NEWPORT-The Kiwanis Club of Newport has announced Rob Mathis is the recipient of the Layman of the Year award.

Mathis, a Newport native, graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 1997. He served nine years in the U.S. Army, where he attained the rank of captain. He spent a tour of duty, lasting a year, in Iraq.

Mathis is currently a math teacher at Cocke County High School, a position he has held since 2003.

He and his wife, Missy, have been married 14 years. They have three children, Robbie, 11; Isaac, 8; and Isabelle, 6.

A member of First Free Will Baptist Church in Newport, he serves as trustee.

"Spending a year in Iraq changed my life," said Mathis. "Helping establish that country's first ever free elections and seeing the state of the people there opened my eyes to how much need there is in my own community--especially among the children."

Mathis said he returned home from Iraq determined to do all he could to help the people of his own community, as well as his own country. Soon after returning home, he became a sponsor of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Key Club at Cocke County High School. He then joined the Kiwanis Club of Newport.

"It has been an honor to serve with the members of this organization. They are some of the finest people I have ever met," said Mathis.

He also started teaching evening classes for adults returning to school to earn their G.E.D. (graduate equivalent diploma), and to help those wishing to take the military service entry exam.

Since 2008, Mathis has served on the Smoky Mountain Youth Council, an organization that has distributed nearly $1.5 million to programs for underprivileged youth in the region since last year.

He has also worked with organizations, such as the University of Tennessee, to raise thousands of dollars for non-profit organizations and charities such as the March of Dimes, Ronald McDonald House, American Legion, and Relay for Life.

"In some ways, it feels as if life began again for our entire family after the Iraq experience. I knew the war would change me. I promised myself from the beginning to make those changes for the better. I try to live everyday of my life by that promise. In the past three years, I have found a new love of my community, my family, and my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ," Mathis said.