The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
The Stronghurst Christian Church expressed their excitement in the hiring of two new youth ministers, Danielle Covert and Alicia Phillips.
"They are ecstatic about their opportunity to reach out into the community and help grow and strengthen the youth" who come to fellowship at SCC, their newsletter reports.
Danielle will be working with the K-5th youth and Alicia will be working with the Jr. High and High School youth.
Danielle is the daughter of former Stronghurst Christian Pastor Armand and Pat Harpin. She has been working at West Central High School, since February 2007 as a Title I Associate. She works with Kindergarten students in small groups, and teaches them reading and writing and helps with paper/prep work for teachers. Prior to that she was a counselor and site director at Lincoln Area YMCA directing an after-school and before-school care of youngsters K-6th grade, receiving very positive feed-back from parents.
She has worked at Culver's restaurant in Burlington, Iowa, directed Vacation Bible School two years, and attended Bible College at Lincoln Christian College 2005-2006. She is a 2005 Southern Graduate.
Danielle loves people, children, learning, teaching, ministry, and music, and says her objective is to have a career that will enrich the lives of those around me.
Danielle is married to Caleb Covert and the couple are expecting their first child this month of March.
Alicia Phillips of Stronghurst, is the daughter of Melissa (Phillips) and Paul McIntire. She has worked as a Residential Assistant at Warren Achievement Center in Monmouth since September 2007 and was Activity Aide at Oaklane Nursing & Rehab in Stronghurst from Aug. 2005 to Aug. 2007, serving and cheering the many special residents there. During the summer of 2005, Alicia was Cashier at Culver's Restaurant in Burlington, Iowa.
She has volunteered with local road clean-up, assisted with Vacation Bible School, tiny tots, 4-H food drives, helped with chores and kept company of a senior citizen and near-by neighbor, raked leaves and worked two summers on out-of-state Mission trips.
Alicia also was awarded the prestigious Horatio Alger State Scholarship to assist in funding her college education.
The Horatio Alger Association is a non-profit, whose members have some of the best and most interesting successes stories - those who have risen from adversity to become very successful and who are now able to "give back."
Some of its famous Members include Oprah Winfrey and Lou Dobbs.
The state honorees are among the best and the brightest youth in America.
The Horatio Alger Scholarship Program is one of the largest need-based financial aid programs in the country.
The scholarships are awarded to students who have demonstrated integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity and hardships in their lives while demonstrating strength of character, strong academics, commitment to pursue a college education and desire to contribute to society.
Alicia is a West Central 2007 High School Graduate and is majoring in Psychology at Monmouth College anticipating to graduate in May of 2011. She has taken Dual credit courses at Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg.
Bringing lots of caring and expertise, these two young ladies will be busy at the Stronghurst Christian Church.
Every Wednesday from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Danielle will oversee the K-5th grade after-school program which includes music, games, crafts, treats, and a Bible lesson. It is open to all kids in the community.
In the evening, Alicia will oversee the Junior High and Senior High activities from 7 to 8:30 p.m., also open to all youth in the area.
Every Friday is Parents Night Out from 5-10 p.m., where parents can drop their Kindergarten through 5th grade children off, and pick them back up by 10:00 p.m.