The 2026 Servant Leaders in Ministry award winners and certificate recipients of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Paducah are seen in this photo taken in summer 2026. COURTESY OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST
Office of Youth Ministry announces 2026 SLIM award and certificate recipients
BY WKC STAFF
Note: This summer, the Office of Youth Ministry announced the recipients of the 2026 Servant Leaders in Ministry (SLIM) awards. After receiving nominations from parishes, the youth ministry office team selects youth from around the diocese who have made outstanding contributions to their parishes, communities, and diocese overall. This year’s 20 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
Elijah Ford
Grade 11
Parents: Chris and Julie Ford
Parish: Blessed Mother, Owensboro
Nominated by: Christina Barnard
Gabriela Garcia
Grade 12
Parents: Jonathan and April Garcia
Parish: Christ the King, Scottsville
Nominated by: Fr. Tom Buckman
Brett Haley
Grade 11
Parents: Tracy and Jennifer Haley
Parish: Holy Name of Jesus, Henderson
Nominated by: Beth Probus
Noah Stinnett
Grade 12
Parent: Mandy Stinnett
Parish: Our Lady of Lourdes, Owensboro
Nominated by: Helen Bennett
Mayme Powell
Grade 12
Parents: George and Amanda Powell
Parish: Immaculate, Owensboro
Nominated by: Karina Romero
Aiden Chino
Grade 12
Parents: Stephen and Sheryl China
Parish: St. Francis de Sales, Paducah
Nominated by: Ben Teer
Gabrielle Ault
Grade 12
Parents: Zach and Anne Ault
Parish: St. Francis de Sales, Paducah
Nominated by: Ben Teer
Therese Watson
Grade 12
Parents: Clint and Rachel Watson
Parish: St. Francis de Sales, Paducah
Nominated by: Ben Teer
Brylee Cash
Grade 12
Parents: Bryan and Kelly Cash
Parish: St. Jerome, Fancy Farm
Nominated by: Peyton Hutson
Hadley Hayden
Grade 12
Parents: Levi and Whitney Hayden
Parish: St. Jerome, Fancy Farm
Nominated by: Peyton Hutson
Andrew Kaler
Grade 12
Parents: John and Lily Kaler
Parish: St. John the Evangelist, Paducah
Nominated by: Lorie Brown
Rafe Courtney
Grade: 12
Parents: Stacy and Tracy Courtney
Parish: St. John the Evangelist, Paducah
Nominated by: Lorie Brown
Jack Stewart
Grade 12
Parents: Tim and Sarah Stewart
Parish: St. John the Evangelist, Paducah
Nominated by: Lorie Brown
Bryleigh Jo Hayden
Grade 12
Parents: Bryan and Haleigh Hayden
Parish: St. John the Evangelist, Paducah
Nominated by: Lorie Brown
Maria Juan Andres
Grade 11
Parents: Felipe Domingo and Juana Andres
Parish: St. Michael, Sebree
Nominated by: Jenny Glenn
Johnathon Adams
Grade 11
Parents: Dan and Maureen Adams
Parish: St. Paul, Princeton
Nominated by: Susan Brinkley
Joseph Kurtz
Grade 12
Parents: John and Christine Kurtz
Parish: St. Stephen Cathedral, Owensboro
Nominated by: Karina Romero
Dale Bautista
Grade 11
Parents: Juan and Maria Bautista
Parish: St. Thomas More, Paducah
Nominated by: Ann Morrow
Levi Congleton
Grade 12
Parents: John and Terri Congleton
Parish: Sts. Joseph and Paul, Owensboro
Nominated by: Aynde Bennett
Michael Bennett
Grade 12
Parents: Tony and Aynde Bennett
Parish: Sts. Joseph and Paul
Nominated by: April Dickens
Certificate recipients
Abigail Stone
Grade 12
Parents: Amber Hays and Shaun Stone
Parish: Holy Name of Jesus, Henderson
Nominated by: Beth Probus
Matthew Molnar
Grade 12
Parents: Tim and Bridgette Molnar
Parish: Precious Blood
Nominated by: Jennifer Danhauer
Trayce Millay
Grade 11
Parents: Todd and Cecilia Millay
Parish: St. Anthony, Browns Valley
Nominated by: Ealine Strain
Eric McCarthy
Grade 12
Parent: Paula McCarthy
Parish: St. Elizabeth, Curdsville
Nominated by: Toni Thompson
Maddux O’Guinn
Grade 12
Parents: Karly and Rickey O’Guinn
Parish: St. Jerome, Fancy Farm
Nominated by: Peyton Hutson
Anna Taylor
Grade 12
Parents: TJ and Ashley Taylor
Parish: St. Jerome, Fancy Farm
Nominated by: Peyton Hutson
Mayme Powell, a parishioner of Immaculate Parish in Owensboro, received a Servant Leader in Ministry award in summer 2026. COURTESY OF POWELL FAMILY
Our Lady of Lourdes parishioner Noah Stinnett was among the youth who received a 2026 Servant Leader in Ministry award. COURTESY OF STINNETT FAMILY
Shown are the three winners of the 2026 Servant Leaders in Ministry awards from St. Francis de Sales Parish in Paducah, along with pastor, Fr. Gary Clark. COURTESY OF ST. FRANCIS DE SALES
Trayce Millay, a parishioner of St. Anthony in Browns Valley, was among the youth who received a certificate of recognition for the 2026 Servant Leaders in Ministry (SLIM) awards. COURTESY OF MILLAY FAMILY
Brett Haley, who belongs to Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Henderson, received a 2026 Servant Leaders in Ministry award. COURTESY OF HOLY NAME OF JESUS
Eric McCarthy, who belongs to St. Elizabeth Parish in Curdsville, received a certificate of recognition in the 2026 Servant Leaders in Ministry awards. He is seen with his pastor, Fr. John Okoro. COURTESY OF MCCARTHY FAMILY
Joseph Kurtz, a parishioner of St. Stephen Cathedral in Owensboro, received a 2026 Servant Leaders in Ministry award. COURTESY OF KURTZ FAMILY
Sts. Joseph and Paul parishioners, Levi Congleton and Michael Bennett, both received a 2026 Servant Leaders in Ministry (SLIM) award. They are seen with parochial vicar Fr. Mike Williams. COURTESY OF SSJP
Maria Juan Andres, who belongs to St. Michael Parish in Sebree, received a Servant Leaders in Ministry award this summer 2026. She is pictured with pastor Fr. Carmelo Jimenez. COURTESY OF ST. MICHAEL PARISH
Originally printed in the August 2026 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
