In the Spotlight

Australian Member Wins International Peace Prize

An Australian Church member received in October the 2001 Pax Christi International Peace Prize for his efforts to promote understanding and reconciliation between indigenous and nonindigenous Australians.

Eddie Kneebone of the Albury Ward, Albury New South Wales Australia Stake, is a descendant of the Pangangarang Aboriginal clan. For some 20 years Brother Kneebone has lectured about Aboriginal culture, history, and art to young Australians, seeking to promote social awareness and acceptance between people of different backgrounds. He also writes extensively on Aboriginal culture to assist in the education of public service workers and those involved in health care, police services, and the army.

Pax Christi International is a nonprofit, nongovernmental Catholic peace movement represented in 30 countries, with some 60,000 members of various denominations worldwide.

Latter-day Saint Conductor Making Mark in Symphony

Bundit Ungrangsee, a member of the Mount Pleasant Ward, Charleston South Carolina Stake, is receiving excellent reviews as associate conductor of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra.

A native of Thailand, Brother Ungrangsee joined the Church in April 2000 after coming to Salt Lake City as an associate conductor of the Utah Symphony Orchestra. Also while living in Utah, Brother Ungrangsee met and married in the Salt Lake Temple Mary Jane Jones, who had served a mission in Thailand. Last December Sister Ungrangsee performed as soprano soloist in the Charleston Symphony Orchestra.

Brother Ungrangsee has conducted symphonic performances and operas throughout the United States and has made guest conducting appearances in Australia, the Czech Republic, the Republic of Georgia, Austria, Russia, Portugal, Mexico, and Italy.

Member Couple Chosen as Parents of the Year

Ezekiel and Pauline Sanchez of the Thayer Park Ward, Mesa Arizona Mountain View Stake, were chosen in 2001 as Arizona’s Parents of the Year by the American Family Coalition. The first Native Americans to receive the award, the Sanchezes were recognized for their outstanding example in raising their own seven children and for their many years of volunteer work in assisting at-risk youth.

Arizona Stake Donates More Than 2,000 Dresses

When the Relief Society sisters of the Pima Arizona Stake heard of the Church Humanitarian Center’s ongoing need for girls’ dresses, they set a goal of collecting 2001 dresses in the year 2001. The Relief Society sisters donated gently used dresses, fabric, and cutting and sewing time to make new dresses. When the year ended, they had surpassed their goal by more than 100 dresses. The clothing was donated to Humanitarian Services and to Deseret Industries.

Missionary Starts Dental Project in Cook Islands

When Church service missionary and volunteer dentist Richard Anderson began to serve in the Cook Islands, he became concerned about the dental health of the local children. With the support of Church Humanitarian Services and the Cook Islands government, Brother Anderson and his wife, Diane, began an ongoing dental health campaign in the country.

Local members and missionaries have assembled thousands of dental hygiene kits, provided by a grant from the Church and distributed by missionaries and school dental nurses who instruct children in how to use them. The grant also funded the delivery of a modern dental chair and dental instruments donated by an individual in Germany.

The program has been well received by the local people and government. Now, when children see one of the missionaries, “they all wave and point to their smiles,” says Brother Anderson.

No Tuition Increases at BYU or BYU—Idaho

Tuition for BYU and BYU—Idaho will not increase for the 2002–03 school year, the two schools have announced.

A semester’s tuition at BYU for the coming year will be $1,530 for undergraduates, $1,930 for graduate students, and $3,070 for law school and graduate school of management students. Tuition at BYU–Idaho will stay at $1,240 per semester.

This will be the first year since 1973 that the two schools have not had tuition increases. Both expect to have normal tuition increases in the future.

Bundit Ungrangsee (Photo courtesy Utah Symphony Orchestra.)

Sisters of the Pima Arizona Stake made and donated more than 2,000 dresses to the Humanitarian Center after hearing of the need. (Photo by Marilyn Farr.)

Thanks to efforts of missionaries, children in the Cook Islands are learning dental hygiene and improving their dental health. (Photo by Richard Anderson.)