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Kristin Lock receives award for outstanding service

Liberty University senior Kristin Lock received this year’s Christian/Community Service Volunteer of the Year Award in Wednesday’s Convocation for her outstanding contribution and commitment to service in Autism Speaks U (ASU).

Lock started Liberty’s chapter of ASU, a program designed to support college students in their awareness, advocacy, and fundraising efforts for Autism Speaks. She has contributed more than 160 hours in Christian service this year, helping ASU raise more than $13,000 through various fundraisers.

Lock’s interest in autism awareness sparked as she worked with an autistic individual for three years. She has channeled that passion by working with ASU and studying Special Education at Liberty.

Dr. Deanna Keith (left), ASU faculty sponsor; Kristin Lock, Liberty’s 2013 CSER Volunteer of the Year; Dr. Lew Weider, director of Christian/Community Service; and Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr.

“I was really impacted by the way people with autism interacted with people — how they were different, but they weren’t less,” Lock said.

Dr. Deanna Keith, the faculty sponsor for ASU, said Lock has gone above and beyond in her service.

“In addition to Kristin’s many accomplishments, I believe it is the essence of who Kristin is as a person that makes her such a phenomenal individual and so deserving of this honor. Kristin possesses such character and leadership that she will be an amazing representative of Liberty University,” Keith said.

The Volunteer of the Year Award is presented annually to a student who demonstrates excellence in Christian service and ministry. Students are nominated by their supervisors at the organizations where they volunteer.

Liberty requires students to complete a minimum of 20 hours of Christian service each semester to fulfill graduation requirements and support the mission of the university to serve others.

Evangelist Tim Lee

The award was presented before the guest speaker, Tim Lee, a retired Marine, longtime friend of Liberty, and member of Liberty’s Board of Trustees, delivered the main Convocation message (see it on Liberty’s YouTube channel).

Lee encouraged students to share their story of God’s grace in their life and shared his own story of how he lost his legs in a land mine explosion while serving in the Vietnam War in 1971. Up to that point, he had been running from God, he said, but decided that day to turn his life around.He said he could have “wallowed in pity and bitterness,” but rather made the choice to be thankful. Lee said he knew it was God who had spared his life. Today, he is an acclaimed evangelist and has won many souls for the Lord with his testimony.“Make a commitment today, this last Wednesday Convocation, right there where you sit, say ‘God, I want to have a story for Jesus Christ,’” Lee said.Lee also was the featured Convocation speaker last fall during Liberty’s Military Emphasis Week.

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