CES Symposium comes to BYU campus next week

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    By CURTIS L. BLACK

    Close to 10,000 Church Education System employees will converge on BYU’s campus next week for the CES Symposium. Joining the seminary and institute teachers and administrators during the three-day conference will be about 40 volunteer hosts made up of BYU students and staff.

    The annual CES Symposium is expected to reach a new enrollment high this year, said Gary Bauer, facilities coordinator for the symposium. Computerized enrollment procedures have contributed to the increase, he said.

    Invited to attend are full and part-time seminary teachers, CES administrators, faculty of BYU and institute faculty from programs all over the world.

    “A majority of the participants come from the United States and Canada,” said Mari Manwaring, program assistant for CES Continuing Education. “There are a few that come from overseas though.”

    The purpose of the symposium is to provide training for teachers and administrators in a spiritual setting, Manwaring said.

    Of this year’s enrolled participants, most are volunteer and early-morning seminary teachers. One third of the participants are full-time CES employees, said Becki Godfrey, symposium planning committee member.

    “It’s an opportunity to get training and listen to outstanding presentations,” Godfrey said. “It’s a wonderful experience for everyone.”

    Godfrey said that CES administrator, Stan Peterson, calls the symposium “a CES family reunion.”

    The presentations are scheduled in the largest auditoriums of 13 different campus buildings.

    BYU students and staff, along with members of the community, have volunteered to work as hosts for the symposium. As many as 80 volunteers are needed, Manwaring said. In exchange for working two half-days on Wednesday and Thursday, the volunteers are registered for the symposium. The registration qualifies them to attend Tuesday’s meeting in the Marriott Center where Elder Henry B. Eyring will speak. Some meals are also provide, Manwaring said.

    Manwaring, who was a volunteer at last year’s symposium, is in charge of coordinating the volunteer hosts this year.

    “As a volunteer it was nice to see all the participants excited about learning more and preparing to teach the youth. I got to rub shoulders with some wonderful people,” she said.

    To volunteer or receive further information about the CES symposium, call 378-2523.

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