Local Church Newsletters Recognize Covenant Youth Achievements

CHICAGO, IL (April 24, 2002) - The Evangelical Covenant Church is proud of its children and young adults and so are local Covenant churches, as reflected in more than 200 church newsletters reviewed by the Department of Communication. Following are excerpts from many of those newsletters, grouped by conference:

CENTRAL

Mount Prospect, Illinois: Northwest Covenant Church high school student Sarah Peterson is a member of the Prospect High School show choir as a piano accompanist. Her group, "Mixed Company," recently won the state show choir championship. Peterson, an honor student, is the daughter of Lee and Beth Peterson. She sings for the school's madrigal group and plays in the orchestra and jazz band.

Prospect High classmate Craig Anderson has received honors on the basketball court this winter, averaging 21 points per game for his team. Anderson scored 49 points in one game and helped the Knights earn their first regional championship since 1991.

Naperville, Illinois: Junior Jake Lund of Naperville Evangelical Covenant Church was scheduled to visit Carnegie Hall in late March to sing with the Nequa Valley High School choir. Lund, a football player at the high school, plays in the church youth band and is active in youth group activities.

Iron River, Michigan: Grace Covenant Church elementary and middle school students were among the children from the West Iron County school district that competed at the regional Destination Imagination educational creativity event in Marquette. First place winners from the church included Samantha Bekkala, Tony Menucci, Greta Dohl and Nick Ralston. Second place winners included Cassie Bekkala, Willie Menucci, Ginny Beauchamp, Abby Fish and Adam Waite. Meanwhile, college student Renee Griffith of the University of Minnesota-Duluth was named to the Dean's List for the fall quarter.

MIDWEST

Clyde, Kansas: Erin Carlson of Brantford Covenant Church was one of two seniors at Clyde-Clifton High selected for the Wendy's High School Heisman Program, which honors the nation's best high school seniors who best exemplify a supreme "scholar-citizen-athlete." Erin, the daughter of Gary and Verlene Carlson, was nominated for her wide range of extracurricular activities, including Tri-M Music Club, Kansas Association for Youth and Future Business Leaders of America, girls volleyball, class officer, Teens for Christ and youth group activities at church. She has been named an All-America scholar and received the National English Merit Award.

Carlson and Megan Sizemore were also members of a school scholarship team that was second among 13 schools in the conference scholastic bowl. Both students were on the honor roll last semester at Clyde-Clifton High. So were Jesse Lundquist and Mark Lundquist. At Washington High, two Brantford Covenant teens, Valerie Brax and Nicholas Uhlrich, also made the honor roll. Two eighth grade students, Joel Erickson and Matthew Carlson, were part of the Kansas Music Educator's Association Honor Band.

Shawnee, Kansas: A contingent of 28 students and volunteers headed to Chicago March 16-23 to work with the Center for Student Missions in urban ministry projects. A prayer tour of Chicago, a visit to Jesus People USA Covenant Church for worship services and food service to the homeless population in the area were among the week's activities. The group also visited North Park University and took part in Week 26, a spiritual emphasis week at the school.

Topeka, Kansas: Brookwood Covenant student Lisa Smith was recently awarded first chair flute status in the State Honor Band. A senior, Smith attends Topeka West High School and is an honor student. She will attend Washburn University in Topeka.

NORTHWEST

Blaine, Minnesota: Two students who attend Good Shepherd Covenant Church, Jonathan Golliet and Dan Dahlberg, are part of the Minnesota Boychoir, an amateur, non-denominational group of metro area boys who sing at churches, nursing homes and other community events. The group is taking a contingent of boys to New Zealand in June. Golliet, a student at Coon Rapids High, is a six-year veteran of the group. He also plays piano and trombone. Dahlberg also plays piano.

Bloomington, Minnesota: Andrea Lawson, daughter of Evangelical Covenant Church administrators Bruce and Carol Lawson, participated in a mission trip to Cape Town, South Africa, March 8-17 with students from Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts. They helped paint an elementary school, worked with children and learned about political and social action, AIDS programs and ministries going on in that country.

Brooklyn Center, Minnesota: At Brookdale Covenant Church, the Living Hands Puppeteers have ministered to the church and community under the direction of Brenda Noyed for the past eight years. About a dozen children are in the program, which is primarily for those in grades 4-8. Recently, the team traveled to the One Way Street Regional Puppet Festival in Spring Lake Park, a suburb in the Twin Cities. The group won a silver medal in the song competition for their number, entitled "In the Light" along with an award for exceptional use of props and scenery. A new rendition called "ME," created by Matt Sutherland, won a silver award for its script and another award for originality. The group performed "ME" during the church's Palm Sunday service.

Minneapolis, Minnesota: At Bethlehem Covenant Church, two students have made their marks in athletics, one at the high school level and one as a collegian. David Martinson recently committed to play football at Drake University, a Division I-AA football program in Des Moines, Iowa. Martinson, the son of Bernie and Sue Martinson, is a senior at Minnehaha Academy. He was an All-Conference lineman/linebacker two years ago and last fall played fullback and linebacker. In three years, he posted 11 sacks and 225 solo tackles. He also participates in track and field and is an honor student at the school. Meanwhile, freshman Lucas Nelson achieved a 4.0 grade point average while playing football at St. Cloud State University last fall.

Trimont, Minnesota: At Trimont Evangelical Covenant Church, Erica Stevenson participated in a mock trial competition with a number of other schools in Minnesota. She is part of a six-person team that acts out the roles of the prosecution and the defense. Erica is part of the prosecution team.

PACIFIC SOUTHWEST

Los Altos, California: Lisa Norlander of Foothill Covenant Church was one of a select few collegians invited to attend the recent National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C.

For more information about what Covenant youth and young adults are doing, regularly visit the denominational website at www.covchurch.org.

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