Lori Brown, youth minister for St. John the Evangelist Parish in Paducah, presents David DeNeve a SLIM award for the Paducah Deanery.  David’s mom and dad, Barb and Bryan, and Fr. Bruce Fogle, pastor, are also pictured. COURTESY OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST PARISH

BY WKC STAFF

This summer, the Office of Youth Ministry announced the recipients of the annual Servant Leaders in Ministry (SLIM) awards. After receiving nominations from parishes, the youth ministry office team selects up to 18 youth from around the diocese who have made outstanding contributions to their parishes, communities, and diocese overall.

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.

“Please join us in congratulating these tremendous young leaders for their service,” said Hardesty. “They are true witnesses to a life of faith and service in their schools, parishes, local communities, and beyond.”

This year’s 18 winners received an engraved plaque, and all nominated youth received a certificate of recognition. This year’s winners and certificate of recognition recipients are listed below:

Award winners:

• Jackson Howard, Blessed Mother in Owensboro, nominated by Christina Barnard
• Ethan Gough, Blessed Sacrament Chapel in Owensboro, nominated by Sr. Jeannette Fennewald, SSND
• Shelby Hughes, Christ the King in Scottsville, nominated by Fr. Tom Buckman
• Thomas Berger, Holy Name of Jesus in Henderson, nominated by Beth Probus
• Isaac Goldsberry, Holy Name of Jesus in Henderson, nominated by Beth Probus
• Isabelle Washburn, St. Francis de Sales in Paducah, nominated by Kelly Groves
• David Record, St. Francis de Sales in Paducah, nominated by Kelly Groves
• Gage Munsell, St. Jerome in Fancy Farm, nominated by Peyton Hutson
• Allie Buckman, St. Jerome in Fancy Farm, nominated by Peyton Hutson
• David DeNeve, St. John the Evangelist in Paducah, nominated by Lorie Brown
• John Smith, St. Joseph, Leitchfield in nominated by Dcn. Robert Higbee
• Nicholas Caldwell, St. Leo in Murray, nominated by Debbra D’Angelo
• EJ Stauffer, St. Mary of the Woods in Whitesville, nominated by Johnny Sherfick
• Ariel Molina, Jr., St. Mary in Franklin, nominated by Fr. Tom Buckman
• Molly Geary, St. Paul in Leitchfield, nominated by Gina Sims
• Spencer Harris, St. Stephen Cathedral in Owensboro, nominated by Karina Romero
• Nickolaus Klar, Sts. Peter and Paul in Hopkinsville, nominated by Fr. Chris Kight
• Athena Wagner, Peter and Paul in Hopkinsville, nominated by Fr. Chris Kight

Certificate recipients:

• RayAnne Howard, Blessed Mother in Owensboro, nominated by Christina Barnard
• Cooper Danzer, Blessed Mother in Owensboro, nominated by Christina Barnard
• Wesley Stelmach, Our Lady of Lourdes in Owensboro, nominated by Sandy Fleming
• Ethan Wimsatt, Precious Blood in Owensboro, nominated by Helen Bennett
• Meredith Fischer, St. Anthony in Utica, nominated by Elaine Strain
• Rebecca Depoyster, St. Paul in Leitchfield, nominated by Gina Sims
• Dustin Payne, St. Stephen Cathedral in Owensboro, nominated by Karina Romero
• Andrew Folz, Sts. Peter and Paul in Hopkinsville, nominated by Fr. Chris Kight

To learn more about youth ministry in the Diocese of Owensboro, visit owensborodiocese.org/youth-ministry.

Ethan Gough receives a SLIM award from Fr. Shibu Cheriankunnel, parochial vicar at Blessed Sacrament Chapel in Owensboro. COURTESY OF BLESSED SACRAMENT CHAPEL

Wesley Stelmach, a recipient of the SLIM certificate, smiles for a photo with his pastor, Fr. J. Patrick Reynolds, at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Owensboro. COURTESY OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES PARISH

David Record (left) and Isabelle Washburn (right) with their pastor Fr. Gary Clark of St. Francis de Sales Parish in Paducah, each received SLIM awards this year. COURTESY OF ST. FRANCIS DE SALES PARISH

Originally printed in the August 2024 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.