External scholarship options
Fifty $5,000 external scholarships
The CM CARES Foundation, a Church Mutual Insurance Company Foundation, believes that supporting today’s vibrant and dedicated religious scholars will help ensure strong faith-based communities tomorrow. The CM CARES Religious Scholars program was created to support graduate-level students who are pursuing advanced degrees and are committed to ministry as a career.
CM CARES will award up to $250,000 in scholarships to deserving graduate-level religious scholars. Each scholarship winner will receive a $5,000 award that may be used to pay for tuition, fees, books or other costs of attending school during the coming academic year. Students of all faiths are encouraged to apply.
To learn more or apply, see churchmutual.com/cmcares-scholars.
The Community Foundation of Elkhart County annually offers several scholarships of up to $3,000 for adults. The Jane Fryer McConaughy Memorial Scholarship is open to any adult residing in or attending college (including graduate students) in Indiana pursuing a major in ministry, missionary or education. Both full- and part-time students are eligible to apply. The application deadline is March 2.
Note: In the past, very few applications from ministry students have been received. Since AMBS is the only seminary in Elkhart County, the foundation should be inundated with applications from AMBS students! You are encouraged to apply.
For additional information and/or to apply for this ministry scholarship, visit their website (InspiringGood.org).
The Nancy A. Hardesty Memorial Scholarship is a $1,000 scholarship given each year to a college senior or graduate student who is pursuing studies in religion or theology. The scholarship is awarded to a student who aspires to exemplify the values and achievements of Nancy A. Hardesty, a founding member of the Christian Feminism Today organization.
Applications are due April 30.
More information is available on the Christian Feminism Today website.
Recognizing the importance of studying ways to develop and maintain peace at home, in the community and in the world, the Richard C. Hess Peace Studies Scholarship provides a $1,000 scholarship for tuition and fees for a student majoring in peace studies.
This is an external scholarship administered by the Plymouth Congregational Church of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Students interested in applying for this scholarship should contact the church directly at (260) 423-9424 for additional information.
In addition to the application form, applicants will need to submit an essay/narrative (maximum 500 words) describing their interest in peace studies and how they plan to use their education. Applications are due April 15.
Note: They have limited funds this year and expect to be able to award only one scholarship.
For more information, contact Lucy Hess, Richard C. Hess Scholarship Committee Chair, at (260) 484-4430 or [email protected].
In 2018, CBE International created the Alvera Mickelsen Memorial Scholarship (AMMS) exclusively for women pursuing ministry-related master’s degrees. Since 2018 they have awarded eight women at seven different seminaries scholarships of $6,000 each to go toward their tuition costs. The application form will be available on their website starting in March.
The Nancy E. Roach Memorial Scholarship for Seminary Students is now open for applications!
Transform Network is honored to be partnering with the Ruth E. Roach Memorial Scholarship Fund to identify recipients of a new scholarship honoring the memory of Nancy E. Roach, who was a devout woman of faith who believed Christianity could make the world a better place.
The Nancy E. Roach Memorial Scholarship for Seminary Students is dedicated to awarding a seminarian tuition support for excellence and innovation in social justice ministry and theological reflection. This scholarship award is given to the most exemplary essay that addresses the following questions:
- How can the Christian faith be a catalyst for social change?
- How can faith communities be engaged in social justice?
- What is your personal aspiration for bringing the realms of Christianity and social justice closer together?
- What is your theological basis for this aspiration?
- How will you put this into action?
The winning essay will be publicized widely through Transform Network’s progressive Christian partners and media. The $4,000 to $6,000 financial award for this scholarship is a one-time award.
Learn more about the application qualifications and process and apply online now! The deadline is April 1.
Seminary Overview
The Scholarship for Anabaptist Service Workers offers $2,000 one-time first-year scholarships for alumni of service programs who study at Mennonite Church USA-affiliated seminaries and graduate schools in the U.S. (Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Bethel College, Bluffton University, Eastern Mennonite University, Goshen College and Hesston College. Other Anabaptist/Mennonite-affiliated schools can be considered if requested.)
It also offers larger and renewable scholarships, particularly for seminary students.
Scholarship for Anabaptist Service Workers Eligibility Requirements
Eligible recipients must have:
- Completed a full year of service (or a year of service with only excused interruptions, approved by program staff) through a Mennonite service program within the prior three years. Programs include Journey International, Mennonite Voluntary Service, Service Adventure, Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) SALT, MCC SEED, Shalom Project, and PULSE.
- Applied, been accepted at, and prepared to begin a full course of seminary or graduate study at one of the Mennonite Church USA-affiliated institutions of study in the U.S. Brief training programs, such as Eastern Mennonite University’s STAR trauma resilience training, may be eligible for a partial scholarship (contact [email protected] with questions).
- Not studied at the same program the previous year. The scholarship is available to students who are beginning a program or transitioning to a new school from the approved list.
- Submitted a three-paragraph application to [email protected], which should include one paragraph about who the applicant is; one paragraph about the applicant’s service experience, how it went, and how it shaped life goals; and one paragraph about the applicant’s aspirations for their program (and, of course, choice of school).
Procedure
After receiving applications and confirming service participation, the committee will inform the chosen school of the incoming scholarship. All applications will be accepted as long as funds last. Then, in the summer, the committee will confirm with the school and recipient the intention to attend. With confirmation, $2,000 will be mailed in a check from Mennonite Education Agency, designated toward the recipient’s tuition at the selected institution.
For students in seminary, the application will begin a longer process of conversation. Students who aspire to seminary study may be eligible for a larger and potentially renewable scholarship, depending on the student’s interests and needs. The Scholarship for Anabaptist Service Workers committee is open to conversation.
Contact [email protected] with questions and applications.
The Swiss Mennonite Cultural and Historical Association (SMCHA) is offering education financial assistance grants to individuals preparing for full-time Christian service, Mennonite ministry, Mennonite voluntary service or other related careers. The maximum grant available is $1,000 for full-time ministerial students, with lesser amounts for part-time students and Mennonite voluntary service participants.
These grants are available to members of the following Swiss-Volhynian churches and to individuals of Swiss-Volhynian descent who may attend elsewhere:
- Eden Mennonite Church in Moundridge, Kansas
- First Mennonite Church of Christian in Moundridge, Kansas
- First Mennonite Church in McPherson, Kansas
- First Mennonite Church in Pretty Prairie, Kansas
- West Zion Mennonite Church in Moundridge, Kansas
- Kingman Mennonite Church in Kingman, Kansas
- Salem Mennonite Church in Freeman, South Dakota
- Salem-Zion Mennonite Church in Freeman, South Dakota
Criteria for awarding
- Applicants must have membership in one of the historic Swiss-Volhynian churches listed above or be of Swiss-Volhynian descent, and are either:
- Accepted by or enrolled in Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary or Eastern Mennonite Seminary. (These will be given preference.)
- OR, accepted into or involved in Mennonite voluntary service programs sponsored by Mennonite Mission Network or Mennonite Central Committee.
- OR, will be or are involved in ministry exploration programs or other Christian service career-related programs at Mennonite colleges.
- Applicants must submit a letter of application by mail or email to the Swiss Mennonite Selection Committee, c/o Roger Juhnke, 328 Lakeshore Dr., Newton, KS 67114, or [email protected]. This must be accompanied with or followed by a letter of recommendation from their pastor or a congregational member.
For further information, contact Roger Juhnke at (316) 283-0452 or [email protected], or Kerwin Graber at (605) 660-3382 or [email protected]. See also www.swissmennonite.org.
The Marc Zboch Academic Scholarship will award one high school senior, current college student or graduate student with a $1,000 scholarship.
Marc Zboch found his passion of giving back through various efforts, including missionary work. Out of that passion came our scholarship — a fund designed to support those who are pursuing higher education.