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Champion Cloggers

Christy Richins of the Roy Utah Ninth Ward and Brandon Nelson of the Morgan Utah Sixth Ward have taken either first place or grand champion trophies in five states for clogging, a type of dancing.

The two have been clogging together for two years, winning numerous trophies and performing at the Worlds Fair in New Orleans.

To win as grand champions is a particular honor because the first-place winners in each division compete against each other for the grand championship.

Christy and Brandon choreographed their own prizewinning number and have practiced long hours perfecting it.

Youth Award

Curtis Bateman of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, was awarded the Ted Genoways Youth Award by his local Scout council. The award is given to an Eagle Scout who has achieved in areas other than Scouting.

Curt has been a summer volunteer at the Scottsbluff Library, his school orchestra vice-president, and an honor student. He also enjoys playing tennis and basketball and participating in track. He has served as the deacons quorum president and a member of his teachers quorum presidency in the Scottsbluff Ward, Cheyenne Wyoming Stake.

Young Scientist

Staci Green, 15, of Evanston, Wyoming, is a two-time winner in the Wyoming State Science and Engineering Fair.

Staci’s entries were named first-place winners in their respective categories. She received a commendation each year from the U.S. Army for her excellent projects.

Staci is an honor student and is active in 4-H. She has served as Beehive president and is presently active in her Mia Maid class in the Evanston Sixth Ward, Evanston Wyoming Stake.

Future Business Leader

Cassandra Lee Horne of Glendale, Arizona, was elected as Arizona’s Future Business Leaders of America Region II state vice-president. She represents the state in the national meetings of the Future Business Leaders of America.

Cassie enjoys school activities and plays in the advanced marching band. She feels that her church callings as Mia Maid class president and Laurel class president have helped her learn to speak in front of groups and act as a leader.

She is a member of the Glendale Fifth Ward, Glendale Arizona North Stake.

All-Around Cowgirl

Lori Crane of Tolleson, Arizona, was awarded a trophy saddle for winning the Arizona Junior Rodeo competition in her age group. To qualify for this title, she had to accumulate the most points in rodeos for one year.

Lori also won first-place championship buckles in goat tying and ribbon roping. She also competes in team roping and barrel racing.

Lori is a Beehive in the Tolleson Ward, Phoenix Arizona West Maricopa Stake.

On Lake Michigan

The Appleton District of the Milwaukee Wisconsin Mission held a fun youth conference right in their own backyard. They planned to sail and swim in Lake Michigan.

The unpredictable weather served up two beautifully sunny days. Following the theme of the conference, “Chart Your Course,” the leaders cast the youth adrift, in theory only, in groups of six with a survival kit. Each group was to decide which items were necessary for survival. The exercise was used to foster a discussion of our journey through mortality and what things are necessary for a safe return to our Father in Heaven.

Workshops in aerobics and a Coast Guard presentation in boating safety were held prior to an afternoon swim in the lake. That evening, garbed in pirate costumes, the group had a banquet and dance.

The following morning, breakfast was prepared for the group by the Young Men. After additional workshops on spiritual survival and an emergency course in human relations, the young people were invited on board a sailboat built by a member of the district.

One of the special experiences of the conference was the participation by one young man who was battling a serious illness. Although he had difficulty participating in some of the activities, the others helped him enjoy the conference.

The group returned exuberant and pleasantly tired for an evening testimony meeting. They bore testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel and the appreciation for meeting together with other young members of the Church.

Well-Used New Eras

The New Era is a common sight in the homes of the youth of the Winnipeg Manitoba Third Ward. Through a dedicated magazine representative, Susan Gross, every youth, active and inactive, receives the magazine written especially for them.

As a result, the youth of the ward have used the magazine in preparing talks, lessons, and family home evenings. The music often serves as prelude or postlude selections.

If a young person is unable to subscribe to the magazine himself, the magazine representative channels a gift subscription donated by members of the ward to the person needing the magazine.

Sister Gross comments that the magazine has caused new communication between the young people and their parents. One father and son have a friendly tug-of-war over who gets to read the magazine first. And parents report that their children bring them special articles to read and discuss.

California Miss

Marilyn Berglund was selected to represent her community as Miss Fallbrook, California. Marilyn was an excellent student in high school and for three years was named to the California Scholastic Federation.

Marilyn served as president of her seminary and of her Laurel class in the Fallbrook Second Ward, Vista California Stake.

Two Presidents

Two girls from the same Laurel class in the Sparks First Ward, Sparks Nevada Stake, were elected as student-body presidents. Heidi Hansen and Colleen Petersen each serve as student-body presidents of their respective high schools.

Heidi is also the head cheerleader and is secretary of the Honor Society.

Colleen plays on the school volleyball team. She is president of the Laurel class and is the ward organist.

Heidi and Colleen, together with their younger sisters, are accomplished singers and perform frequently at Church and community functions.

Horn Player

Adam Unsworth of Potsdam, New York, was the only student from his state and one of 35 students nationwide to be chosen to compete in the finals of the Seventeen magazine and General Motors National Concerto Competition. The competition was held at the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music in Ohio. Named as one of the 12 finalists in the French horn category, he won an all-expenses-paid trip to the competition.

In his high school, Adam plays on the varsity basketball team and is a member of the orchestra and band. He has also played in the New York State Regional All-State Orchestra.

Adam directs the music for priesthood each Sunday in the Potsdam New York Ward.

Award Winner

Corine L. Jue of San Jose, California, was the winner of two Daughters of the American Revolution awards, given to a senior who plans to study in the fields of art, architecture, music, or literature.

Corine is an accomplished violinist. Her musical and scholastic achievements have been recognized widely.

Corine was the president of her Laurel class in the San Jose 16th Ward, Morgan Hill California Stake.

Artistically Inclined

Kelly Haas enjoys capturing the beauty around her in her artwork. She recently entered a ceramic bowl in the Scholastic Arts Awards Contest and received a Gold Key award. Her entry was sent to a national competition.

Besides ceramics, Kelly is interested in photography. She was a member of the high school yearbook staff and was vice-president of both Art Club and the Belles, an all-girl singing group.

Kelly served as seminary president, ward music chairman, and as a teacher in the Primary in the Warsaw Ward, South Bend Indiana Stake.

Student Honors

Christine Cluff of Bloomfield, New Mexico, received honors in both music and business from her high school. She is a member of National Honor Society and graduated with honors.

Christine uses her musical abilities to serve the members of her ward. She is assistant organist and has sung in sacrament meetings and other church meetings.

Christine is a four-year seminary graduate and served for two years as president of her early-morning seminary class. She is a member of the Bloomfield Second Ward in the Bloomfield New Mexico Stake.

Leaving Their Mark

Three LDS students attending Walton High School in Marietta, Georgia, received recognition at the annual honors assembly.

Lisa Lehnhof was selected as the outstanding sophomore student in the visual arts. Her brother, Kent, was named the outstanding freshman in both the visual arts and English. Chris Osmond was designated as the outstanding sophomore student in English and was one of six selected to participate in the governor’s honors program. He became the first student selected from his high school in English.

Lisa, Kent, and Chris are all in the Roswell Second Ward, Sandy Springs Georgia Stake.

Book Winner

Jacob Flint was chosen as second-place winner in a publisher’s Heritage Publish-a-Book Contest. Jacob’s story, “John Knowles, Irish Rebel and American Patriot,” was chosen from thousands of entries from throughout the United States and around the world.

Jacob’s winning story is based on facts taken from his genealogy. John Knowles was his grandfather six generations back.

In addition to writing, Jacob enjoys participating on a mathematics team. He was also awarded first place at a district literary festival involving five junior high schools in the area. He plays first-chair violin in the school orchestra.

Jacob is a deacon in the Baytown Ward, Houston Texas East Stake.

Keeps Pitching

Amy Ohms, 13, knows that “almost” really does count in horseshoes. She is the Utah State Girls’ Horseshoe Pitching champion.

Amy learned everything she knows about pitching horseshoes from her father, Dennis, the men’s state champion, and from her grandfather, Ray, who was a state champion seven times.

Amy is a member of the National Junior Honor Society. She serves as secretary of her Beehive class in the Enoch Ward, Cedar City Utah North Stake.

Name Your Source

You already know that tidbits from the New Era can bring a talk or lesson to life. Next time you use the New Era, please remember to mention it by name. That way, the class or congregation will know where to find more of the same.

Rose Honor Roll

Edmund Rose, senior class secretary at the American Embassy School in New Delhi, India, has led the way for his younger sisters and brother on the honor roll. All four have made the director’s academic honors list.

Edmund, a priest in the New Delhi Second Branch, is active in Reach Out, a school club which carries out service projects at Indian institutions such as the orphanage headed by Nobel laureate, Mother Theresa.

Top Road Show

The youth of the Spring Branch Ward, Houston Texas Stake, swept the awards on stake road show night.

Following the theme “How the Ward Turns,” the group took a forward look to the year 2010. The Spring Branch road show received top ratings in originality, costuming, set design, special effects, visual appeal, prologue, and lighting. In addition, four of the cast members were chosen as the outstanding actors.

Two Seniors

Sally Despain and Polly Littlefield are the only seniors in the Lovell First Ward, Lovell Wyoming Stake, and they are close friends and have shared Church callings and school activities.

They have both been Primary organists, seminary council members, and participants in a chorus jazz group. They have both served as National Honor Society officers and class officers in school and church, and they are head cheerleaders.

Polly was Junior Prom queen and a delegate to Wyoming All-State choir for four years. Sally was valedictorian of her graduating class.

A thinking man is the worst enemy the Prince of Darkness can have.

—Thomas Carlyle

Heidi Hansen; Colleen Petersen

Sally Despain; Polly Littlefield