New Hope Academy Founder to Receive Uncommon Leadership Award

Paige Potts New Hope Academy

Paige Pitts, founder of New Hope Academy in Franklin, has been named the recipient of Williamson College’s 2019 Uncommon Leadership Award. On Dec. 5, a dinner will be
held in her honor at Embassy Suites of Cool Springs, during which time she will receive her award and be recognized for her ministry.

The Uncommon Leadership Award recognizes qualified, courageous and Godly leaders who are humble, authentic and proactive. They take steps to foster trust and understanding across diverse boundaries, and model the way of Jesus by engaging the culture in the midst of difficult situations rather than running from them.

“While much has been written and discussed about leadership development, true biblical leadership is uncommon. Paige is one such uncommon leader, and we are pleased to recognize her for her passion, vision and accomplishments,” said Ed Smith, Ph.D., president of Williamson College.

Smith noted that as a young schoolteacher, Pitts answered a calling through her church to become the catalyst for lasting change in the low-income neighborhoods of Franklin. Her vision was for side-by-side learning with under-served children of all races, cultures and economic situations.

The community of visionaries that emerged to work with Pitts in defining New Hope Academy continues to ignite hope and transform the culture in which we live.

In 2018, Williamson College presented its first Uncommon Leadership Award to two Nashville pastors from different ethnic backgrounds—Dr. Kelly Smith of First Baptist Church-Capitol Hill and Dr. Frank Lewis of Nashville First Baptist Church—for their work in uniting Christians and modeling biblical unity.

Smith and Lewis were the catalysts for Williamson College’s new Center for Biblical Unity, which offers a curriculum on biblical unity.

“Whether focusing on racial reconciliation, meeting the needs of the poor or other aspects of ministry, at the heart of uncommon leadership are visionary men and women committed to boldly addressing problems in our world and demonstrating the spirit of Christ in all they do,” Smith concluded.

Founded in 1998, Williamson College (WC) is a non-profit, Christian liberal arts college that welcomes students of all ages and cultures, including non-traditional learners who are already in the workforce. WC offers associate, bachelor and master degrees and is accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) and the Evangelical
Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA). Classes meet one evening a week for five weeks. WC is not affiliated with a specific denomination and is guided by a 12-member board of trustees. For more information, visit www.williamsoncc.edu.