The Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry is pleased to announce the recipient of this year’s Francis Asbury Award: Steve Shoup of Cookeville, Tennessee.

Steve Shoup receives the 2025 Francis Asbury Award

Steve Shoup has served on the Tennessee Tech Wesley Board of Directors for the last three years. Prior to that, he and his wife Lucy engaged their Sunday School Class in bringing home-cooked meals to Tennessee Tech Wesley students several times during the school year.

“Steve is a low-profile, behind the scenes guy who extends warmth and hospitality to our young adults at Wesley,” says Kathy Conrad, member of the TWK Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry. “His witness of humble service is an example of how to live our faith. His business background provides him with the skills to organize and facilitate leadership growth. Steve advocates for the Wesley Foundation students and ministry at Cookeville FUMC and welcomes the students when they join activities and worship there.”

Steve is an active member of First United Methodist Church in Cookeville, where he has provided leadership on several committees, traveled with the Early Response Team to assist with recovery from natural disasters, and served with the wheelchair ramp ministry.

A graduate from Wright State University, Steve is originally from Xenia, Ohio. He is married to Lucy and has two sons.

About the Award: Named for early American Methodist Bishop Francis Asbury, this award honors his call to establish a school in the vicinity of every church. “We must,” he said, “… give the key of knowledge to your children, and those of the poor in the vicinity of your small towns and villages.” Today, the award recognizes United Methodist individuals who have made a significant contribution to fostering United Methodist ministries in higher education at the local, district or annual conference level. It is awarded annually to one honoree per annual conference. Honorees are chosen by the conference Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry and reported to GBHEM.