Covenant News

Covenant Educators Recognized for Achievement

COLLEGE PARK, MD (June 16, 2002) - Josh Montfort of Church of the Redeemer in Bowie, Maryland, recently received the George F. Kramer Outstanding Practitioner Award for the University of Maryland's College of Health and Human Performance.

The George F. Kramer Award is one of the university's top teaching awards. Kramer mentored Montfort during Montfort's college days and was also was involved in hiring Montfort at the university, according to a recent Church of the Redeemer newsletter article. Montfort was also nominated for the Parents Outstanding Teacher Award at the University of Maryland. He is a teacher for the school's Department of Kinesiology and is an assistant coach for the school's Gymkana Troupe.

A gymnastics coach for more than 15 years, Montfort has a Master s degree in Physical Education and has been an assistant coach for the school's Gymkana Troupe for many years. The Gymkana Troupe, founded in 1946, is aimed at promoting a drug-free lifestyle and is believed to be the only collegiate exhibitional gymnastics troupe actively touring the United States.

Montfort is one of three college educators attending Covenant churches who have received honors for their craft.

Steve Vee of Bethesda Covenant Church in Rockford, Illinois, was inducted into the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Hall of Fame in Tyler, Texas, and led his men's tennis team to the 2002 national title in May. It was the second national title for Vee's team. Vee was named NJCAA Division III Coach of the Year after his Rock Valley Community College team won the 2000 title. He has coached the men's tennis team for 24 years and recently took over the women's tennis program.

A three-time conference title winner at Mankato State University in Minnesota, Vee earned a Masters degree in Biology from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. He has continued to play tennis and is one of the top 45-and-over tennis players in the Midwest. He chairs the life sciences/physical education division at Rock Valley. He and wife, Joy, live in Rockford.

Jacob Kurien of Community Covenant Church in Shawnee, Kansas, was recently named "Outstanding Adjunct Instructor of the Year" at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri. He is a visiting associate professor in Economics at Rockhurst's Helzberg School of Management.

Kurien has completed masters and doctoral studies at Madras University in India, having also studied at India's Agra University.

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