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YOUTH PROFILE Since coming to the MCH Boys Ranch last year, Kevin has achieved success in school and developed leadership skills. Staff members say his “joyful soul” makes a positive difference at the Boys Ranch. Kevin: Breaking the cycle Kevin lived in a seemingly unbreakable cycle of criminal behavior before he came to the Methodist Children’s Home Boys Ranch. His grandmother served as his primary caregiver, and she gave her best effort to raise him amidst a challenging environment. Kevin spent time in drug rehabilitation and faced pressure from his friends to sell illegal drugs. One day, as he set out to sell drugs, he was confronted by the police. “When they questioned me, I ran instead of confessing to what I was doing,” he said. After the officers caught Kevin, they found illegal drugs in his pocket, and he was sent to a juvenile detention center. “When I went to court, I told the judge and my probation officer that I wanted help,” Kevin said. “I passed my drug test and I had stayed sober.” Kevin’s probation officer and the judge believed his sincerity. The judge did not give Kevin the felony possession charge he expected. Instead, he put Kevin on probation and suggested he visit MCH as an option for residential living where he would benefit from positive influences and a second chance. “The first day we met Kevin, he was dressed in his Sunday best and he was taking a tour of the Boys Ranch,” said Jeanean Slonaker, who serves as a homeparent along with her husband, Larry. “We offered to show him our home unit and told him that if he decided to come to the Boys Ranch, we would love for him to stay at our house.” Two weeks later, Kevin moved to the Boys Ranch, and he requested to stay at the Slonakers’ home. “That’s when he crawled into my heart,” Jeanean said. Moving from a negative environment to the Boys Ranch helped Kevin experience personal growth. “When I came to MCH as a 17-year-old last year, I was considered a freshman in school,” Kevin said. “Now, I’m getting caught up on my course credits. I’m a junior and on track to graduate in 2013.” In addition to the progress Kevin has made in school, he is viewed as a leader in his home unit. “Kevin is one of the best encouragers we have at the Boys Ranch,” Jeanean said. “He has a way of reaching out to his peers in a sincere, respectful and helpful way.” Kevin views his time at the Boys Ranch as a gift. “MCH means a lot to me,” Kevin said. “If I didn’t have the chance to come to the Boys Ranch, I probably would have dropped out of school and continued to sell drugs on the streets.” According to Jeanean, Kevin has a joyful soul, and his thankfulness shows through his words and actions. “Kevin doesn’t blame his past for where he is today,” she said. “He looks forward to each and every day. I think that is the one thing about him that will get him through everything in life. We just really love that kid.” 12 <strong>Sunshine</strong> I Summer 2012
Methodist Children’s Home 2011-2012 High School Graduates Methodist Children’s Home congratulates the following graduates for reaching this significant milestone. University of Texas University Charter School – MCH Campus August 2012 CLARA ARCHIBOLD Waco Campus CARRIE BLACKBURN Waco Campus DARNELL KEBEDE Waco Campus FRANCISCO L. Waco Campus June 2012 DANIEL BOWMAN Boys Ranch TYLER BROWN Boys Ranch ACE BRUMMETT Boys Ranch DYLAN DAVIS Boys Ranch TAYLOR DAYS Waco Campus JAMES DILDINE Boys Ranch MALCOLM FELMLY Waco Campus PERCY GARDNER Waco Campus CHANCE GIBSON Waco Campus JACKELINE GONZALEZ Waco Campus NELSON HACKWORTH Waco Campus AUSTIN HILDEBRAND Waco Campus NASSIM JALLOUL Waco Campus COBY KELLY Boys Ranch KAYLA LABINE Waco Campus MIKAELA LANDWEBER Waco Campus ERICA LUND Waco Campus KEVIN MORRIS Waco Campus LAUREN PARKER Waco Campus VICTORIA PAYTON Waco Campus MAGDALENA PINEDA Waco Campus BLACKIESHA PLEASANT Waco Campus ALEXA SYDNOR Waco Campus BIJON WADE Waco Campus December 2011 KEMZUEL BELL Waco Campus GEORGE BONILLA Waco Campus GEORGE DUNN Waco Campus MYRIAH FORD Waco Campus SARAH GILBERT Waco Campus TONY JOHNSON Boys Ranch MONICA MUNOZ Waco Campus DENZEL POLK-WATSON Boys Ranch MERON T YESUS Waco Campus TSION T YESUS Waco Campus JESSICA VALLES Waco Campus ALYONA WILLACKER Waco Campus ALYSSA WILLIAMSON Waco Campus Phoenix School at Waxahachie JERRELL CARUTHERS RYAN DAVIS DESTIANEY W. Waco Public Schools ZAGORIA DAVIS Waco Campus Waco High School ABENEZER KASSA Waco Campus Rappaport Academy KATHLEEN RATHBURN Waco Campus A. J. Moore Academy CALVIN RICHARDSON Waco Campus University High School <strong>Sunshine</strong> I Summer 2012 13
Page 1 and 2: Sunshine The magazine of Methodist
Page 3 and 4: President’s Perspective BY TIM BR
Page 5 and 6: The Joys of Summer As youth and sta
Page 7 and 8: Sandra Woods, a member of the MCH f
Page 9 and 10: Youth from the Waco campus help wit
Page 11 and 12: MCH youth and staff look forward ea
Page 13: COMMUNITY SERVICES SAN ANTONIO Ben,
Page 17 and 18: NEWS & NOTES Photography Awards Boy
Page 19 and 20: Memorial Gifts and Gifts of Honor G
Page 21 and 22: Dan McKee Mr. and Mrs. Philip E. Or
Page 23 and 24: Joyce Hale Virginia P. Jackson Gabb

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