Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award Honors Joseph West for Campus Leadership

Each year, University of the Cumberlands presents the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award to a graduating male senior who has made meaningful contributions to university life while demonstrating outstanding spiritual values.

The 2025–2026 recipient of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award is Joseph West, a senior from Williamsburg, Kentucky.

For Joseph, contributing to campus life came naturally—because, as he puts it, “Cumberlands is home; it’s always been home.”

Initially, he was drawn to the university because of its strong archery program and the convenience of being right in the heart of his hometown. But once he began his college journey, Cumberlands became home in a deeper, more personal way.

“Cumberlands has given me much more than I had hoped academically, athletically, and spiritually,” Joseph explained.

Over the years, Joseph has immersed himself in the Cumberlands community, building meaningful relationships and pursuing opportunities to grow in faith and service. He has participated in several campus ministries, including Mountain Outreach and Baptist Campus Ministries, where he found ways to serve others while deepening his own spiritual walk.

Joseph also took on the role of Resident Assistant, serving as a role model and support system for his peers and working to make their campus experience both safe and memorable.

Even with these responsibilities, Joseph remained dedicated to the sport that first brought him to Cumberlands. A competitive archer throughout his college career, he earned the distinction of two-time Academic All-American, demonstrating excellence both on the range and in the classroom.

Balancing so many roles hasn’t always been easy, but for Joseph, the impact has been worth every challenge.

“In all of these organizations, not only have I had the opportunity to serve but also to be served,” he said. “It just takes a little bit of buy-in for the campus to buy back into you. This showed me the value of putting myself out there and stepping into faith.”

Joseph credits much of his success, including being selected for the Sullivan Award, to the people at Cumberlands who believed in him and helped shape his journey.

“Some incredible staff members at Cumberlands have truly built me up, had tough conversations with me when necessary, and really encouraged me,” he shared, naming Caleb Kirby, Kris Strebeck, Cody Kirby, Rocky Brown, Dave Bowman, and Ben Nichols as key mentors. He also made sure to mention his biggest supporter: his mother, Ginnie West.

After graduation, Joseph plans to continue serving others. In the short term, he hopes to become an educator while earning a master’s degree at Cumberlands. Long term, he is considering a career in law enforcement and school administration, blending his desire to protect, educate, and lead future generations. 

Joseph’s journey at Cumberlands has been shaped by faith, service, and the people who invested in him along the way. Wherever his path leads next, Cumberlands has prepared him to make a difference in the lives of others.