Blessed Sacrament youth leader is also an artist

Intermountain Catholic

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Megan Hansen, a Brighton High School Class of 2008 graduate, and a Blessed Sacrament Parish youth leader paints a portrait of the Blessed Sacrament youth group. Hansen donated the portrait to the youth center.IC photo by Christine Young

SANDY — Megan Hansen is a 2008 graduate of Brighton High School. She is a member of Blessed Sacrament Parish and has been in the Blessed Sacrament youth group since she was in the seventh grade. Shelley Valdez, Blessed Sacrament youth minister is sad to see her graduate and leave this year because her leadership skills are outstanding, her ideas are excellent, she is a good organizer, and she is a friend to everyone. When she first became involved in the youth group she was shy, but she has blossomed into a public speaker and a person with a dynamic personality.

"The youth group gives you a place to belong," said Hansen. "It is a place to meet people who have the same values as you do. Sometimes it is hard to meet people, especially when you go to public school, who believe in the same things you do. The youth group helps you feel involved. It has also helped me learn leadership skills."

Hansen said the Blessed Sacrament youth group includes about 15 schools, which involves both Catholic and public school youth. She said that makes it really fun because they get to know so many people from so many different schools and do not feel isolated, as is so often the case with Catholic youth in Utah.

Hansen became a youth leader after the 2005 National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) in Atlanta, Ga.

"I loved NCYC," said Hansen. "It was really fun. There were so many Catholic teens. It made me feel less alone in the world. We had very little down time and a lot of activities. While I was there I was asked to be a leader. I was really surprised because they keep the leadership role kind of secret so I did not really know we had leaders. So when I found out, I said sure. It was cool to be a part of the leadership team. The reason the youth ministers keep it secret is they do not want kids to feel inferior. We are all one. Being a leader is a behind the scenes role. The leaders plan and organize activities, keep meetings moving along, and come up with ideas for the group as a whole."

Hansen is also an artist. She painted a portrait called "Here I am to Worship." It is for the youth center at Blessed Sacrament Parish. The painting was entered in a state show at Weber State University. It was selected by a teacher, pre-juried, and sent to the art show. Hansen photographed some of the youth in her group praying in front of the crucifix in the chapel at Blessed Sacrament Parish and then painted the portrait.

"To me, prayer is beautiful and important. Prayer helps you," said Hansen. "I wanted to donate it to the youth center because it is cool we have a place where we can all come together to work and play. So I decided to paint a picture of teens praying because I think prayer makes everything happen. The youth have to stay faithful and keep praying and keep things going so the next generation will have it as good as we do."

Hansen carried a 3.78 grade point average. She received something not many girls go on to achieve. She earned her Girl Scout Gold Award, which is equivalent to the Eagle Scout Award. Her project was "The Importance of Art for Youth" because she is afraid art is fading out in the elementary schools. She taught fifth and sixth grade students art, and then left art boxes with lesson plans for the teachers.

Hansen will attend the University of Utah next year and has not decided on a major, although she has a strong interest in art. She does have one goal. She would like to run for senator when she is 30. So she said she might be interested in a business major.