Cameron Kelly receives Youth Recognition
Award for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. essay
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(L to R) Youth award recipients: Douglas Morton, Antioch Baptist Church, Bedford Hills;
Cameron Kelly, Lutheran Church of the Resurrection; Rev. Dr. Paul S. Briggs - Pastor, Antioch Baptist Church; Spencer Sutton, St. Matthews, Bedford; and Lauren Stier, First Presbyterian, Katonah. (Fifth recipient: Shannon Chapman; Katonah United Methodist, not pictured)
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We are proud to announce that LCR youth Cameron Kelly was recently the recipient
of a Youth Recognition award presented by Bedford Hills' Antioch Baptist Church for
his essay entitled “Still Standing: Youth Advancing the Dream”.
LCR youth leaders Barbara Hughes and Laura Atwell received a letter from Antioch Baptist in November 2005 calling for youth pieces (in a variety of mediums--poetry, visual art, music or an essay) to commemorate The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. "We immediately thought of Cameron and asked him to submit his application," said Hughes.
Cameron got right to work on his essay. "I chose the essay because I believe that I can express my ideas and thoughts with pen and paper rather than a painting or a sketch," said Cameron, who sites his parents, Marian and Kevin Kelly, as his biggest inspiration. "First and foremost I was inspired by my parents to participate actively in the church and to become a respectable member of my church family," he said. "My parents taught me to use my talents to help others, especially in the church. They've always supported me in everything I've done. Secondly, I was inspired by Mrs. Hughes and Mrs. Atwell. They were the ones who nominated me for the award and Mrs. Hughes has been inspiring me to be an active youth since I was in seventh grade. She showed me how I could use my talents to teach others and she has believed in me all along. One more person who inspired me was my sixth grade Sunday School teacher, Mrs. Brosnan. She has been the ultimate advocate on behalf of the youth. She also gave me compliments and advice that I kept close to my heart."
On January 8, 2006, youth gathered with parents and members of Antioch Baptist to share their submitted works. During this gathering, Cameron, along with youth from other Westchester congregations, took part in presenting Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech. Certificates and an honorarium were given to each of the five award recipients at a banquet held on January 14. On this date, however, Cameron was attending our Koinonia retreat weekend. During the retreat, Cameron presented his excellent essay to great applause to the 80 LCR members present. Upon his return, Cameron received his recognition from Antioch in an informal ceremony.
We congratuate Cameron for this achievement and are proud of his recognition and for the recognition of our youth program here at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection.
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