2008 Woodie Awards
24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week
Student juggles school and Campus Kitty responsibilities with commitment to church work.
Erica Siebrasse
Issue date: 4/14/06 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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Although being Campus Kitty chair may seem like a full-time job, senior Michelle McKenzie finds time to do much more. In addition to her year-long duties of organizing Campus Kitty, which culminate with today's Miss Hendrix production, McKenzie works about 20 hours a week as one of several youth ministers for Little Rock's St. James United Methodist Church.
McKenzie first became interested in youth ministry in high school when a friend suggested it after she was having trouble finding a career interest.
"It was the only thing that clicked for me," she said.
After an internship in Cabot following her senior year, McKenzie came to Hendrix to pursue a Religion major. She was offered the St. James' job part-time last May and will become a full-time associate minister this May following graduation.
Because McKenzie's father is Catholic and her mother is Methodist, she was sent to Catholic school in Little Rock and attended a Methodist church throughout her childhood. After learning about both religions firsthand, McKenzie says she chose Methodism because of its open atmosphere and emphasis on families.
In addition to her religion studies at Hendrix, McKenzie has prepared for her ministry by attending the Perkins School of Youth Ministry, a part of the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, for the past three years. She will complete her fourth year and become a Perkins-certified youth minister this summer. While McKenzie looks forward to her new job and ministry, she still plans on pursuing a master's degree in Christian Education and becoming a published author or speaker.
Currently McKenzie's ministerial duties involve directing all Sunday school and youth activities for St. James. She coordinates Sunday school teachers and curricula in addition to teaching her own lessons and leading her own Bible studies. McKenzie also organizes the junior youth group, coordinating several of their mission trips throughout the year. This year her junior youth group members will embark on their first mission trip to help local charitable agencies around Little Rock. While this will be the first time many members will be away from their parents, McKenzie hopes to give them mission exposure without the hard labor many mission trips involve.
McKenzie first became interested in youth ministry in high school when a friend suggested it after she was having trouble finding a career interest.
"It was the only thing that clicked for me," she said.
After an internship in Cabot following her senior year, McKenzie came to Hendrix to pursue a Religion major. She was offered the St. James' job part-time last May and will become a full-time associate minister this May following graduation.
Because McKenzie's father is Catholic and her mother is Methodist, she was sent to Catholic school in Little Rock and attended a Methodist church throughout her childhood. After learning about both religions firsthand, McKenzie says she chose Methodism because of its open atmosphere and emphasis on families.
In addition to her religion studies at Hendrix, McKenzie has prepared for her ministry by attending the Perkins School of Youth Ministry, a part of the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, for the past three years. She will complete her fourth year and become a Perkins-certified youth minister this summer. While McKenzie looks forward to her new job and ministry, she still plans on pursuing a master's degree in Christian Education and becoming a published author or speaker.
Currently McKenzie's ministerial duties involve directing all Sunday school and youth activities for St. James. She coordinates Sunday school teachers and curricula in addition to teaching her own lessons and leading her own Bible studies. McKenzie also organizes the junior youth group, coordinating several of their mission trips throughout the year. This year her junior youth group members will embark on their first mission trip to help local charitable agencies around Little Rock. While this will be the first time many members will be away from their parents, McKenzie hopes to give them mission exposure without the hard labor many mission trips involve.