NEWS
Boxill, Day-Achauer and Price receive 2018 Mount Awards
Methodist Theological School in Ohio has presented Andrea Boxill, Nancy Day-Achauer and Bradford Price with the John and Ruth Mount Alumni Awards for Distinguished Service, the school’s highest honor for graduates. The awards were presented at a service of thanksgiving Oct. 15 during Alumni Day on the MTSO campus.
The day also included a luncheon honoring Emeritus Professor of Christian Ethics Ervin Smith. Video of the service and the luncheon are archived under the Alumni Day link at www.mtso.edu/eventarchives.
Boxill, who earned a Master of Arts in Counseling Ministries degree from MTSO in 2000, received the Mount Award for Specialized Ministry. She is deputy director of the Governor’s Cabinet Opiate Action Team at the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
In this role, Boxill monitors service delivery, assists in writing policy, interprets federal and state laws and regulations to ensure compliance, and assists in coalition building to address the opioid epidemic across Ohio.
“Andrea shows up in some of the most important and difficult places in our state,” said MTSO President Jay Rundell. “We are grateful as one of her schools for the work she does.”
Day-Achauer, who earned a Master of Divinity Degree from MTSO in 2008, received the Mount Award for Parish Ministry. She was recently appointed to the newly created position of director of addiction ministries for the Capitol Area South District of the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church, and she also serves as pastor of the New Horizons and Harrisburg United Methodist congregations.
Her community engagement includes serving on the Westland Area Commission and working to provide better services for the homeless and senior populations on Columbus’ West Side.
“As a pastor, Nancy has worked tirelessly and effectively to help congregations and community groups confront the opiod crisis,” Rundell said. “It’s fitting that the church should create a position allowing her to engage more broadly in that work.”
Bradford Price, who earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1976 and a Master of Arts in Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Ministries degree in 1986 from MTSO, received the Mount Award for Service to MTSO. He is a fully affiliated faculty member in pastoral care at MTSO, where he has taught for 31 years.
Price has maintained a counseling practice while teaching 15 different MTSO courses covering various aspects of counseling and psychotherapy.
“Brad pushes and prods in ways that can make us uncomfortable but in ways that bring out the best of who we are,” Rundell said. “Virtually to a person, our graduating counseling students recall every year the impact that this man has had on their lives.”
The Mount Alumni Awards were created in 1990 to recognize graduates of MTSO who have achieved distinction in ministry and in service to the school. The award program was created by the late John Mount, a founding MTSO Board of Trustees member, and his late wife, Ruth.
Methodist Theological School in Ohio provides theological education and leadership in pursuit of a just, sustainable and generative world. In addition to the Master of Divinity degree, the school offers master’s degrees in counseling, theological studies and practical theology, along with a Doctor of Ministry degree.
Engage with MTSO through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@MTSOedu).
CONTACT:
Danny Russell, communications director
drussell@mtso.edu, 740-362-3322