Covenant News

Inventor Honored; Church Newsletters Cite Others

ROSEVILLE, MN (November 21, 2003) - Rob Reichenbach of Roseville Covenant Church and his two research partners created a device that won a national inventor's prize and $25,000 during the Collegiate Inventors Competition in New York City.

Reichenbach is a graduate student at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. The electronics invention, a "dome shaped micro-mechanical oscillator," is one-third the width of a human hair and promises to help reduce the size and cost of electronic devices such as cellular phones, televisions and computers. A doctoral student in electrical engineering, Reichenbach is the son of Bruce and Sharon Reichenbach of Shoreview, Minnesota.

Along with winning the prize money, Reichenbach and company were among those who rang the opening bell at the New York City Stock Exchange on October 24. The Collegiate Inventors Competition web page explains the electronics collaboration in this manner: "The ever-increasing drive to make electronic circuits smaller and smaller is increasingly frustrated by certain types of components that refuse to shrink. These elements, known as oscillators and resonators, grant the ability to fish out a desired signal from a sea of many. Engineers have struggled unsuccessfully to find a way to miniaturize and integrate these components.

"Keith Aubin, Robert Reichenbach and Maxim Zalalutdinov found a solution by building a novel type of micromechanical oscillator: one shaped like a dome," the explanation continues. "Their oscillator resonates like a bell in response to light or heat. The dome is tiny and can be built on a chip. That makes it perfect for a wide range of electronic applications, especially in the field of telecommunications. Microscopic domes could replace many of the largest, most expensive parts contained in cells phones, among other devices."

The Collegiate Inventors Competition is a program of the National Inventors Hall of Fame. More about Reichenbach, his colleagues, and their invention can be found in the October 24 online edition of the St. Paul (Minnesota) Pioneer Press at www.pioneerplanet.com.

Following are news items gleaned from the more than 250 local church newsletters received each month by the Department of Communication, listed by conference and region:

CENTRAL

• Crest Hill, Illinois: Amanda Tomany submitted the winning entry "Miss Pink Hair" in the Church of the Good Shepherd Evangelical Covenant Church's Sunday school pumpkin decorating contest.
• Galesburg, Illinois: The Covenant Church of Galesburg had a number of students in the Galesburg High School Marching Streaks band and color guard. They included Heidi Wolfe, Andrew Swanson, Kolissa Newkirk and Linnea Ek.

EAST COAST

• Haddam Neck, Connecticut: A four-year-old girl at Haddam Neck Covenant Church, Ariel Ulanowicz, recently sang a solo during a church worship service.

ECCAK

• Soldotna, Alaska: Four Alaska Christian College students and two staff members traveled to Elim for a high school weekend called "Fall Blast." More than 50 students attended the event. College students speaking at the retreat were Marty Towarak and Zane Paniptchuk. Anna Mute and Nils Savetilik helped behind the scenes.

GREAT LAKES

• Traverse City, Michigan: Manzilla Ibragimova, who is attending West Bay Covenant Church, recently came to the United States from Uzbekistan under an exchange program - she was one of eight students selected from 6,000 applicants. Ibragimova, whose parents are history teachers, grew up in Bukhara, a largely Moslem city. She became a Christian after discussing religion with students from Korea who stayed in her home for a time. She found a local church and eventually led many in her family to Christ. Her testimony was included in the church's recent newsletter - she had spoken to the congregation earlier in the fall during a "Friends in Christ" celebration.

NORTHWEST

• Duluth, Minnesota: First Covenant Church's Karl Franklin received his Eagle Scout award (the highest award given by Boy Scouts of America) at an Eagle Court of Honor in October.
• Minneapolis, Minnesota: Bethlehem Covenant Church's Meta Swanson and Anneva Knapp auditioned and were accepted into a dance company, "The Company B," at the Ballareteatro Dance Studio.

PACIFIC SOUTHWEST

• San Diego, California: Brian Paff of College Center Covenant Church, finished 10th overall in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) men's cross country meet on November 1, running eight kilometers in 25 minutes, 50.09 seconds. The race was held at Albion College in Concord, Michigan. In October, Paff placed 15th in the Michigan Intercollegiates competition and was 18th in a meet at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. His team also won the Great Lakes Regional title. Paff grew up at College Center Covenant and was a youth intern at nearby Clairemont Covenant during his college years. Paff entered this semester with a 3.74 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and was named to the 2003 Verizon Academic All-District Men's Track/Cross Country team in the College division. The National City, California, resident is an elementary education (English emphasis) major.

ELSEWHERE

• Kristina and Jenni Husby, daughters of missionaries David and Ronna Husby, performed in the high school play, "Meet Me in St. Louis." Jenni played the part of the eldest daughter, Rose, and Kristina played the part of Anna, Rose's mother. Now that the play is over, Jenni is getting ready for basketball tryouts next week. Kristina is serving as student council secretary and is busy preparing for the student Christmas banquet. Another daughter, Erika, had two of her articles published in her middle school newspaper and is currently preparing her project for the middle school science fair.

To learn more about the activities of youth and young people in the Covenant, regularly visit www.covchurch.org. To have information from your local church considered for this report, email material to the Department of Communication at newsdesk@covchurch.org.

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