Tomorrow's Leaders Today
June 2005 edition

Five new students added to HELM Leadership Fellows Program

Five emerging leaders in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) have been named as the fifth class of HELM Leadership Fellows.

HELM Leadership Fellows are selected based on their leadership potential, church participation, and academic promise. The five new Leadership Fellows, who will all be incoming freshmen during the 2005-2006 academic year, are:

• Esther Lee, a biology major at Texas Christian University from Torrance, Calif., who worships at South Bay Korean Christian Church;
• Laura O'Donnell, a member of Zionsville Christian Church in Zionsville, Ind., who plans to major in elementary education at Vanderbilt University;
• David Weuste, a music performance major at Texas Christian University who worships at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Guthrie, Okla.;
• Zech Wilson, a biology major at Chapman University and a member of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Las Vegas, Nev.; and
• Felicia Wright, a computer science major at Texas Christian University from Missouri City, Texas, who worships at University Christian Church in Houston.

Lee	O'Donnell	Weuste	Wilson	Wright

"The students applying for the Leadership Fellows Program are absolutely incredible," said HELM President Dennis Landon. "It's frustrating when we see how many of these students are outstanding leaders already, yet we don't have the resources to include them in our program. We are working on ways to expand our ministry to reach these additional leaders, whether through the Leadership Fellows Program or other new programs. We take heart knowing these young leaders will find additional creative ways of developing their leadership skills and their faith."

Based on the track record from the first four years, the program can be called a success."As the program enters its fifth year, we're on our second round of students; all the students who participated in the program's first year have graduated," Landon said. "When we look back to that first year, the way this program has evolved and grown shows us that God is at work in our college students and the church as a whole."

"While our program does not focus exclusively on calling students to the ministry, half of our 22 graduates are ministerial students, are considering seminary, or are already working in congregational life," Landon said. "Several of them are active in programs across the church or have taken up church-related causes as their vocation. It's a privilege and a joy to see these students mature and grow in their faith."

Leadership Fellows are a diverse group. They come from large congregations and small, from major cities and small towns. The Leadership Fellows also reflect the ethnic diversity of Disciples. While there are religion majors in the program, several teachers, an accountant, an engineer, and many social scientists are among current and former participants. They attend Disciples colleges and universities, public institutions, and also private institutions affiliated with other denominations. This diversity gives Fellows a new way to look at the church they have grown up in, the church they will serve.Returning Leadership Fellows are:

• Jean Ellen Cowgill, a sophomore at Dartmouth College (Central Christian Church and Crestwood Christian Church, Lexington, Ky.)
• Carissa Cullumber, a junior social work major at Bethany College (Avon Christian Church, Indianapolis, In.,)
• Tiffany Curtis, a sophomore international studies major at Chapman University (Familia de fe Christiana in Downey, California).
• Rebekah Cypert, a junior religion major at Bethany College (First Christian Church, McKinney, Texas)
• Jenny Dale, a senior sociology major at Grinnell College (University Church, Chicago)
• Charlie Hall, a senior psychology major at Oklahoma State University (First Christian Church, Duncan, Okla.)
• Michelle Harvick, a senior music education and vocal performance major at Texas Christian University (First Christian Church, Arlington, Texas)
• Titus James, Jr., a senior animal science and business major at Kansas State University (North Heights Christian Church, Wichita, Kansas)
• Amanda McFarland, a senior English major at Centre College (First Christian Church, Paris, Ky.)
• Emily Brooke McIntyre, a junior mass communications major at Hampton University (New Hope Christian Church, Beaufort, S.C.)
• Christopher Miller-McLemore, a sophomore at Vanderbilt University (Woodmont Christian Church, Nashville, TN).
• Mandy Ogunnowo, a sophomore marketing major at Indiana Wesleyan University (First Christian Church, Lawrence, Kansas)
• Cassie Poncelow, a junior interior design major at Colorado State University (Heart of the Rockies Christian Church, Fort Collins, Colo.)
• Kelly Rand, a sophomore social work and English major at Texas Christian University (St. Andrew Christian Church, Olathe, Kansas)

This year, 52 students from 25 states applied for the Leadership Fellows Program.