Spiritual Life » Barnabas Award

Barnabas Award

Concordia students, faculty and staff are invited to nominate members of the senior class for the Barnabas Award.

The criteria for selection of the Barnabas Award are below.  Using those items as a guide, share your thoughts as to why you are recommending the person for the award.   Attempt as much as possible to speak to the content of the criteria guidelines and include any information, anecdotes, feelings, or thoughts that would be helpful to the selection committee.  Include prior to your essay the following information:

Your name

Name of nominee

Nominee's church congregation (if known) 

(Your essay would then follow)

All nominations MUST be sent via e-mail (the content can either be directly in the e-mail message or in a WORD or PAGES attachment) and sent to: [email protected]  Please put “Barnabas Award” in the subject line.  An acknowledgement of the receipt of the nomination will be sent to you.  All nominations must be received by Wednesday, March 27, 2024.

Thank you for your time and effort in caring for and wanting to recognize one of God's special people.

ABOUT THE BARNABAS  AWARD

The Class of 1986 through is gift to Concordia Lutheran High School established an award, which is to be annually presented to a member of the senior class.  Barnabas was a missionary and co-worker with St. Paul.  The name “Barnabas” means “encourager” and that is what he was.  His mission and ministry in life was to be of service to his fellowman.  He lived the faith and was dedicated to bolstering and encouraging fellow believers in theirs.  His actions spoke clearly what he professed to be.

At Concordia our claim is that “Christ is the center of our lives."  The Barnabas Award is established to recognize an individual whose life and actions exemplify that credo.

Nominations:

Any member of the senior class may be nominated for the award by any member of the faculty or staff or any student of Concordia Lutheran High School.  Each nominator will complete a form providing information regarding the nominee.

Selection Committee:

The principal shall annually appoint a selection committee.  It shall consist of four faculty members and four seniors, none of whom were either nominated for the award or nominated another individual.  The committee will also have representation from one member of the class of 1986.

Criteria for Selection:

The Barnabas Awardee should:

  1. Exhibit an active involvement in the ministry of their local church congregation.
  2. Actively seek to befriend and encourage fellow students and faculty in their spiritual as well as temporal lives.
  3. Display an active participation in the worship life of the Concordia family. 
  4. Demonstrate a willingness to share their faith in Christ with others in both word and action. 
  5. Exhibit an overall commitment to give rather than receive, to serve rather than be served.

Past Barnabas Recipients

  1. 1986 Becky Grim
  2. 1987 Susie Schoenherr
  3. 1998 Tammy Lagemann
  4. 1989 Christine Sorg
  5. 1990 Bill Habegger
  6. 1991 Nikki Grepke
  7. 1992 Sarah Smith
  8. 1993 Miriam Miller
  9. 1994 Jillian Olsen
  10. 1995 Molly Pierce
  11. 1996 David Rufner
  12. 1997 Tracy Robbins
  13. 1998 Kelli Borchelt
  14. 1999 Chandlebray Hein
  15. 2000 Janelle Cotter
  16. 2001 Scott Borchelt
  17. 2002 Katy Messmann        
  18. 2003 Abby Parkison
  19. 2004 Julia Wakeland
  20. 2005 Aaron Barnholt
  21. 2006 Kate Brelje
  22. 2007 Cori Stemen
  23. 2008 Kasey Gater   
  24. 2009 Blythe Harkenrider
  25. 2010 Caleb Hansen
  26. 2011 Amani Rogers
  27. 2012 Jaclyn Berning
  28. 2013 Madalene Eggold
  29. 2014 Sophie Knox
  30. 2015 Maddie Nichols
  31. 2016 James Dixie   
  32. 2017 Dylan Patterson
  33. 2018 Tysen Chambers
  34. 2019 Mason Kaschinske
  35. 2020 Luke Neuhaus
  36. 2021 Kylee Turnpaugh
  37. 2022 Michael Habegger
  38. 2023 Dakota Hitzemann