CALVERT- ROSENBERGER	FOSTER	HALL	HAWES	KNORR	LUNDBLAD	MOORE

"Just a few years ago, we could only add five new students a year, and we're so pleased to be able to nurture more emerging leaders. That said, there are still dozens of other students who would benefit from the program if we only had the funds," Landon said. "We are continuing to seek partners and identify strategies that will help us offer more opportunities to emerging leaders."

The new Fellows will join a class of 16 returning Leadership Fellows. Together, the fellows are a diverse group. They come from congregations and towns of all sizes and reflect a variety of academic interests and intended professional vocations. Several attend Disciples colleges and universities, but public institutions and private institutions affiliated with other denominations are represented as well. The ethnic diversity of Disciples is reflected as well; more than 25 percent of the program's participants are non-Anglo. All this diversity gives Fellows a new way to look at the church they have grown up in, the church they will serve. The returning Leadership Fellows are:

• Sarah Cheon, a sophomore political economics major from Claremont, Calif., at the University of California at Berkeley (Sallims Christian Church, Newport Beach, Calif.)

• Allison Enari, a junior cognitive science major at Occidental College (First Christian Church, Bloomington, Ind.)

• Jenny Faenza, a sophomore theology and government major at Georgetown University (Central Christian Church, Springfield, Tenn.)

• Caroline Hamilton, a sophomore English and religion major at Texas Christian University (First Christian Church in Lewisville, Texas)

• Katie Johnson, a junior advertising and public relations major at Texas Christian University (Woodmont Christian Church, Nashville, Tenn.)

• Georgia Kuss, a junior psychology and studio art major at Kenyon College (Allisonville Christian Church, Indianapolis)

• Esther Lee, a senior fashion merchandising major at Texas Christian University (University Christian Church, Fort Worth, Texas)

• Laura O'Donnell, a senior elementary education major at Vanderbilt University (Zionsville Christian Church, Zionsville, Ind.)

• Merillat Pittman, a junior political science major at Texas Christian University (Forest Park Christian Church, Tulsa, Okla.)

• Jesse Stephenson, a sophomore at Transylvania University (Central Christian Church, Columbus, Ga.)

• Kristen Walling, a junior peace studies and international relations major at American University (Euclid Avenue Christian Church in Cleveland Heights, Ohio)

• Courtney Waters, a sophomore international communications major at Rhodes College (New Direction Christian Church, Memphis, Tenn.)

• Kathryn Welch, a junior religious studies major at Transylvania University (Christian Temple in Baltimore)

• Alexis Westerhausen, a sophomore biology major at Culver-Stockton College from Girard, Ill. (First Christian Church, Virden, Ill.)

• David Weuste, a senior music major at Texas Christian University (First Christian Church, Guthrie, Okla.)

• Felicia Wright, a senior E-business major at Texas Christian University (University Christian Church, Houston)

The Leadership Fellows Program provides several ways to help students explore and strengthen their leadership potential:

• Covenants: Students design their own covenant with HELM describing how they plan to work on developing their leadership abilities. Fellows work in cooperation with a campus chaplain, director of church relations, ecumenical campus minister or another appropriate official to develop leadership experiences. Many participate in planning and leading campus ministry programs or similar activities, while others lead youth groups in local congregations or engage in outreach programs.

• Leadership conference: Fellows also attend annual leadership conferences, generally held the first weekend of November, where they learn from Disciples leaders, pastors, and each other while building bonds to support each other as their leadership skills grow.

• Summer internships: HELM works with Leadership Fellows to identify internships that will expose students to the wide variety of ways Disciples minister.

• Grant: Fellows receive a $2,000 grant at the beginning of each school year for educational use.

• Intangibles: Students maintain regular contact with HELM staff and other denominational leaders via e-mail and denominational meetings.

HELM works to nurture transforming leadership for the church in partnership with Disciples congregations, higher education institutions, campus ministry programs, regions, general ministries, and other agencies of the church.