John '83 and Carolyn Scott Cain '83 
(Awarded 2008)

The John W. Kuykendall Award for Community Service is presented to alumni in recognition of extraordinary service to his or her community and demonstrated leadership through servanthood in the spirit of Davidson’s fifteenth president. The ongoing and dedicated work of John and Carolyn Cain in serving and ministering to children in poverty-stricken Haiti exemplifies the highest ideals represented by this award.

Thirty years ago, Carolyn wrote in her application to Davidson that she had a “deep concern for people and a longing to be a friend to others in any way she can.” She told Davidson that she was inspired by her belief that serving others was the best way to serve the Lord. As a young man, John, too, saw service in his future, volunteering his time and energy to help others during high school and at Davidson. Each recognized at an early age that a lifetime of serving their fellow man awaited them.  

After serving as an officer in both Davidson’s pre-medical honorary society and at Sigma Alpha Epsilon, John graduated from Davidson with a degree in physics and attended Duke Medical School and specialized in radiology. Carolyn was active at Davidson with the Davidson Christian Fellowship and with the Y Service Corps and left Davidson with a degree in German. She attended the University of South Carolina Medical School and now is a pediatrician in Ocala, Florida.

John and Carolyn, joined by their two daughters, have been on nearly a dozen mission trips to Haiti on campaigns to fight malaria, provide free medical services, and to raise funds to allow children to return to the United States for extensive medical treatment. Guided by their faith and their commitment to their fellow man, they have transformed countless lives and provided opportunities to hundreds of impoverished children. They have served indigent citizens around the world through their leadership on the Board of Directors of Harvest International. Their actions exemplify what it means to devote one’s life to serving others.

Because you have been called to minister to some of the world’s neediest children and adults; because you are living a life of merciful and compassionate service to others; because you are providing your own children with an example of selfless commitment to humankind; and because you are living out the humane instincts that brought you to Davidson, the Davidson College Alumni Association is proud to present you, John Maloney Cain and Carolyn Scott Cain, members of the Class of 1983, with the John W. Kuykendall Award for Community Service on this 26th day of April, 2008.