-campus activities include serving as an Impact Leadership Team assistant; Improv comedy team (A.L.I.C.E.) member; Chapel Praise Team member; Monday Night Live performer; Battle of the Bands co-host, regular performer at PBA’s coffeehouse; and Welcome Week Steering Committee member and co-director.
Her numerous community involvements stem from her high school years, when she and her sister created a community service organization entitled H.O.P.E. (Helping Others, Pursuing Excellence). At PBA, she received the Southern Self-Storage Scholarship in 2010 and was recognized at the University’s American Free Enterprise Day ceremony.
”Being allowed to serve at PBA has impacted my growth tremendously,” Thornton wrote. “My walk with the Lord, my relationships and my overall attitude towards service have been transformed.”
Thornton chose as her charity Newport Community Church in Newport, R.I.
