Albaugh Scholarship Awarded to Five Alumni

Methodist Children’s Home has awarded its prestigious Ralph Buchanan Albaugh Scholarship to five alumni for the 2012-2013 academic year. The recipients are: Essence Stowe, sophomore at Texas A&M University, business major; Simona Tilahun, sophomore at University of Texas at Arlington, biology major; Ally Fry, sophomore at Baylor University, fine arts major; Amber Creason, senior at Texas A&M University, English major; and Josh Sheppard, sophomore at University of Texas at Arlington, education major.

Congratulations to these alumni for another successful year in college!

Clockwise from top: Josh Sheppard, Simona Tilahun, Essence Stowe, and Ally Fry. Amber Creason is not pictured.

Core Value Responsibility Award Goes to Amy Grisham

Methodist Children’s Home recognizes staff who have demonstrated our core values in their work with our youth and families. The following is an excerpt from the nomination of Amy Grisham for the Responsibility core value award. Amy is the school support coordinator on the Waco campus.

“Amy demonstrates responsibility in many different ways. She holds herself to high standards and expects greatness and responsible work ethics from the staff she supervises in the school setting. Amy is tenacious in her role of seeing that youth are treated fairly. Amy is facilitating our Safe Ambassadors Program in an effort to prevent bullying behaviors and promote felt safety for our youth. Amy demonstrates a caring, straightforward style that serves her well in her position. Amy is an excellent liaison between the school, Boys Ranch and Waco campus staff.”

Amy shared the following about receiving this award:

“It is always nice to be recognized for our work. It is a blessing to be able to be a part of such a wonderful ministry.”

MCH Students Attend Yes! Expo

The Transition Services (TS) program , located on the Waco campus, works with our graduating seniors to help them prepare for their transition into college and the workforce. This past week, the TS staff planned a trip for our seniors from the Waco campus and Boys Ranch to the 5th Annual Yes! Expo held at the Extraco Events Center.

The Yes! Expo is put together by the Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas. It provides youth an opportunity to interact with employers of local industries and representatives of local colleges.

Here are some photos of our seniors at the event.

Core Value Christian Principles Award goes to Rebecca James

Methodist Children’s Home recognizes staff who have demonstrated our core values in their work with our youth and families. The following is an excerpt from the nomination of Rebecca James for the Christian Principles core value award. Rebecca is a caseworker in the Albuquerque outreach office.

“This core value is described as the ‘foundation of our ministry.’ As a caseworker, Rebecca exemplifies this value in the truest sense. Her determination to be mindful of the great calling that has been placed on her life and to carry it well and with diligence is obvious in all that she does, both in the office with her co-workers and in the community with her clients. The greatest example of this can be seen in her work with single mothers that are victims of extreme homelessness. Rebecca truly reaches out to ‘the least of these.’ She does not shy away from a mountain of problems and what is seemingly impossible. She is excellent at helping families determine what they need and how to get there. She gets right in the trenches with them and helps them figure it out.”

Rebecca shared the following about receiving the Christian Principles core value award:

“I am truly blessed to be a part of the Methodist Children’s Home. It is a true answer to prayer. As for the award, well praise God. I pray that he continues to use me.”

“ For He will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help.”
PSALM 72:12

Prom 2012

This past Saturday, April 21, Methodist Children’s Home high school seniors and their guests experienced prom night on the Waco campus. Youth from the Waco and Waxahachie campuses and the Boys Ranch attended the annual event. This year’s theme was “Around the World”.

Thank you to the many staff who helped plan and organize this event! There was great food, music and fun for everyone.

Enjoy the photos below from MCH’s 2012 Prom!

MCH youth start Girl Scouts troop

The Methodist Children’s Home recreation department on the Waco campus recently started a Girls Scout Troop. Ten young ladies are participating in weekly activities to earn badges and enjoy fellowship. Beth Harris, recreation coordinator, says Girl Scouts provides an opportunity to try new things and empowers young girls to develop self-confidence and earn recognition for their accomplishments. MCH youth have earned an Eating for Beauty badge and Animal Helper badge. They are currently working on their Drawing badge.

Pictured from left to right are: (front) Alexis, Areakesia and Dianne, and (back) Miranda, Ka Shena (volunteer) and Nariko.

REcreation Weekend 2012

The Religious Education and Recreation departments recently worked together to host the “REcreation Weekend” on the Waco campus. This is a three-day event that focuses on worship and recreational activities for the Waco campus and Boys Ranch youth. Ross Reynolds, youth minister at FUMC Rowlett, was the guest preacher, and Bus Seven was the guest band. Colin Campbell, music director at MCH, is a member of the band.

The theme this year was “truth.” The Religious Education staff invited former MCH youth Josh Shepard, Edden Agonafer, Alice Fry and Matt Wills to speak about how “truth” has played out in their lives since leaving MCH. While residents at MCH, they participated in the Perkins Youth School of Theology program at Southern Methodist University. All four are in college and talked about issues they have faced and the truth they have learned about themselves.

From left to right: Josh Shepard, Edden Agonafer, Alice Fry and Matthew Wills.