Fr. Tom Buckman (center) with SLIM certificate recipient Ariel Molina Jr., and SLIM award nominee Rose Forney. COURTESY OF ST. MARY PARISH
Recipients of 2023 SLIM awards and certificates announced
BY WKC STAFF
This summer the Diocese of Owensboro’s Office of Youth Ministry recognized the recipients of the 2023 Servant Leaders in Ministry (SLIM) awards. Based on nominations from the parishes, the youth ministry office selects up to 18 youth from around the diocese who have made outstanding contributions to their parishes, communities and the diocese.
The names are submitted to Robin Tomes, administrative assistant for the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, who coordinates with office director Charlie Hardesty in reviewing the nominees.
“Every year when Robin and I sit down to select our recipients for Student Leaders in Ministry awards, I’m always reminded of just how blessed we are in this diocese,” said Hardesty. “The young people that have been nominated this year are simply wonderful and deserving of this recognition. We are grateful for their continued leadership and pray God’s blessing for them as they continue to live a life of faith and service.”
This year’s 15 winners received a plaque, and all nominated youth receive a certificate of recognition. This year’s winners and certificate of recognition recipients are listed below.
Award nominees:
Olivia Ford, Blessed Mother, Nominated by Christina Barnard
Emily Solorza, Holy Name, Nominated by Beth Probus
Thomas Eyre, Holy Name, Nominated by Beth Probus
Kaylee Hutchinson, Our Lady of Lourdes, Nominated by Sandy Fleming
Sam Fulkerson, Precious Blood, Nominated by Sr. Rosanne Spalding
Lilly Watson, St. Francis de Sales, Nominated by Sondra Rankin and Ging Smith
Conner Thomas, St. Jerome, Nominated by Peyton Hutson
Macy Marler, St. Jerome, Nominated by Peyton Hutson
Natalie Elder, St. Jerome, Nominated by Peyton Hutson
Rose Forney, St. Mary (Franklin), Nominated by Fr. Tom Buckman
Landon Shupe, St. Pius X (Calvert City), Nominated by Paula Schmidt
Savannah Masterson, St. Pius X (Owensboro), Nominated by Matt Knight
Randi Carol Porter, Sts. Joseph and Paul, Nominated by Aynde Bennett and April Dickens
Carly Chaudoin, Sts. Peter and Paul, Nominated by Libby Downs
Eva Blankenberger, Sts. Peter and Paul, Nominated by Libby Downs
Certificate recipients:
Mary Dolinger, Blessed Mother, Nominated by Christina Barnard
RayAnne Howard, Blessed Mother, Nominated by Christina Barnard
Alexis Hatchett, Blessed Sacrament, Nominated by Sr. Jeannette Fennewald
Nolan Murphy, Precious Blood, Nominated by Sr. Rosanne Spalding
Avery Thompson, St. Jerome, Nominated by Peyton Hutson
Ryan Hayden, St. Jerome, Nominated by Peyton Hutson
Hannah Ramos, St. Joseph (Bowling Green), Nominated by Joseph McGinnis
Ariel Molina Jr., St. Mary (Franklin), Nominated by Fr. Tom Buckman
To learn more about youth ministry in the Diocese of Owensboro, visit owensborodiocese.org/youth-ministry.
Originally printed in the August 2023 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
