• Louis Tillman - Youth/Young Adult category
• Kristi Turner - Families with Children category
• Dorothy Jeffcoat - Retired category
• Terry Halvorson - RFO Volunteer category

Congregation of Excellence
To submit a congregation for the honor of Congregation of Excellence, please use this form.

Louis Tillman
has been awarded the Volunteer of the Year in the Youth/Young Adult category.  Louis’ involvement and volunteerism has impressed and encouraged many in his congregation as well as at his school.  He is very involved in the fight against poverty and expresses his desire to educate other youth regarding poverty issues.  Louis was able to join SESLYO, the local synod youth organization and rise to be the president, even though he is the only African American member of the organization.  He has also volunteered the most hours ever (more than 800 hours to date) as a student at Collins Hill High School for which he will be honored at graduation. Louis is a dedicated member of his church as well has his community.

Kristi Turner
has been awarded the Volunteer of the Year in the Families with Children category.  Kristi is a Member of Thrivent Financial for Lutheran’s Habitat Heritage Chapter and is a former Records Director.  This past year she was an advisor to the Events Director.  She has had a major influence on two of the chapters fund raisers in 2008 by organizing, obtaining donations for raffles, emceeing events and helping to set up before and take down when the event was finished.  She was involved weekly over a five month period for the 2 events.  Kristi makes sure she researches ahead of time to come up with the right information and ideas on how to carry out a successful event.  She energizes and encourages people to get involved. Kristi shows a strong Christian compassion for others in need with time, money, energy and her personal touch.

Dorothy Jeffcoat
has been awarded the Volunteer of the Year in the Retired category.  Dot was the 2008 President of the Midlands chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.  She was very dedicated to her position and her visionary thinking brought many new and innovative ideas to the chapter leadership board.  She was and is still very instrumental in developing new relationships and strengthening existing ones in her community.  Dot planned and led all the chapter monthly meetings as well as Congregational Coordinator training sessions.  She participated in many of the Care in Community projects, devoting 20 hours or more a month.  Dot is an extraordinary leader and always looked for ways to help others.

Terry Halvorson
has been awarded the Thrivent Financial RFO Volunteer of the Year category.  Terry is a Financial Representative and also a member of the Gaston County Chapter of Thrivent.  He has worked closely with his chapter’s Thrivent Builds Specialist, on fund raisers for Habitat for Humanity.  He has inspired members and generated new ones with his dedication and commitment to building new homes.  Terry personally volunteered close to 80 hours on the third house in his community.  As a Financial Representative of Thrivent, he helped recruit and train volunteer leaders as well as generate new ideas to engage and serve the Lutheran community.  Terry sees his role as a Financial Representative as a vocation, not just an occupation.

A dinner was held to honor Volunteer of the Year, Kristi Turner. "She was delighted to celebrate with the people she felt closest to, while volunteering through our local chapter." said Ted Soderberg.

Besides numerous achievements as a discus champion, Ms. Halvorson sings in the choir, plays violin, coaches basketball, assists in many capacities in her home congregation, and has participated in Thrivent Build projects for the past three years. She mentors other young athletes and works at summer camps.

The Rotary Club of Effingham County, in Georgia, named Martha Zeigler their 7^th annual "Volunteer of the Year." Ms. Zeigler has served as the events director for the Effingham County Chapter for 4 years and is also a member of the Treutlen House Board of Directors, a board member fo the Georgia Salzburger Society, and curator of the Georgia Salzburger Museum at Ebenezer. She also volunteers at the Effingham Hospital. Martha stated, "I care for this country so much, and it's a joy for me to be able to give back to the people I care for."

Leland Sanders, of the Rotary Club, summed it up, "...[she] is the epitome of a volunteer, giving thanks for her blessings by sharing and caring for others."