Covenant News - Newsletters Recognize Contributions of Covenant Youth

Covenant News

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.

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