YM Network Extravaganza
Rooted and Growing: Faith and Education at our Lutheran Colleges
Intensive Care Course Travel and Tuition Stipends for those serving in Youth Ministry: 2009 ELCA Youth Ministry Extravaganza—New Orleans
Acknowledgment of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation Grant
Leader: Laurie Brill and Dr. Ralph Wagoner
Description: The college planning and selection process can be a challenging and overwhelming experience for high school families in your congregation. Inspire, engage, and empower your students and their families to select a college/university where they will most likely discern and embrace their vocation. Learn about how to assist your families in accessing and maximizing scholarships, grants and other forms of financial aid. Help your students critically evaluate and explore options so that they are able to make well-informed decisions. Assist your students in making the most out of campus visits and college fairs by equipping them with the appropriate questions to ask and exposing them to valuable research regarding the college experience. While in college, students deepen their faith and intellect and become prepared to lead, care about, and serve in God’s beloved world.
Bio: Dr. Ralph Wagoner has served as the president of the Lutheran Educational Conference of North America for 9 years. In his career, he has spent 49 years in education, including 13 years as a college or university president, 10 years in development and 5 years as teacher and administrator in public schools. He received his bachelor's degree from Gettysburg College, a MS from Westminster College and a PhD Kent State University.
Laurie Brill earned her M.A. degree in Counseling, and a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, both at Lenoir-Rhyne University. She worked for 8 years in college admissions and 2 years as a college counselor at a Boston area high school. For the past 10 years she has served with LECNA as the director of marketing.
In May 2006, the Lutheran Educational Conference of North America (LECNA) received from the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation a grant to fund Connecting Colleges and Congregational Ministry, a new thrust in LECNA’s ongoing awareness and recruitment campaign. This was matched by participating Lutheran Educational Conference of North America institutions. The Connecting Colleges and Congregational Ministry initiative is designed to heighten awareness of the value of Lutheran higher education among Lutheran congregations nationwide. As a part of the grant initiative, LECNA will provide an intensive care course at the 2009 ELCA Youth Ministry Extravaganza and will offer a $100 travel stipend (for the first 100 registered) for those in youth ministry who participate in the LECNA intensive care course. In addition, the grant will cover the cost of the intensive care course.
Lutheran college graduates are a primary source of leadership and service for their congregations and communities. LECNA hopes to raise awareness among high school students, their parents, church youth ministers and leaders, pastors, and other church thought leaders of the value and benefits of attending a Lutheran college or university. LECNA has developed a coordinated effort to communicate the positive impact Lutheran higher education has on the future growth of the Church. Lutheran colleges and universities provide a place where young people can discern their calling. Congregational leaders who have completed a LECNA seminar will gain valuable resources/information to share with their college-bound families.
To make use of this grant, be one of the first 100 to register as a participant in the Extravaganza and for the "Rooted and Growing: Faith and Education at our Lutheran Colleges" Intensive Care Course. After completion of the course, participants will be mailed a check for the travel stipend. If you have questions, please contact info@elcaymnet.org.
For more details regarding the Extravaganza, please visit: http://www.elcaymnet.org/icccourses
