The highest Catholic award given to a teenager in the Diocese of Little Rock is the St. Timothy Award. This year’s recipients are recent high school graduates Jacob De La Paz, a member of St. Boniface Church in New Dixie; and Jordan Siebenmorgen, a member of Christ the King Church in Little Rock.
The award’s name is based on 1 Timothy 4:12. “St. Timothy along with Titus were two of the most beloved and trusted disciples of St. Paul and accompanied him on many of his journeys,” said Liz Tingquist, diocesan youth director.
De La Paz and Siebenmorgen were chosen because they met the four main criteria: setting a positive example for other youth, exhibiting Catholic morals and integrity, serving others, and being a leader in their parish, school and community.
De La Paz is a lector, altar server and member of the Knights of Columbus.
“He is proud of his Catholic faith and presents himself as nothing less than the image Christ asks of us — from the way he dresses to his quiet, polite speech,” Tingquist said. “Being a religious minority in his school and community has given this young man an opportunity to demonstrate the ideals of Catholicism as well as explain our beliefs and often correct what his non-Catholic peers have been told about our faith.”
Siebenmorgen served on her parish’s youth leadership team for two years and served as a youth representative on the parish council. She also serves as a lector and usher and is an extraordinary minister of holy Communion at her high school.
“Her youth minister wrote that she is one of the most positive, prayerful and joyful persons she has ever known. She is a teen that does not look the other way in the face of peer pressure but with confidence she consistently lives the Gospel message,” Tingquist said.
Pastor Msgr. Francis I. Malone said she is “hands down the most outstanding young lady I have had the pleasure of knowing and pastoring. She has made me want to be a better Christian and priest.”
Other St. Timothy Award nominees included Mary Engledowl, St. Raphael, Springdale; Adam Koehler, Immaculate Conception, North Little Rock; Daniel Mitchell, St. John, Hot Springs; Lauren Nehus, Our Lady of the Holy Souls, Little Rock; Mary-Kate Taylor, St. Vincent de Paul, Rogers; and Rachel Tyler, Sacred Heart, Morrilton.
Winners of the Companions on the Journey Award, the highest adult award, must be committed to youth ministry for at least five years, show leadership on the parish and diocesan level and commit to ongoing education and formation. It was given to:
Shelly McGhee, Christ the King, Little Rock Casey Simon, Immaculate Conception, North Little Rock Christi Lynn Priore, St. John, Russellville Loreena Hegenbart, St. Mary, Mountain View Al Espinda, Mary Espinda and Anita Urban, Holy Family, Little Rock Air Force Base Maria Teresa Valenzuela, Therese Rohr, Mary Bauer and Jean Pappas, St. Vincent de Paul, Rogers
Another adult award, Light of the World, is given to those who have demonstrated a commitment to young people and youth ministry on the parish level. They include:
Melanie Alecusan, Cindy Maas and Father Shaun Wesley, St. Vincent de Paul, Rogers Mary Lou Wender, St. Raphael, Springdale Brad McClintock, St. John, Hot Springs Darla Lavender, Christ the King, Little Rock Heidi Doolittle and Chris Doolittle, Immaculate Conception, North Little Rock Lisa Schafer, St. Michael, West Memphis Cathy Sloop and Calvin Webb, Holy Family, Little Rock Air Force Base
Forty-two teens were given the Youth Discipleship Award for contributing to their parish community. It is given to one teen in 9th to 12th grades in each parish.
St. Vincent de Paul, Rogers: Anne Rohr, Matthew Denefe, Ryan Marchewka and Marissa Sargent St. Theresa, Little Rock: Sam Tamo, Aaron C. Smith, Teresa Marie Schieber, Sarah Brooke Mattingly, Bradley A. Klais and Rebekah Elizabeth Hallman Sacred Heart, Morrilton: Rachel Tyler, Emily Bowling, Kaitlin Short and Lindsay Savoy St. Mary, Hot Springs: Ryan Meeks and Miranda Edgar St. John, Hot Springs: Daniel Mitchell
St. Raphael, Springdale: Austen Oslica, Alex Irvin, Jason Kramer and Kris Swafford Our Lady of the Holy Souls, Little Rock: Sarah Beadle, Olivia White, Mary Richmond, Nick Wilson and Lauren Nehus St. Stephen, Bentonville: Melanie Sasse, Britny Brauburger, Alex Cornell and Matt Dulle Immaculate Conception, North Little Rock: Patrick Ott, Greg Buratowski and Amanda Anthony St. John, Russellville: Hannah Ulrich and Jeffrey Perkins St. Edward, Little Rock: David Landers Our Lady of Fatima, Benton: Constance Lee St. Boniface, New Dixie: Katie Oslica, Marissa De La Paz and Jacob De La Paz Holy Family, Little Rock Air Force Base: Alex Webb and Nannisha Nieto
The awards were presented by the diocesan youth ministry office during its annual convention May 9-11 in Little Rock.
Highest youth award winners live faith in parish, community
