| Student Leadership Team 2011-2012 |
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Renewal is led by its Student Leadership Team (SLT), comprised of dynamic Christian students from campuses around North America. This fall the 2011-2012 team met at Goshen College's Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center for a retreat focused on brainstorming, planning, and building community. Here they are... Kathryn Norregaard, Moody Bible College:
Kathryn Norregaard is known as “the loud girl who never stops talking”. Thus, she is a Communications major at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. She loves playing the guitar, walking barefoot, biking, reading, photography, and climbing trees. She is passionate about promoting social justice and informing others about the environmental root (pun intended) to many of these issues. Natasha Weisenbeck attends Goshen College in Goshen, IN, not too far from her home in Clifton, IL where she helped initiate her high school's recycling program. Natasha now serves as part of the EcoPAX Steering commitee and composting team while studying Public Relations and Bible & Religion. In her mind, trees are meant for drawing, climbing, and gleaning nutrients (wild edible walks are a favorite activity of EcoPAXers).
Heather Pagelkopf is a senior Ecology major/Christian Mission minor at Northwestern College (in Orange City, Iowa). If she had a free day to do whatever she wanted, she would spend the morning hiking near the shores of Lake Superior in northern MN, the afternoon in a hammock under a great big oak tree with a great book and a bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream, and the evening with a cup of black coffee, good conversation with friends and family and her latest craft endeavor. God has impassioned her with a heart for missions, and she hopes to one day help meet physical needs using her passion for biology. In doing this, she believes God will provide an avenue to meet spiritual needs as well. She spent a semester studying with Creation Care Study Program in Belize, C.A., in which she became even more aware of her call as a Christian to be a participant in caring for Creation – the flora, the fauna, and the PEOPLE! She has learned that environmental issues are intricately linked with justice issues. God’s heart encompasses everything that he has created, and, as his stewards we need to care about all of these things too. Katharine Hogan, Taylor UniversityKatharine is a junior studying environmental biology at Taylor University in Indiana. She dreams of working in the field post-grad school as a researcher, but is also notorious for being interested in so many of the natural sciences that she can never make up her mind as to which one to pursue further. As she tries to decide for herself, she keeps busy by being the president of Taylor University's creation care club, Stewards of Creation, getting down and dirty at her summer job at a wetland plant restoration nursery, doing artwork, reading, and doing those inane, amazing things one usually does with their best friends when there are no classes to otherwise occupy the time. David Ballard is just one of many people attempting the radical and most worthy task of following Jesus Christ, and by doing so, loving God. He is currently studying psychology and anthropology at Purdue University after spending his freshman year (and learning so much!) at Taylor University. He thoroughly enjoys playing frisbee, hiking, mountain and road biking, playing tennis and basketball, hiking, backpacking, reading, and working in a factory over the summer (just kidding about that one). All of these activities are enhanced when they are enjoyed with his small group guys and/or his great family. He is learning more and more every day about God's natural creation and our position of responsibility in it. He hopes to learn more and help others learn about creation care through Renewal! Colleen Akers, Lee UniversityColleen Akers is a senior at Lee University in Cleveland, TN. She is a biological science major with an emphasis on ecology and biodiversity. Colleen grew up in Maryland along the diverse Chesapeake Bay. Whether it’s hiking, camping, or just hanging out, Colleen feels the most at ease and relaxed when she is outside. Friends will most often find her playing in the creek and looking for the little things in nature that most overlook. Colleen’s other interests include photography, reading, being in the mountains, going on random adventures with friends, and playing games. Kirsten Wahlberg, Bethel UniversityKirsten Wahlberg is a Junior at Bethel University majoring in Environmental Studies. Kirsten is currently interning at Restoring Eden where she is traveling around the mid-west doing a coal campaign. Kirsten is in love with the outoors. She grew up exploring the outdoors, hiking, fishing and camping whenever she got the chance. Her Sophmore year at Bethel she took a position on the Bethel Green Council, and is helping re-start the Environmental club on campus called Creation Restoration. Kirsten also enjoys reading, writing and spending all of her time with her friends and family. Lauren Verstraete, Calvin CollegeLauren is a student at Calvin College in Michigan. She is a biology major and a Spanish minor, and loves being outside all the time. She enjoys gardening and she lifeguards during the summer. She doesn't talk much, but thinks that everyone needs to know and care more about how the environment is affected by humans. Lauren lived on the Creation Care floor at school last year, and met a lot of great people who also care deeply for God's created world. She's excited to be a part of Renewal's student team! Nathan McCrea, Taylor University Nathan is a sophomore studying environmental biology at Taylor University in Indiana. His long term goals include lots of school, including a possible enrollment into a physician's assistant program and a master's degree in environmental science. If he could sum up his hopes for work after school it would be "helping developing countries maintain natural resources in order to fight poverty". Nathan enjoys learning, and falls in love with at least some part of every subject he studies at school. When Nathan does have free time he enjoys hiking, camping, and skiing. He also loves to travel and has his hopes set on spending significant time in Africa before too long. Kristen Listor, Messiah CollegeKristen Listor is a senior at Messiah College, majoring in Environmental Science. She loves what she learns and sharing it with others! She sees God's fingerprints all around her in Creation. On campus, she serves as president of Earthkeepers. She also lives in the Restoration House where members commit to living in eco-friendly lifestyle. She provides a substantial amount of oxygen to the house with her extensive plant collection. Kristen is crazy about animals of any kind, but especially LOVES amphibians. She is currently doing research on marbled salamanders. She likes to keep herself busy with herping, photography, crafts, spending time with friends, P90X, and going on adventures!
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Patty Lin, Bethel University
Adam Arditi, Messiah College 
Katharine Hogan, Taylor University
Kirsten Wahlberg, Bethel University
Lauren Verstraete, Calvin College
Nathan McCrea, Taylor University 