Lawrenceburg resident receives Exemplary Student Award

Overton Campbell, president of the Martin Methodist College (MMC) Alumni Council presented the college’s first Exemplary Student Award at opening convocation on Wednesday, August 24, 2016, to Anamarie Lindsey of Lawrenceburg, Tenn.

The Exemplary Student Award is presented to a student who has exhibited, through word and deed, one or more of the college’s four core values: Nurture, Honor, Diversity and Compassion.

Anamarie was selected for the inaugural Exemplary Student Award because of her tireless service to those less fortunate than she and to her family. In the fall of 2015, Anamarie and some friends coordinated a spaghetti supper fundraiser called “Noodles for Noggins” at First United Methodist Church Pulaski to raise funds for underprivileged and impoverished school children in Costa Rica.

The funds raised helped pay for school uniforms, books and lunches. In addition, she participated in the Call (the Martin Methodist church leadership development group), sang with the Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, Richland Creek vocal group, and she volunteered to teach voice lessons through the OpporTuneity Program, which offers free music lessons to local disadvantaged children.

On top of school work and her volunteer activities, Anamarie spent many hours and days worrying about and helping her mother care for her father, Bro. Mike Lindsey, who suffered from a critical illness. Tragically, he passed away on Christmas Day 2015. Following his passing, Anamarie gave up her housing on campus and became a commuter, so she could help her mother.

“It takes a hero to nurture others with compassion while your heart is breaking,” Campbell said. “The great author Leo Tolstoy is quoted as saying: ‘Only people who are capable of loving strongly can also suffer great sorrow, but this same necessity of loving serves to counteract their grief and heals them.’ That is so true of Anamarie.”

Anamarie graduated from Lawrence County High School in 2013, and she knew she wanted to attend MMC since second grade when she visited the campus on a field trip. “The older I got the more I loved it at Martin.” Anamarie said. “The family environment made Martin the ideal college for me. In second grade I did not know how important Martin Methodist College would be to me or how much it would impact the person I am.

When asked what she thought about receiving the Exemplary Student Award, she replied, “I feel incredibly honored to receive this amazing award. I never would have thought that I would be receiving an award like this. The award has made me have more faith in myself that I can do anything I set my mind to and that I can be a role model to others. God has blessed me with the ability to go to Martin Methodist College and meet the people that I have."

"I have no doubt that Anamarie is worthy of this award. She has always been a giving and wonderful person. I am incredibly proud of her," said Anamarie’s mother, Connie Lindsey.

The award will be presented twice a year—at opening convocation and at honors convocation in the spring. The award consists of a trophy as well as $100 check and a $100 gift certificate to the college bookstore. Students are nominated for the award by members of the faculty, coaching staff and administration, but the final award winner is chosen by a committee of the College Alumni Council.