As The Evangelist celebrates its past during 2001, its 75th anniversary year, the staff thought the newspaper should also project into its future by doing something new with its annual issue dedicated to Catholic teens.
In previous years, this special, award-winning issue has been for and about teens, but written by adults. This year, the issue is also by teens. With the help of youth ministers and educators, a panel of four young Catholics was assembled to come up with story ideas and then write them. For the past several months, this foursome, all seniors in high school, has become reporters, producing articles about Catholic young people and issues of interest to them. Their work appears throughout this special issue.
The quartet are:
* ELIZABETH CALLAHAN, a student at Shaker High School and a member of Our Lady of the Assumption parish in Latham. She was recommended by a youth minister as "a dedicated, reliable leader in our parish" who "makes a special effort to be as involved and helpful as she can be in all areas of parish life." Elizabeth ("Biz" to friends) is a member of the Diocesan Youth Council, an athlete at Shaker and, in the words of the youth minister, "a devoted, hard worker who fully puts herself into everything she does."
* LAURA FOWLER, who attends Saratoga Central Catholic High, is a member of St. Mary's parish in Glens Falls. An outstanding student who intended to pursue journalism and English in college, Laura is a varsity cheerleader, plays softball and volleyball, and is a peer minister and retreat leader.
* MIKE KARPOVICH, who attends LaSalle Institute in Troy and St. Edward's Church in Clifton Park, has worked on the school newspaper, The Cadet, as both a photographer and writer. A priest lauded Mike as "an excellent student with sound Christian values." This summer, he visited Normandy, France, as part of a student tour of the sites of D-Day. Mike tells about his experience in this issue.
* MICHELLE ROSBOZOM is a senior at Maple Hill High School and a member of Sacred Heart parish in Castleton. There, she is on both the pastoral council and youth ministry team. She is also a lector, altar server and member of the Diocesan Youth Council. Recommended by the pastoral associate for faith formation at Sacred Heart, Michelle is described as a young woman with "a vibrant gift of faith who is grounded in her relationship with God -- and not afraid to share it."