Over $14,000 in scholarships distributed to Dakotas Conference students
The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) distributed over $14,000 of scholarship funding to 17 students throughout the Dakotas Conference who are attending a higher education institution during the 2014-15 academic year. Recipients are students seeking undergraduate and graduate degrees, including four seminary students. Award amounts range from $500-2,000.
Funding for United Methodist scholarships comes from Special Sunday offerings (United Methodist Student Day, World Communion Sunday, and Native American Ministries Sunday), wills and annuities, and other special donations and gifts.
Ninety percent of collections from Special Sunday offerings go to the GBHEM’s scholarship programs, while 10 percent is for student loans. Each United Methodist-related college gets money from the offering for scholarships, and each participating annual conference gets 10 percent of Student Day receipts to award to their own merit scholars. In 2014, the Dakotas Conference and Dakota Wesleyan University awarded just over $8,500 in scholarship funding based on the allocations.
You do not need to attend a United Methodist college to receive a scholarship from GBHEM, but you must be enrolled in an accredited institution of higher education. However, you may be eligible for more scholarship programs if you are enrolled in a United Methodist-related institution. Some programs are awarded based on the institution attended. Students who transfer from one institution to another must verify the criteria of the award received to determine if the award may be retained.
To be eligible for scholarships through GBHEM you must be a confirmed member of The United Methodist Church. Scholarship applications for 2015-16 open January 5, 2015 and close March 5, 2015.
