DHE Announces 22 Inaugural Leadership Fellows
Division of Higher Education web site

The Division of Higher Education has recognized 22 undergraduate students preparing to take a leadership role in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the first class of DHE Leadership Fellows.

"The purpose of the Division of Higher Education is to nurture men and women, both lay and clergy, for transformational leadership in the church and the wider human community through the church's institutions of higher education," said DHE president Dennis Landon. "We believe these students embody future leaders for our church and for society in general."

The first class of Leadership Fellows are:

• Casey Abney, a sophomore at Texas Christian University from Corsicana, Texas
• Diana Batzka, a sophomore at Lynchburg College from Jacksonville, Fla.
• Andrew Blackman, a freshman at Culver-Stockton College from St. Louis, Mo.
• Sara Blackwood, a freshman at Texas Christian University from El Paso, Texas
• Joseph Blosser, a senior at Texas Christian University from Jefferson City, Mo.
• Sarah Carter, a freshman at William Woods University from Garden City, Kan.
• Charles Delaney, a senior at Hiram College from Stow, Ohio
• Natalie Dixon, a freshman at Eureka College from Wellington, Kan.
• Laura Jennison, a freshman at Mount Holyoke College from Spokane, Wash.
• Brandon Johnson, a freshman at Transylvania University from Cedar Falls, Iowa
• Krista Johnson, a freshman at Ball State University from Greenwood, Ind.
• Kelly Johnson-Hill, a sophomore at University of Otago from Dunedin, New Zealand
• Emily Klingenfus, a freshman at Grand Valley State University from Grand Rapids, Mich.
• Peter Mitchell, a freshman at Texas Christian University from Keokuk, Iowa
• Dacia Erin Moore, a junior at Barton College from Raleigh, N.C.
• Laurie Morse, a sophomore at Pacific Lutheran University from Kirkland, Wash.
• Todd Mostak, a freshman at University of North Carolina from Cary, N.C.
• Sarah Olson, a junior at Northwest Christian College from Ontario, Ore.
• Shannon Smith, a sophomore at Northwest Christian College from Boise, Idaho
• Katherine Wiebenga, a senior at Calvin College from Cadillac, Mich.
• Alison Williams, a freshman at Transylvania University from Indianapolis, Ind.
• Jessica Wright, a junior at Culver-Stockton College from Lorena, Texas

DHE plans to work with participants through graduation.

"Since these scholarships are renewable, we hope to watch these students develop their leadership skills as they develop their professional skills in the classroom," Landon said. "We look forward to knowing these bright students for several years."

This year's fellows will receive a $2,000 scholarship for educational use. In addition, DHE undergraduate scholarship recipients will be required to participate in planning and leading campus ministry programs or similar activities. The campus chaplain, director of church relations, ecumenical campus minister or another appropriate official will oversee this participation. DHE fellows also will attend annual leadership conferences, the first scheduled for November in St. Louis, Mo.

To be eligible for the fellowship, students were required to attend a regionally accredited American college or university, be a full-time student, participate in a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) congregation, and express a commitment to serve the church as a clergy or lay leader and to participate in the leadership development activities required by the DHE Leadership Fellows Program.

Including cooperative efforts with local congregations, DHE helped distribute almost $178,000 in scholarships in 2000. In the coming year, DHE will work with the Phillips University Legacy Foundation to award additional annual scholarships to students attending Disciples colleges and universities who demonstrate potential for leadership in the church.

Fourteen universities and seven theological institutions in 12 states are in covenant with the Christian Church, serving 24,000 students. In addition, three schools and three theological institutions maintain historical ties with the denomination. Also, DHE is affiliated with more than 80 campus ministries programs across the country.

• See also: Phillips press release