Education - East Rowan receives Food Lion Foundation grant

East Rowan High School has received a $4,400 grant from the Food Lion Charitable Foundation. East Rowan will use the funds to replace outdated computers and enhance technology.

"We are so grateful for Food Lion's very kind gift to East Rowan," said Kelly Sparger, principal. "Their generosity will allow us to expand and enhance our computer technology, inevitably benefiting both our students and our teachers. This gift will further open up opportunities for our children to expand their learning and experience success.

"Students learn effectively through a digital learning environment. Teachers and students will have full access to the computers that will be purchased through this grant.

"It is nearly impossible to keep up with the technological demands of students, which is why we sincerely appreciate this grant to East Rowan High School," Sparger said

Established in 2001, the Food Lion Charitable Foundation provides financial support for programs and organizations dedicated to improving the communities in which Food Lion operates.

Hurley Good Citizens

Good Citizens for April at Hurley Elementary School:

Kindergarten: Johnny Chavis, Leticia Miller, Brennan Powers, Seanna Thorne, Parker Westbrook.

First grade: Clemencia Carrillo-Perez, Georgia Chapin, Nicholas Peltz, Destiny McCullough, Jaleigh Usher, Jasiyah Wilson.

Second grade: Carly Burleyson, Jalyn McClain, Kenyetta Palmer, Averi Parker, Ellen Simons.

Third grade: Logan Hinson , Joe Steinman, Jayleen Thorne, Kaila Wacker, Yorleny Zepeda.

Fourth grade: Emma Cooler, Dalynn Cuthbertson, Kodi Fink.

Fifth grade: Quson Brown, Chloe Burks, Caleb Epps, Haley Linker, Caroline Parrott.

Courses for pastors

This month, Pfeiffer University will offer two separate credit/licensing course opportunities for pastors and deacons within the United Methodist Church, including offerings in Spanish and insight into the role of missions in the church.

From Monday through Friday, May 25-29, in conjunction with Wesley Theological Seminary and the Center for Deacon Studies, Pfeiffer will offer a two-credit master's level course on the Misenheimer campus titled "The Church and its Mission," taught by Dr. Philip Wingeier-Rayo, associate professor of religion at Pfeiffer. The course will discuss the role of the church in mission in the 21st century as well as provide a reflection on God's mission in the world with special attention to the relationship between gospel and culture. Participants will also visit some local mission projects.

The daylong courses will begin at 9:30 a.m., except on Memorial Day, class will begin at 1 p.m. on the Misenheimer campus. Cost is $900 and campus lodging will be available. For details, contact Kathleen Kilbourne, director of the masters of Christian education program, at kathleen.kilbourne@pfeiffer.edu or 704- 945-7315.

A licensing school for local pastors, offered in Spanish, will also be held on the Misenheimer campus.

With a recent grant from the Board of Ordained Ministries of the Western North Carolina Conference of the UMC and Pfeiffer's Hispanic Leadership Academy, the school is for lay leaders who have felt the call to parish ministry and want to get the training required by the UMC Book of Discipline.

The school will be offered in two sections from Thursday through Monday, May 28-31, and Wednesday through Sunday, Aug. 5-9 at Pfeiffer.

The contents of the course are preaching, pastoral care, church administration and United Methodist history, doctrine and polity. The instructors will be the Rev. Dr. Aida Fernandez, who recently served as district superintendent in the New England Conference and was a candidate for the episcopacy in the Northeast Jurisdiction, and the Rev. Jorge Mayorga, who serves as district superintendent in the Wisconsin Conference and was a candidate for the episcopacy in the North Central Jurisdiction.

For information and registration materials, contact Dr. Philip Wingeier-Rayo, at phil.wingeier@pfeiffer.edu or (704) 463-3100.