| |
 |
|
|
Religion Forum Index » Christian Methodist Forum » UMNS: Pledges enable program to award 347 scholarships
Page 1 of 1
|
| Author |
Message |
| UM News |
 Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2004 7:18 am |
|
|
|
Guest
|
Pledges enable program to award 347 scholarships
Mar. 31, 2004
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - The midyear meeting of the United Methodist
Higher Education Foundation netted some surprise pledges for the Double
Your Dollars for Scholars program to ensure that students can attend
church-related schools.
The pledges were made after trustees of the foundation learned at their
March 4-6 meeting that all eligible applicants for the program would not
receive scholarships for the 2004-05 academic year.
An increase in applications from United Methodist students and a
prolonged stock market downturn resulted in the foundation's inability
to fund all applications postmarked on the first day of the program,
Feb. 1.
"We had to tighten our budget, so there were fewer scholarships
available through the Double Your Dollars program," said Cheryl Davis,
acting president of the foundation.
For the last few years, the foundation has been able to fund up to 350
applications, Davis said. However, out of 347 eligible applications this
year, 76 were not going to be filled, marking the first time the
foundation would be unable to fund every eligible application postmarked
by the program's opening date, according to Davis.
The Nashville-based foundation matches $1,000 for local congregations
that raise $1,000 for a member enrolled or planning to enroll in a
United Methodist-related college, university or seminary. The matching
scholarship program was established in 1997 to award 100 scholarships.
The number of first-come, first served scholarships awarded increased as
more funds became available.
The United Methodist Higher Education Foundation's vision is to make it
economically possible for any qualified United Methodist student to be
educated at a United Methodist institution of higher education.
To honor that goal, the foundation's board of trustees intervened to
ensure the 76 scholarships would be funded. The North Georgia United
Methodist Foundation - whose executive director, Bob Fletcher, is a
United Methodist Higher Education Foundation trustee - provided a lead
challenge gift of $25,000 to support students from Georgia going to
United Methodist schools.
That gift freed up money, and the trustees pledged an additional
$25,000, for a total of $50,000, to meet the Double Your Dollars need.
"This is too important for us not to do," said Trustee Paul Edwards, a
previous scholarship recipient and current chairperson of the
foundation's Alumni Council. "It has been incredible to watch the
concern and support of these board members in answering this need."
"I have never seen a board respond to a need in such a profound,
emotional way," Davis said. "It is an amazing testimony to the
dedication, involvement and commitment of each member sitting on this
board. Their generosity enables us to meet the demand for this year."
In other action, the trustees welcomed the selection of Thomas S. Yow
III, president of United Methodist-related Young Harris (Ga.) College,
as the foundation's new president and chief executive officer, effective
May 3.
The foundation also presented its annual awards to four people for
significant contributions to church-related schools. Recipients are:
ˇ Franklin L. Faris, a member of Harriman (Tenn.) United Methodist
Church. He is the winner of the 2004 Stanley S. Kresge Award, given
based on dedicated membership in the United Methodist Church and support
of United Methodist-related education. The award is named for the late
Stanley S. Kresge, a philanthropist.
ˇ Howard E. Mueller, professor of religious studies at North
Central College in Naperville, Ill. He was named the Outstanding
Educator of the Year Award, an award given to teachers in United
Methodist-related schools who have made an extraordinary impact on their
students, peers, the institution, church and community.
ˇ The Rev. Herbert R. Marbury, campus chaplain at Clark Atlanta
University. He received the Chaplain of the Year Award.
ˇ The Rev. Chang-Hee Son, a campus minister at Bridgewater (Mass.)
State College. He was named the Campus Minister of the Year.
James Noseworthy, president of United Methodist-related Hiwassee College
in Madisonville, Tenn., nominated Faris for the Kresge award. "Frank
Faris is a man with a generous heart, a compassionate spirit, and an
abiding commitment to the Wesleyan concern to unite knowledge and vital
piety for responsible living. He models that in his personal life. Even
more, he works to provide the opportunity for intellectual and spiritual
growth for individuals in the Southern Appalachian region of Tennessee."
Faris, in his 32nd year as a trustee for Hiwassee College (24 of those
spent in an honorary status) will receive a medallion and a certificate
of recognition. A one-time $10,000 scholarship is made to the United
Methodist-related institution where the Kresge recipient is an active
volunteer.
"Howard Mueller has taken on every leadership challenge a faculty member
could volunteer for or be asked to assume," said Harold Wilde, president
of North Central College, in nominating Mueller for the educator of the
year award. "On every occasion when duty called, he has served with
distinction, decency and integrity. And, time and time again, his
thoughtful reflection and voice of reason have been the key ingredients
in bringing ideas and individuals together."
Mueller will receive an artistic replica of the Cokesbury Bell and a
cash award of $5,000.
Joel V. Harrell, vice president for enrollment services and students
affairs at Clark Atlanta University, nominated Marbury as Chaplain of
the Year. "As an accomplished scholar and teacher, the Rev. Marbury has
received a faculty appointment in the Clark Atlanta University
Department of Religion and has distinguished himself among his
colleagues and the students with whom it interacts," he said. "Starting
with a group of 20 students and volunteer musicians, he has transformed
the Sunday morning chapel service at Clark Atlanta University into an
event that now has an average Sunday morning attendance of over 300
students."
Marbury will receive an inscribed sculpture and $5,000 to further the
development of programs sponsored by his office.
Excellence in campus ministry earned Son the distinction of Campus
Minister of the Year. "Dr. Chang-Hee Son challenges ministerial and
theological discussion to take place in the context of prayer and a
consciousness of the presence of God," said Stephen C. Mott, chairperson
of the board of trustees at Bridgewater State College. "He is forthright
in his views, yet he distinguishes himself from a self-righteous
dogmatism of either end of the theological spectrum."
Son will receive an inscribed sculpture and $5,000 to further the
development of programs sponsored by his office.
More information is available from the foundation at umhef@gbhem.org;
P.O. Box 340005, Nashville, Tennessee, 37203-0005; phone: (615) 340-7385
or (800) 811-8110; Web site: www.umhef.org.
*This report was adapted from a release written by Pamela Crosby, a
staff member in the Office of Interpretation at the United Methodist
Board of Higher Education and Ministry.
********************
United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| |
|
Page 1 of 1
All times are GMT - 5 Hours
The time now is Fri Nov 21, 2008 9:47 pm
|
|