Chester Methodist Men award three college scholarships

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[For the 49th year in a row the Methodist Men's organization at the First United Methodist Church in Chester have presented local students with scholarships to attend college. This year three Chester Methodist students have been presented awards from the UMM. The 2010-2011 recipients include graduating seniors Chad Koenegstein, Jeff Beers and John Paul Wunderlich. The scholarships were presented during the regular church service Sunday, May 30, 2010.

The scholarship program began in 1962 as a memorial to Jerry Lamkin who was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Chester. Lamkin was the son of George and Katherine Lamkin of Chester who were also active members of the Methodist Church. Jerry was very active in the church and the church youth group. He was also extremely active in numerous functions and activities conference-wide.

On his way home to Chester from school one icy January evening, Lamkin was tragically killed in an auto accident. He was so well thought of by the people of the Methodist Church Conference that a Jerry Lamkin Scholarship was started to keep the memory of Lamkin alive.

For the 2010-2011 school year Chad Koenegstein was the applicant chosen to receive the Lamkin Scholarship.

Koenegstein is the son of Bob and Pat Koenegstein of Chester. All are members of FUMC in Chester. Chad graduated from Chester Grade School in 2006 and Chester High School May 30. While at CHS he maintained a 3.84 GPA and even earned college credit maintaining a 4.0 GPA at Southwestern Illinois College.

At CHS Koenegstein was active in Student Council, National Honor Society, Life Jackets, Band, Environmental Club and Co-Op. He was a class officer sophomore through senior years and was Student Council Treasurer his sophomore year and President his senior year.

His junior and senior years Chad was a member of the United States Achievement Academy and he also won the Southern Illinois Leadership Award. He was very active on the CHS Cross Country and Track Teams. He was a Sectional Champ in the 110-m High Hurdles and 300-Meter Intermediate Hurdles. At the state Track meet in 2010 Koenegstein placed 11th in the state in the High Hurdles and 10th in the Intermediate Hurdles. He won All-Conference Honors in the 110-High Hurdles.

At the 2010 CHS Honor Night Chad won the Principal's Award, the Sons of the American Revolutionary War Award, the Chester Education Association Scholarship, the American Legion "Bud Cohen" Scholarship, the Thomas and Pauline Evans Scholarship, the Chester Women's Club Scholarship and the Edna Sharpe-Future Teacher Scholarship.

Chad will begin college next fall at Murray State University where he intends to major in Elementary Education. He also has an interest in starting a Canine/Equine Boarding and Exercise Care Facility.

In 1997 Elbert and Mabel Hoppe founded the McNelly/Hoppe College Scholarship Program at the First United Methodist Church in Chester. The United Methodist Men's group also administers this program. Criteria for eligibility for the McNelley/Hoppe Scholarship are very similar to that of the Lamkin Scholarship.

The Hoppe's established the McNelly/Hoppe Scholarship in loving memory of their parents, John and Caddie Hoppe and John and Ellen McNelly, and Mabel's brother, the Rev. Hugh McNelly. Hugh graduated from McKendree College and Drew Seminary in New York and became a Methodist preacher. He served charges in New York and New Jersey before retiring in 1985. On July 25, 1997 Rev. McNelley died at the age of 87.

The recipients of the 2010-2011 McNelly-Hoppe Scholarships were Jeffery Beers and John Paul Wunderlich, both of which are active members at FUMC.

Jeff is the son of Dr. Jim and Vicky Beers of Chester. He graduated in 2006 from Chester Grade School and from Chester High School May 30, 2010. Jeff was very active in musical endeavors while a student at CHS including Marching band, Pep Band, Concert band and Concert Band.

He was also a member of the CHS Concert Choir and the select singing group, the CHS Swing Choir, "Sound Affect". He was a member of the cast of the CHS drama Production of "Beauty and the Beast" where he played the role of a Townsperson and a Spoon.

Jeff competed in the IHSA Music Competition earning the "Best-of-the Day Award" for his tuba solo. It was the first time in CHS history that a student won that award for an instrumental solo. He also was chosen for the All-Conference Honor Band and won the 2010 Arion Award for being the best instrumental musician.

During his high school career Beers attended the Southern Illinois University Summer Band Camp where he earned a music campership from the Chester Music Patrons his 8th grade and junior years.

Jeff's junior year he was honored by his peers by being voted as Spring Prom Prince and his senior year Jeff was selected by the student body as the 2009 Homecoming King. At CHS he was active on the Yellow Jacket Cross Country Team and he was a member of Drug Free Youth. He was also the CHS Band Publicist his freshman year and Vice President during his tenure at CHS.

For his academic effort Beers was inducted into the National Honor Society and was a member of the CHS Honor Roll. He was a member of the 2010 Project Graduation Steering Committee and was selected for the highest music scholarship offered at Southern Illinois University for a freshman.

In the community Mr. Beers has been active in Boy Scouting for more than a decade. He recently completed his Eagle Scout requirements and finished his Eagle Scout Project which furnished 161 new American Flags to be flown on all major United States patriotic holidays.

Jeff graduated with a 3.2 GPA from CHS and will begin his college journey next fall at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale where he will major in Music Performance.

John Paul Wunderlich is the son of Roy and Mary Wunderlich of Chester. John Paul was home-schooled and recently completed the educational requirements for his high school equivalency.

During his high school years John Paul was very active in 4-H and the University of Illinois Extension. He was also a member of "Teen Pact" and Summit Ministries. His faith and church involvement at FUMC led him to become actively involved in the Little Egypt branch of Chrysalis.

His leadership skills led him to be 4-H Secretary for one year, Vice President for two years and President one year. He was also an Assistant Table Leader for his Chrysalis group.

Wunderlich placed 3rd in the State in the American Legion Essay Contest and he was the Division Winner in the VFW Voice of Democracy Contest.

Since he was just middle school age he has been an active participant in the United Methodist Men's Organization at FUMC where he attended meetings, assisted with fund-raising efforts, worked at UMM functions and helped out at annual Work-Days. He has led church services and assisted with Bible School and regular sessions of Sunday School.

Next fall John Paul will begin his post-high school college education at Cedarville University in Ohio. He intends to major in Psychology or Philosophy and hopes to be a professor upon completion of his Doctorate Degree.