Zach Cheyney, Texas Christian University
Zach will be attending Texas Christian University to study computer science, where he will also be marching tuba in the Mighty Horned Frog marching band. In high school, Zach was part of the marching band, as well as being a member of Theatre Tech program and serving as news editor on the Cardinal Word student newspaper. He is passionate about doing service to improve his community, and has gotten opportunities to do this through his church, the Boy Scouts of America, and the Order of the Arrow—his project was a mural which he painted on the wall of his church to help raise awareness of their community garden, which allows people in the apartments near the church to have access to fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as beautifying the area. Although he has struggled with being on the autism spectrum, he hopes to become a strong leader so that he can be a role model to other non-neurotypical people in his community.
Matt Gillett, Lynchburg University
Matthew Gillett will be a freshman at the University of Lynchburg in the fall studying Political Science. Matthew is honored to be a part of HELM's Leadership Fellows Program. Matthew is an eagle scout, and he has served as the Executive Officer for the Christian Church in Oklahoma's Regional Youth Council. Matthew is a third generation Disciple, and his mother, as well as both of his grandfathers are ordained Disciples ministers. Matthew enjoys history, the outdoors, and vocal music. He is thrilled to see what opportunities will be granted to him in college!
Molly Jimmerson, Northern Arizon University
Molly is a double major for Special Education and Elementary Education at Arizona State University. She is a part of the Next Generation Service Corps at ASU, meaning that she will be pursuing a social justice issue through internships and community service for all four years. Molly graduated from Anthem Preparatory Academy with honors. She looks forward to attending church every Sunday, and even once delivered a sermon. Molly is a Habilitation and Respite worker for children with disabilities, and enjoys volunteering at St. Vincent DePaul and helping donate to local food banks. She really enjoy reading and writing , and loves learning Spanish, hoping to eventually be bilingual. She hopes to help solve issues involving domestic abuse and gun violence throughout college, and eventually, to become a teacher.
Yejin Lim, Texas Christian University
Yejin moved to Nashville, TN three years ago, but will be attending college in Texas at TCU in the fall, and will pursue a major in accounting and perhaps a minor in mathematics. Yejin graduated from McGavock High School May 2018. During high school, she enjoyed competing in DECA and working in student government. She was also am Academy Ambassador, leading tours for teachers, businesses, or parents around her high school, explaining the academy system and what oher school has to offer. Yejin goes to Nashville Hanshin Christian Church, where she sings in the church choir and playing the flute in her church’s Hessed Worship Team. In her sophomore year, Yejin served as the Youth Group President. Yejin also enjoys drawing, watching movies, reading, and teaching others about different cultures. Her favorite subject in school is math, and she has a passion for missions and teaching children. She is working with the church’s youth group to plan and go on a mission trip next summer.
Taylor Rapp, Texas A&M University
Taylor is a lifelong Disciple who loves mission work, travel and helping others. She has been singing in choir for years, and has had the opportunity to sing with the praise band at church. She has served on the Youth Ministry Council, has achieved her Gold Award in Girl Scouts, and has been an officer in Sea Scouts and Venture Scouts. Taylor is studying International Relations at Texas A&M University and is looking forward to serving others through mission work, and perhaps the State Department.
Emma Crider, Texas Christian University
In high school, Emma was very active in several sports and organizations. She was a member of the National Honor Society for three years, was on Varsity Track and Field for four years and Varsity Cross Country for three years. She was also cheerleader for three years and was elected captain for her senior year. Emma was selected to participate in the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce Teen Leadership X'perience her junior year. Emma also participated in Rotary Youth Leadership Academy and served for three years as the school Blood Drive Co-Director. Emmas has also been very active in her home church and region. This year, she was on the Regional Youth Commission Board, and has served as a summer camp counselor, and taught Vacation Bible School. She has participated in many volunteer opportunities within her church including leading Sunday School classes, volunteering in the nursery, feeding the homeless, volunteering at local shelters and community centers, and participating in her church youth missions trip all throughout high school. Emma loves working with kids and plans to focus on pediatrics in school. She is extremely passionate about serving others and doing mission work. She plans to major in nursing and ultimately receive her Masters as a Nurse Practitioner, and use her nursing education to do missionary work around the world. In college, Emma plan to be very active in a local church as well as on-campus religious organizations such as Disciples on Campus. She also plans to participate in intramural or club sports, and in academic organizations on campus such as a nursing or medical organization.
Maya Herb, Western Oregon University
Maya has lived in Oregon for her entire life and has been a member of First Christian Church of Corvallis for that same amount of time. It is a community that she is eternally grateful for and she would not be who she is today without them. Maya lives with my parents, grandpa, younger brother, five cats, one dog, and with a big backyard full of chickens, ducks, fruit trees, berries and vegetables. She graduated from Corvallis High School, where she took a variety of different art classes and developed a passion for ceramics. She would spend at least ten hours a week in the studio, working on her own projects, helping younger students, and helping to keep the studio running. She has a small space at home where she continues to do pottery over the summer and she is looking forward to having a booth to sell some of her work at her church’s annual craft fair in the fall. Maya also plays both trumpet and guitar. She played in the marching band, pep band and concert band throughout high school. Maya is bilingual in English and Spanish, having participated in a Dual Language Immersion program from kindergarten through graduation. She volunteers with some of her classmates regularly at the local food pantry that serves many Spanish speaking families. Maya will be attending Western Oregon University, and is an honors program student. She will be pursuing an Exploratory major and plans to at least minor in Spanish.
Colten Johnson, Drury University
Colten was born in 1999 in Fort Worth, Texas, and spent the first couple years of his life moving around. Eventually, his family settled in a small town in Illinois, Eureka. Colten was raised in a Disciples of Christ church, and his mother is an ordained minister in the denomination, so between his parents and the church community, he have been greatly influenced by the Church while growing up. Colten has participated in many leadership roles while in the church—he was a part of the reginal youth council for 4 years, and has served as a youth deacon, and youth worship team leader. His leadership experiences through the church have also been reflected in part-time jobs he has held, such as being a team leader at Pizza Hut for a year and being a commission-only salesman. Colten has a strong interest lie in athletics, and will be running the 400m hurdles for Drury University on a partial scholarship.
Zaemelys Ramos, Biola University
Throughout her time in serving her school and community, Zaemelys has learned the importance of aiding those who seek support, and with this, she wants to use my academic achievements to study clinical psychology. Zaemelys volunteers at Casa De Refugio Christian Church, which serves a community of underprivileged families. Every year, she leads and coordinates a Christmas project, Operation Christmas Child, preparing shoeboxes filled with toys, school supplies and personal items for impoverished children around the world. Zaemelys was the president of West Covina High School's National English Honor Society, where she coordinated activities that encourage young adults to love and recognize the importance of literature, including an annual Dr. Seuss Day event, which promotes the fun of literature to children through games and activities. Zaemelys is very passionate about art, psychology, and children. She loves having the power to create diverse characters through her artwork, and has a deep passion for helping her community. With these passions in mind, she is motivated to become a clinical psychologist. Her goal is to work with children with mental disorders through the use of art therapy. Additionally, she aspires to be an illustrator, and to write children’s books—she wants to develop heartwarming stories for children to look up to and to be inspired by.