Board of Education Wall of Leadership and Service 2020 Inductees

Tim Matthews, Board of Education Chair, noted, “For some time the Board of Education has sought a way to recognize leadership and service from former graduates. This honor provides an opportunity to publicly recognize those most notable graduates who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and service to their communities.”

Our outstanding class of inductees represents the award well with outstanding leadership accomplishments and service to their community. We are excited to share the traits each inductee embodies that earned them this prestigious award:

Karl Allen is the administrator of YVEDDI (Yadkin Valley Economic Development District Incorporated) Head Start Program where he has strengthened the early start of hundreds of children. He has been a lifelong resident of Mount Airy and advocate for children. Mr. Allen (known as Mr. Karl) is cheerful, thoughtful, and dependable in his work with early education. He was a 1979 graduate of Mount Airy High School and a 1981 graduate of Ferrum College. He has gone on to receive many certifications in the area of early learning.

He supports all children to receive a “head start” in a successful education. His letters of support are overwhelming in their description of someone always positive and well-respected. The support for Mr. Allen shows that he has worked hard to create partnerships with area families, the school system, and members of the community to provide the structures for students to be successful in Head Start and throughout life. One of his supporters says, “Karl Allen helps support local non-profit organizations, provides summer programming for children, and is a perfect example of what this award stands for in leadership and service.”

Kelly Epperson is the owner and operator of WPAQ and WSYD. He has been a lifelong broadcaster with this Mount Airy based family radio station. Kelly Epperson has supported Mount Airy City Schools throughout his career by broadcasting spelling bees, MACS Community Night, numerous other events, and Mount Airy High School athletics. He has served on many committees at Grace Moravian Church, as well as being inducted into the Mount Airy Sports Hall of Fame. Mr. Epperson’s leadership traits include a quiet, solid leadership that often does not put him in the spotlight but allows others to shine instead.

Reflecting on the impact he has had to his community, one reference noted, “Kelly Epperson has covered sporting events at MAHS for decades. His tireless effort has kept Bears up to date on athletic endeavors. Not only has he done sports stories and radio journalism but continued to be the voice of the Bears with Tommy Morrison. The radio gives many people a chance to listen to the games and support the students when they might not normally get the opportunity.”

Captain Cedrick L. Jessup was raised in Mount Airy and graduated from Mount Airy High School in 1993. He attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. He received two masters, one from Webster University and Eisenhower School at the National Defense University in National Security and Resource Strategy with a concentration in Weapons of Mass Destruction. He is married to Lorraine May of Pensacola, FL, and they have three children Theophilus, Theophany, and Theone. A letter of recommendation outlined that Captain Jessup, “has shown leadership throughout high school and college and has always excelled in everything he has done.”

Captain Jessup has had a distinguished career in the military beginning with being commissioned as an Officer in the U.S. Navy where he began Pilot Flight Training. He was later assigned as an Emergency Action Officer for the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the National Military Command Center at the Pentagon. He went on to be the Deputy Chief of Staff for Commander Naval Forces Europe/Commander Naval Forces Africa, Commanding Officer for SIXTH Fleet, and the commanding Officer for the European Personnel Exchange Program. He will assume the responsibilities as the Commodore/Commander of SCW-1/TG 114.2 in February of 2021. His awards include: Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, two Navy Achievement Medals, the Iraqi Campaign Medal with one star and also holds his Airline Transport Pilot FAA qualification.

Travis Manchester is a graduate of Mount Airy High School’s class of 1994, where he was active in student council and sports. He has worked for years in his family’s business, located in Mount Airy, that has been a large supporter of Mount Airy City Schools. He has volunteered and coached with sports teams, including wrestling, JV volleyball, and Varsity volleyball. He has contributed to many Innovation Days in MACS that have shared careers and skills with students throughout the school system. He has also coached and sponsored sports teams from Reeves Community Center and been actively involved with community cancer walks, lupus walks, and other nonprofit fundraisers.

Reviewing the impact Mr. Manchester has had in his community, one recommendation letter read, “Our children play many sports and have had many coaches that have led them, but we feel there are not many people who exemplify leadership of young men better than Travis. Most kids complain when practice is hard, but my boys looked forward to working out with Travis because it was not only a physical workout but a mental workout. His goal was to shape young boys into young men of integrity, self-confidence, and worth.”

David Rowe is a Mount Airy native, graduating from Mount Airy High School in 1962. He has established his home and a successful business in Mount Airy. He is currently the Mayor of Mount Airy and has generously offered his time over the years in many positions including civic boards, Mount Airy City Schools Board of Education, and the National Guard. An excerpt from his nomination states, “David’s contributions to the community are numerous...including a lifelong priority of his church. He is passionate about the significance of Mount Airy City Schools and believes education is the foundation for students.”

Additionally, one of his references noted, “One quality of a good leader is a passion for people and bringing them together for a common goal. Mayor Rowe displays this quality by always being open to suggestions and debate on issues. He is always receptive to an opposing view and works hard to achieve the best solution. Mayor Rowe conducts himself with honesty and integrity. He has given back in many ways for many years and has the citizens’ best interest at heart.”

Eric Warren was born and raised in Mount Airy and graduated from Mount Airy High School in 1987. He attended North Carolina State University from 1987-1997 earning a Bachelor of Science, Masters, and a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering. He worked for NASA on classified projects and research during his college years. After obtaining his Ph.D., he took a job with a NASCAR team serving as Chief Aerodynamicist. He has worked in the NASCAR industry for 20 years and has moved up the ranks to be Technical Director, Competition Director, and currently serves as the Chief Technology Officer for Richard Childress Racing.

Reviewing his impact on his hometown community, one of his references documented, “In the 16-’17’ school year, Dr. Warren helped form a partnership with Richard Childress Racing. This partnership was to help students become interested in engineering disciplines through the platform of racing. From the start, Dr. Warren was leading the way in this initiative. He has spent countless amounts of time working with both students and staff to help them gain a deeper understanding of what engineering is and how students can accomplish their career explorations. Without Dr. Warren's passion for learning and helping others, along with his vast knowledge of engineering platforms, Mount Airy City Schools would not have been able to provide the Driven to Lead Program for our students.”

Applications included answers to the following four questions, as well as two letters of reference for the nominee.

Anyone wishing to nominate an individual for the next installation of inductees should visit bit.ly/MACSBOENom.

Visit our Board of Education Wall of Leadership by clicking here.