Each year, Great River TEC recognizes persons who have
impacted our local TEC community with a special award
called "The Spirit of TEC Award". At our special
gathering, we will recognize persons who have impacted
our local TEC community/region through their faith and
service.  As a Conference and local Center, we honor
these individuals with this award.
These recipients have shown their dedication and
service to TEC, in doing so, have strengthened the
spirit of TEC through their witness and example.
GUIDELINES for SELECTION are persons who:
-embody the experience of the Paschal Mystery
-have contributed in a significant way to TEC
-are committed to serving the Church and her youth
-generously share their love, faith and enthusiasm
-in short, are a symbol of the Spirit of TEC.
The below three individuals are all excellent examples
of the above and portray varying roles in which one can be active in TEC and live the Paschal Mystery in their daily lives.
(Thank you to Gretchen Mason for this write-up.)

Anita Eberhardt

The Great River TEC community would like to recognize Anita Eberhardt with a 2008 Spirit of TEC Award because she sets a great example of living a faith-filled life.  Anita has been involved in TEC for over 30 years and is a blessing to everyone she meets.  She puts her heart and soul into every TEC retreat she is on.  She is a wonderful mother figure on weekends and beyond, and lends an ear, shoulder or hand to anyone who needs it.  In addition to TEC, she has been on Mini-TECs, Quests and Cursillos.  She and her husband Jerry are cornerstones of the Great River TEC program and bring so much wisdom and experience to the program.. They have brought their own children through the program, and now are bringing grandchildren.  Anita continues to serve with a loving heart, and asks for nothing in return.  She truly is Jesus with skin on to others, and for all she does she is deserving of the Spirit of TEC Award.

Joe & Sheryl Geisler

The Great River TEC community would like to recognize Joe and Sheryl Geisler with a 2008 Spirit of TEC Award because they give so much of themselves for the youth in their community.  They are involved in Cursillo, and have been involved in TEC since 1980.  For the past 20 years, they have headed up the youth group in their hometown of Mount Sterling because they felt it was necessary for kids to have something Christ-centered to do in between TEC weekends.  They coordinate youth groups to take to Catholic Heart Work Camp, and urge teens to go on a TEC weekend as soon as they are old enough so they can return and serve as Wheaties, because they feel service is so important in a Christian life.  They set a wonderful example for youth, and have passed that on to their three children who have also been on TEC retreats.  They continue to bring youth closer to Jesus through their tireless efforts, and for this they exemplify the Spirit of TEC.