Generation Next of the Unification Community

In Jin Moon
May 26, 2009

Who are the members of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification? They are one of Americas best-kept secrets. The fact is, however, that the secret is getting told at high schools and college campuses around the nation and the world in this graduation season!

Make way for Unificationist high-school students -- represented by an informal sample of six profiles by Familyfed.org. [Overview of recent college graduates coming soon!]

Josephine Cooper from Kodiak, Alaska

Josephine Cooper
Kodiak Alaska
Parent: David Cooper
Will Attend: Illinois Institute of Technology
Achievements: Valedictorian of her class in 2008 with a 4.0 GPA.
National Honor Society
Teen Court Outstanding Service Award
$85,000-scholarship to study at Illinois Institute of Technology

Josephine, (Josie) Cooper is a sky-diver, a budding architect and a proud Unificationist. She graduated last year and was valedictorian of her class in 2008 with a 4.0 GPA. She was a member of the National Honor Society and won Third Place in the Frank Maier Architectural Design Competition sponsored by the Alaska Institute of Architects and Second Place in the Showcase for Excellence by the Kodiak Community College for her design work in architecture.

From August 2008 until April 2009 she deferred her studies for a year so she could attend the Oceania Leadership Team (OLT) in Australia. While on the OLT she helped organize the Global Peace Festival in Honiara in the Solomon Islands. She also displayed great courage by going sky diving from 20,000 feet with other members of her OLT Team in Sydney.

Josie was a Teen Court Attorney in 2004 /2005 and later served as a Judge from 2005 to 2008. She was a Teen Court Board Member from 2005 and was elected President of the Alaska Teen Court system in Kodiak from 2006 /2007 for which she received the Teen Court Outstanding Service Award.

She enjoys working with young children and has worked as an aide supervisor for a disabled child for two years. Currently she is working in Kodiak, Alaska to raise funds for college this Fall.

Alex Beebe from Little Falls, New Jersey

Alex Beebe
Little Falls, New Jersey
Parents: Robert and Karen Beebe
Graduate of Passaic Valley High School
Will attend: Princeton University.
Awards: William H. Cane Scholarship to Princeton University
Edward J. Bloustien Distinguished Scholar award.

Alex Beebe recentlygraduated Number Three academically in his class of more than 400 students at Passaic Valley High School in Little Falls, New Jersey. Alex competed on the track and soccer team, sserved as president of the French Club, and is a member of the National Honor Society as well as the French Honor Society.

Church life has probably contributed most to my academic success in teaching me self-discipline, Alex says, adding, At the same time, it has given direction and purpose to my studies. Altogether, I think that the Family Federation has given me both the motivation and many of the tools I needed to be successful in school.

Luella Canarsky from Lincoln, Nebraska

Luella Teresa Albuquerque Canarsky
Lincoln, Nebraska
Parents: Paul and Goretti Canarsky
Graduate of Lincoln Southeast High School
Will attend: Ohio State University
Achievements: Top one percent of Class
Copresident of High School Varsity, Madrigal/Acapella Choir
Recipient of Ohio State University Morrill Scholars Program Prominence Scholarship,
Provost Scholarship, and National Buckeye Scholarship.

Studying and getting A's in classes have always been really easy for me, says Luella Canarsky of Lincoln, Nebraska. But I hate writing - book analysis, history papers, disease research papers- it doesn't matter what it is, she says. Frankly, I would personally prefer to find the second derivative of a parabolic function any day instead of writing. However, when I took Advanced Placement U.S. History, I couldn't avoid composing essays every week. I take my education very seriously, especially due to the fact that there are many people in underdeveloped countries who would do anything to go to school. So when I read the following quotation of True Father, I knew that my mind-set had to change completely about writing. He wrote:

Study with the mind-set that the addition of one word of vocabulary will save thirty million people and that the loss of one word will doom the same number of people. Study at the risk of your life.

Even though I don't like some subjects, at least I have to be grateful for the opportunity given. Thus, the church has truly helped me a lot with motivating myself, in hopes that with a better education, I will have a greater probability of changing this chaotic world to one of peace, Luella explains.

Ms. Canarsky has been awarded the Morrill Scholars Program Prominence Scholarship from Ohio State University's Office of Minority Affairs, the National Buckeye Scholarship, and the Provost Scholarship, all courtesy from Ohio State University, where she will be attending college next year. All of her tuition will be covered.

Jacob Mas from Odenton, Maryland

Jacob Mas
Odenton, Maryland
Parents: Ray and Irma Mas
Graduate of Arundel High School
Achievement: Winner of the Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics Award

Jacob Mas has been involved in Boy Scout Troop 1212, where he served as senior patrol leader for more than one year. He recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest award for boys in the scouting organization. He competed with other members of the math and science club at Arundel High School this year, and his team won First Place at the state level.

Jake currently serves as a volunteer in youth ministry of New Hope Family Church in West Lanham Hills, Maryland, and helps out with Monday Divine Principle study for younger students. There is a very positive underlying value that comes with being a Blessed Child, which everyone can appreciate, he tells familyfed.org. Its not about the traditions and rituals; its about setting a higher standard and achieving that standard. Its about growing our generation one step closer to God. It has not been easy, but I think being a BC has helped me find my identity as a person in this world -- not some superficial identity that can come and go like a school fad but something eternal. I am proud to be a BC.

Rachel Boothby from Edgewater, Maryland

Rachel Boothby
Edgewater, Maryland
Parents: Jim and Lorraine Boothby
Sophomore, South River High School
Achievement: Active Competitor in Wrestling Club

Rachel Boothby, 16, is still a sophomore at South River High School (Edgewater, Maryland), but she has raised more than a few eyebrows in the last year because of her physical ability to compete in high-school wrestling competitions. Thats right: she wrestles, guys. To meet Rachel, you would never guess that she has taken down boys larger and heavier than herself.

I really love wrestling, she says. I was nervous to go to the first practice because wrestling is known as one of the most difficult sports at our high school. Practices are extremely physically demanding and mentally, too. Wrestling is all about the passion in your heart, a strong mind, and believing in things you never thought could be possible, she tells Familyfed.org.

The Divine Principle helped me train myself to shoot down any negative thoughts that ever popped up in my mind. Whenever I thought I would not be able to finish my push-ups or sprints, I wasn't able to. But when I didn't listen to my body, I could do anything. I found that once you have really dedicated yourself to the sport, it is in your blood. Wrestling is an incredible sport, and I'm absolutely in love with it.

Mike Stoner from Hazelwood, Missouri

Mike Stoner
Hazelwood, Missouri
Parents: William and Mary Stoner
Graduate of Hazelwood West High School
Will Attend: Missouri University of Science and Technology
Achievements: 3.5 cumulative grade point average; National Honor Society member
Captain of Varsity Lacrosse team
Recipient of scholarships from Nuclear Engineering Dept. at Missouri University of Science and Technology, and from the State of Missouri

Mike Stoner just graduated from Hazelwood West High School in the top 25 percent of his class and has been offered a valuable scholarship from Missouri University. He is a recent recipient of the Eagle Scout rank from Boy Scouts of America and a recipient of the Presidents Volunteer Service Award for 100 service hours in a 12-month period at Hazelwood West High School.

"Through the last four year years of my life I have discovered who I am and how precious my faith is. The church has taught me to live for others and how to become a son of God. The more I learn about my responsibility and duty in life, the more I strive for perfection. I know I am not perfect, but I want to work every day toward reaching perfection. Now I know how to overcome the obstacles I face in life and how to offer myself to see others succeed. I thank God every day for the blessings I have."