SANFORD DISTRICT LAY RALLY OUTSTANDING SENIORS 2010

ROBERT WORTH BYNUM Worth has brought more joy to his family than anyone could ever know. He has a wonderful spirit and a wonderful, caring heart. He is active in the youth group at Marcus United Methodist Church. He loves sports and excels in baseball. He will graduate in 2010 and begin a wonderful adventure at NC State. His love for God and mankind will go with him throughout his life.

AMANDA CLARK Amanda is a member of Pleasant Hill UMC in Pittsboro. This year she was elected to be Sunday School Superintendent, a position usually reserved for a much older person. She is active in church, UMYF and conference youth ministry. She has attended Summer Breakaway, ACS and Pilgrimage and will soon be attending Global Vision. She serves on the conference youth council as well. Amanda has excelled in her school work and activities, but has done exceptionally well in carpentry class. She has used her skills to help build a deck and ramp for a church family and prepare a cross for youth Sunday worship. She will be attending Western Carolina U this fall.

MEGAN ALVORD Megan is a senior at the NC School of Science and Math. She has been a faithful attendee and supporter of the church all her life. When offered the first opportunity to become a certified youth lay speaker, she did so and was at that time the youngest lay speaker in our annual conference. She is currently the Sanford District Youth President. She has been very active in conference youth ministry, serving on the youth council and participating in Global Vision, Appalachian Trail Hike, Summer Breakaway and ACS. She has been a strong force at Browns Chapel UMC to urge, support and keep us focused on our mission and ministry. She will be attending NCSU this fall. She is a regional finalist for the NC Teaching Fellows Scholarship. She hopes to one day be a physics teacher.

ARIEL HICKERSON Ariel has shown great interest in becoming an active part in the whole church at St Luke and not just the youth ministry. Ariel's love for others also causes her to invest great time and energy into caring for her friends no matter what their situation. She is bold in her love for those around her, and embraces all with whom she comes into contact. Ariel is a great example to the younger students in our ministry.

COLLEEN FLEMING Colleen, a recipient of the highest award in Girl Scouts, The Gold Award, has been active at West End United Methodist Youth Group throughout high school. For her Gold Award, she coordinated and completed a project to deliver 200 filled backpacks to West End Elementary. She says she has definitely fallen in love with the youth group and has had so much fun learning about the Bible and fellowship with the youth group.

DANIELLE BRADSHAW Danielle is a senior at The ONeal School and has been accepted to the Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis. She has achieved membership in the Cum Laude Society and National Honor Society for academics. She is currently co-captain of the Varsity Cheerleading Squad, President of the Honor Council, an ONeal Ambassador, and a Key Club member. Outside of school, she likes to volunteer at the Coalition for Human Care which serves families in need in our area and is a member of the Southern Pines UMC.

BECCA AUBREY Becca is a senior at Union Pines High School, where she is a member of the National Honor Society and has been a part of the Union Pines Marching band for the last four years, section leader for trombones for the season. She has volunteered at Southern Pines United Methodist Church in many ways: has been on two mission trips, served as an acolyte for 6 years, active in her UMYF for the last 6 years, a group leader for VBS. Becca has also shown her leadership with Girl Scouts in helping with area events and with council events. She has also volunteered with Keep Moore County Beautiful.

CLARK WILLIAMS Clark is a senior who attends Pinecrest High School where she has competed on the speech and debate team, acting in the cast of the spring musical productions and being an active member of the Interact Service Club. She is a member of the National Honor Society with a weighted GPA of She is a finalist for the prestigious Teaching Fellows Scholarship. She has been a lifelong member at Southern Pines UMC. Over the years she has participated in choir, UMYF, Sunday School, youth Sundays and volunteered with VBS. interact service club. She participates in the highest level music classes; playing clarinet in the wind ensemble and singing in the Chamber Ensemble.

JAY LASSITER Jay is a senior at the ONeal School in Southern Pines, North Carolina. He is a a member of the Key Club, FCA, and ONeal Volunteers. Jay plays varsity baseball and basketball and works on the yearbook staff. As a member of UMYF at Southern Pines UMC, he has worked on mission teams in Beaufort, South Carolina and at the Hinton Center in Hayesville, North Carolina. He has also enjoyed being a group leader at VBS, attending Sunday school, being an acolyte and an usher. After graduation, Jay will attend Elon University.

JEFFREY STRICKLAND Jeffrey Strickland is a senior at Union Pines High School where he is currently ranked first in his class with a 4.9 GPA. He has served as class president and class representative. He has played on the JV and Varsity football teams and received a Cape Fear Valley Athletic Conference All- Academic Award. He was a member of the WRAL Brain Game Team, the National Honors Society and Key Club. He is also a senior mentor. He has been a member of the Southern Pines UMC UMYF where he served as youth representative to the Administrative Council. He has traveled to Beaufort, S.C. and Hayesville, N.C. on mission trips with the group. He will attend UNC at Chapel Hill in the fall.

DON DOUANGKHAM Don has a passion for serving others and has been very active in Trinity UMC in Troy, where he has served many years as an acolyte, is currently President of our UMYF, and teaches in our church school during worship services. He has been involved in mission projects for hospice, Habitat for Humanity, and schools in Afghanistan. A senior at West Montgomery HS, Don plans to major in film studies next year.

ADAM FOGLEMAN For seven years, Adam Fogleman, from Page Memorial in Aberdeen, has participated in numerous district and conference youth events hosted by the Methodist Church. In 2009, Adam served on CCYM as a designated observer. He was elected to this position by his peers at ACS.

SARA TROUTMAN At Pinecrest High School, Sara is involved in Interact Club, National Honors Society, and Art Club. She has volunteered for Adopt-a- Highway, the local Food Bank and the local Coalition for Human Care. At Page Memorial UMC, Sara has been a faithful member throughout both her middle and high school careers. She has enjoyed going to conferences like Pilgrimage in Fayetteville. Sara is also involved in Bible studies on Wednesday and Sunday nights.

KELSEY ATKINS Kelsey attends West Montgomery High School and is ranked near the top in his class. He is a multiple sport athlete, participating in football and baseball during all four years. He received honorable mention in his defensive position of outside linebacker. He plans to seek an engineering degree but has not yet committed to a college. Kelsey is currently the president of his LoveJoy UMC youth group. As an Eagle Scout he has mentored cub scouts within his community. Kelsey is on the Troy Volunteer Fire Department and is currently participating in fire school classes. He currently works at Montgomery Farm and Garden.

JULIE HIGGINS Julie has a spirit of strong dedication and leadership. She is highly involved in the youth group, and has a passion for this ministry. She sits on the Jonesboro UMC youth council, and has participated in several mission trips. In addition, she is extremely dedicated to all of her classes and is an excellent student. Most importantly, Julie lives her life as a disciple of Christ. She is always looking out for her friends and isnt afraid to stand up for what she believes in.

ELIZABETH COLLINS Elizabeth has been a very active member in the Smyrna UMC youth group for six years. She has participated in Christmas Plays, Celebrity Concerts, Soup and sandwich lunches and ski trips. She has graciously given her time with the Samaritans Purse Shoe Box Ministry, Harvest Son Festival, Relay for Life, and Summer Bible School. She has shared the pulpit on ski trips and Youth Sunday to deliver our worship hour message. She has demonstrated her Leadership abilities by serving as our Youth Secretary this past year.

LEVI MORRIS Levi has been a very active member in the Smyrna UMC youth group for six years. He has participated in Christmas plays, celebrity concerts, soup and sandwich lunches, luminaries at Christmas, and haunted trails at Halloween. He has graciously given of his time and helped with the Summer Bible School, backyard busters, spiritual tables, harvest Son Festival, and helped construct a prayer garden in memory of one of our youth members killed in a car accident. Levi has been our president from 2006 to present. Levi does not limit his leadership to just our youth group. He exemplifies leadership throughout out the entire church. He is an usher, a speaker at Men's breakfast and Sunday School Openings, and he has shared the pulpit to deliver worship hour messages on Youth Sunday and ski trips.

KURT CLARK While his parents are active participants in another local denominational church, Kurt has participated in Pittsboro First UMC VBS, is an active member of Sunday school, was a member of the hand bell choir and the childrens chimes, with the support of his parents he participated in Confirmation, made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ as his Savior and joined the church. He has continued to be an active member of the UMYF group offering his leadership when asked. Kurt quietly and gently shares his faith in Jesus Christ by being a living witness to his faith at PFUMC, school, and in the larger community. His fellow youth describe him with such words as kind, generous, nice, able to make others laugh, spectacular, awesome, a real role model, and one who does not judge bananas by their covers!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR OUTSTANDING SENIORS, 2010