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Newsletters Recognize Contributions of Covenant Youth
CHICAGO, IL (June 11, 2003) - A number of high school graduates and other
young people have made their mark throughout the Evangelical Covenant
Church. Following are some of their accomplishments gleaned from the
more than 200 local church newsletters received each month by the
Department of Communication. Information is presented by conference or
region.
CENTRAL
- Chicago, Illinois: North Park Covenant Church siblings Thomas and
Elisabeth Graham were both honored recently for their scholastic
achievements. Thomas (who attends Northside Prep High School) was
awarded "Best in Category" for his biochemistry project in the senior
division at the state Science Fair at the University of Illinois.
Elisabeth, who attends Peterson School, won first place in the
upper-division essay competition at the city Academic Olympics, which
was held at the University of Illinois-Chicago.
- Galesburg, Illinois: John Hawkinson of The Covenant Church of
Galesburg's youth group, recently committed to play golf for nearby Knox
College after earning All-Conference honors throughout his career at
Galesburg High. Hawkinson's father Carl is currently serving Illinois
governor Rod Blagojevich in the area of public safety after longtime
service in the Illinois Senate.
- Moline, Illinois: Elim Covenant Church's Ben Jacobi was named the
Outstanding Orchestra Musician at Wilson Middle School.
- Rockford, Illinois: Bethesda Covenant Church's Sarah Apple graduated
from Rockford Boylan High School in the top 10 percent of her class and
was an Illinois State Scholar. She will attend the University of
Illinois in Champaign. David Michael graduated from Rockford Christian
Life High School and will attend Wheaton College in pre-medicine
studies. He hopes to be a medical missionary someday. Kari Aylward
graduated cum laude from Rockford Guilford High School, where she was a
National Honor Society member and a four-year performer for the golf
team. She's headed to the University of Iowa. Classmate Kevin Lundgren
was a National Merit Commended Scholar, an Illinois State Scholar, and
was in the All State Honors Chorus and Regional Jazz Chorus. He will
attend Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington on a four-year voice
and academic scholarship after spending two weeks in June with a choir
performing New Zealand. Meanwhile, two college graduates, Britt Lundgren
(University of Chicago) and Elizabeth Wright (Wheaton College) were
honor students in college and plan to pursue graduate education.
- Iron River, Michigan: Grace Covenant Church youth Phil Blumensaadt
finished second in the state in his division during the Elks Club
basketball free throw shooting competition recently. The fourth grader
had won first place in West Iron County and captured the regional title
in Escanaba before the state event in Rochester.
EAST COAST
- Bedford, New Hampshire: A host of Bethany Covenant Church youth
graduated from high school after active prep careers. Andrea Carr (who
will attend Mt. Wachusett Community College) earned a Gold VICA Award
for Health while at Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School.
Cara Chenette (Salve Regina University, Newport, Rhode Island) was an
honor student at nearby Trinity High School. Classmate Jeremy Ferwerda
(Cornell University in New York) was on the National Honor Society and
graduated in the top 10 of his class. Jennifer Grant (Boston University)
was a National Honor Society member and an honor student at Salem High
School. Katie Harrington (University of Maine-Farmington) was an honor
student at Merrimack High School. Classmate Laura Klein (North Park
University in Chicago) was a National Honor Society member and was in
the top 3 percent of her class. Sarah Pappalardo (DePaul University in
Chicago) of Manchester High School-West graduated in the top 5 percent
of her class. Classmate Leah Kuehne (Oxford Brookes University in
England) was a National Art Honor Society member and won special honors
for her artwork. Another classmate, Tim Schuetz (State University of New
York-Albany) was a National Merit Finalist, a Presidential Honors
Scholar and was among the top 10 students in his class. A third, Ben
Toth (Loomis Chafee in Connecticut), was a National Honor Society member
and a New Hampshire Interscholastic Association Athletic Scholarship
Achievement award winner. Tye Seastedt of Timberlane High School
(Plymouth State College) was an Eagle Scout, a National Honor Society
member and a New Hampshire Football Hall of Fame Scholar Athlete and
will represent New Hampshire in the Shine football game this summer
against a team from Vermont. Seastedt completed more than 50 percent of
his passes during football season for 1,331 yards and 13 touchdowns.
During wrestling season, he finished fourth in the New Hampshire State
Meet of Champions in the 160-pound weight class. Jessica Wojcik of
Timber Creek High School in Orlando, Florida, has Bethany Covenant
connections and will study Baking and Pastry Arts at Johnson and Wales
University in Providence, Rhode Island. She won a scholarship via a
national recipe contest and was awarded a Bright Futures Scholarship
from the state of Florida.
- East Greenwich, Rhode Island: Christ Church's Brad Wilson, a University
of Rhode Island freshman, will hike the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail
(which runs from Mexico to British Columbia) as a way to raise funds for
the American Heart Association. Wilson has already hiked the Appalachian
Trail during his lifetime. Another student, Stephen Mook of Mitchell
College in New London, Connecticut, won the New England Region 21 tennis
tournament in both singles and doubles and later competed in nationals
in Texas, making the quarterfinals. Mook, who also competed in soccer at
the school, will attend Covenant Bible College-Midwest in Windsor,
Colorado, this fall.
ECCAK
- Eagle River, Alaska: Community Covenant Church's Jenell Effinger was
valedictorian and Jennifer Murphy was salutatorian of the senior class
at Chugiak High School, two of five high school graduates from the
church that finished in the top 10 percent of the class academically.
The others are Sean Hoffbeck, Jamie Kunkler and Kassie Mertens. Effinger
was on the debate team and participated in state championship mock trial
teams during high school. Murphy is a 2003 National Merit Scholar
(receiving a $2,500 scholarship) and was one of seven Alaska high school
seniors to receive the award based on academic achievement, standardized
test scores, community leadership and an essay. Murphy intends to study
economics at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. She is also
a softball player on one of the state's top prep teams. Hoffbeck,
co-chair of the Alpha Omega class, among other things, was one of three
students receiving the Gruening Award for Outstanding Service. Hoffbeck
is attending Moody Bible Institute in Chicago this fall. Mertens
received a four-year scholarship to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.
MIDWEST
- Lincoln, Nebraska: Austin McCleery was inducted into the National Honor
Society while a student at Lincoln High School, where he became an honor
student and earned a music scholarship to the University of Nebraska's
School of Music. McCleery has been playing the drums since fifth grade
and has blessed his church by playing at church services and other
activities. He'll use his talents as a camp counselor and band member
for Covenant Cedars Bible Camp. He was among many featured in his
church's recent newsletter. Others included were Joey Stenberg, a member
of the "We the People" team at Lincoln Southeast High School. His
academic team won the state championship and went on to Washington D.C.
for national competition. Stenberg, the president for the National Honor
Society in his high school, will play basketball at Colorado Christian
University in Lakewood, Colorado. During his high school career, he
received the Sertoma Outstanding Athlete Award and was recognized by the
Lincoln Journal Star as a "Class Act." Joey's father Don has been a
longtime politician in Nebraska. Another high school senior, Matt
Bremer, received the Karen Duncan Scholarship and the Lincoln Sertoma
Award after four years as an honor roll student in high school. A
National Honor Society member, band member, and high school baseball
player, Brewer will attend Southeast Community College in Milford,
Nebraska. A third, Stephanie Cline, received the Lincoln Area Retired
Teachers Association Scholarship. Two other high school students
received mention in the recent newsletter. Rachel Madvig was named
Silverhawk of the Week for Southwest High School for her efforts as a
teacher's assistant at a local elementary school. And Jennifer Merrill
of was a member of the Lincoln Northeast High "Voices 'n Harmony" group
that took first place in a local jazz festival and received a Superior
rating in the National Jazz Music Festival in Colorado.
NORTH PACIFIC
- Olympia, Washington: Grace Community Covenant Church's KateLynn
Doolittle and her playing partner Kelley Droll qualified for the state
high school Class 4A girls tennis tournament by virtue of wins at the
district level doubles competition. Doolittle and Droll competed for
Olympia High School
NORTHWEST
- Dawson, Minnesota: Dawson Covenant Church's youth group had a big part
in the Dawson-Boyd School performance of "Guys and Dolls" May 8-10.
Melanie Benson was the director. Nicholas Benson and Nathaniel Fondell
had lead roles. Brittany Benson, Jeff Greiner, Elisabeth Fondell, Kari
Pearson and Joe Greiner were also in the cast. Heather Voss, Deidre
Thompson and Jenna Thompson were in the orchestra. Melinda Robertson,
Sheila Greiner, Dan Fondell, Dan Benson, Andy Greiner, Luanne Fondell
and Kim Lindblad were part of the production crew.
- Minneapolis, Minnesota: Meghan and Caitlin Hunstock of Bethlehem
Covenant Church were All-Conference girls basketball players for their
high school team last winter. Caitlin and Meghan (who was named the
team's Most Valuable Player) will both captain next year's squad.
Brother Andrew is making his mark at the college level as he was awarded
the Sustained Excellence Award" - given to the outstanding ROTC cadet of
each class of the Cadet Wing of the University of North Dakota.
- Minneapolis, Minnesota: First Covenant Church's Dan Hokanson graduated
as Salutatorian from PACT charter school and will attend North Dakota
State University and study Mechanical Engineering. Meanwhile, Joel
Hilden graduated with honors from Park Center High School, where he
played the bass clarinet in the band and was on the All-Conference band
squad.
- North Mankato, Minnesota: The Evangelical Covenant Church of North
Mankato youth group has had some of its members join with around 300
other students on the 40-day Revolution, an organized effort to blessing
others, praying for their communities, and serving those in need.
According to an article posted in the church's most recent church
newsletter, some have felt called to forgive others, others have made
special efforts to honor area teachers, and some have evangelized to
their parents. A group of students at a local high school spent one
lunch period praying and fasting for their classmates and teachers.
PACIFIC SOUTHWEST
- Tucson, Arizona: Jordin Patterson of the Evangelical Covenant Church of
Tucson was named Most Improved Student at the Tucson Omni National Golf
and Tennis Club. He was one of many youth and young adults making the
news from the church. Luke Johnson was voted "Outstanding 9th Grade Boy"
by the faculty at Emily Gray Junior High. Bill Clark built his own
computer as part of studies at a local computer career center and
graduated from the center after getting a perfect score on his exams.
Alyson Brown of St. Rita High School was student body vice president of
her senior class, was captain of the cheerleading squad) and earned
first place honors (and a trip to Orlando, Florida) after competing in a
contest sponsored by an association of marketing professionals, DECA.
She also lettered in soccer and swimming. Meanwhile, Shana Brown of
Cochise Community College in Douglas, Arizona, earned an athletic
scholarship to attend Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas, for
her efforts in women's soccer. Shana was an All-Region player for her
team and set a school record for assists.
- Hilmar, California: Hilmar Covenant Church had a host of high school
graduates this year, many who earned scholarships and other awards
during their prep careers. Bobby Avila (who will attend California State
University in Stanislaus) was his conference's Scholar/Athlete of the
Year, was a U.S. Army National Scholar/Athlete Award winner, and earned
a Bank of America plaque for excellence in Math and Science. He was also
earned a California Scholarship Federation Award. Christopher Barnes
(Modesto Community College) was a California Scholarship Federation
Award winner. Whitney Burch (Merced Community College) earned the Hilmar
High School Band Director's Award and the Hilmar Community Band
Scholarship. Nia Colon (Covenant Bible College-Ecuador) earned a
California Scholarship Federation Award and the Westside Ministries
Academic Scholarship, among other things. Hans DeRooy (CSU-Stanislaus)
was co-salutatorian at Hilmar High and a Merced County Academic
Decathlon Scholarship winner for his efforts in the classroom. He also
received the Concert Band Outstanding Musician Award, among other
things, for his musical talents. Dominic Dias (CSU-Chico) earned a
California Scholarship Federation Award. Corey Gwin (Merced Community
College) was honored by Bank of America for his efforts in Math and Art.
Kishin Hamaguchi will be playing soccer for CSU-Stanislaus on an
athletic scholarship after a stellar prep career. Hamaguchi, a 6-foot-1
midfielder, was a two-time all-Trans Valley League player at Hilmar High
School where he led his team to the sectional playoffs before losing the
title game to Patterson. Colleen Handley (CSU-Stanislaus) received the
Hilmar Unified Educators Scholarship and the R.O.P. Award of Excellence,
among other things. Willie Heuer (Fresno State University) received the
Governor's Scholar Award and the Lillian DeSalles Memorial Scholarship.
Kindra Johnson (University of California-Santa Barbara) received a
Governor's Scholarship and two others. Justin Lane received two
Governor's Scholar awards and his high school choir's Most Improved
Award. Adam Seward (CSU-Chico) received the Nanette Sherman Taylor
Memorial Scholarship. Nick Seward (Cuesta College) received a California
Scholarship Federation Award. Megan Silveira (CSU-Stanislaus) received
three scholarships, including the R.O.P. Award of Excellence. Lauren
Strickler (Mt. San Antonio College) graduated with honors from Options
for Youth Charter School. Kurtis Van Foeken (Modesto Community College)
was a Trans Valley League Scholar Athlete and the conference Most
Valuable Player in basketball while earning All-District honors. He also
received a host of scholarships in the field of agriculture. Joseph
Wojcik (CSU-Stanislaus) received the Hilmar High Jazz Band Outstanding
Musician Award. Many of these students will be among the 32 from the
church that are headed to Tijuana, Mexico, from June 29 through July 5
for a mission trip co-organized by YUGO Ministries.
To find out more about the youth and young adults throughout the
Covenant, check www.covchurch.org. To send information about students to
Covenant Communications, email us at newsdesk@covchurch.org or call
773-907-8333.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
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