Next Generation Scholarship

Werner K. Fransen Next Generation Scholarship
Mary Irene Liechty Smucker Next Generation Scholarship

The Next Generation Scholarship is intended to encourage and support outstanding Mennonite students with gifts in church leadership. Each year this scholarship provides a full-tuition grant and $4,000 for living expenses to a student beginning the Master of Divinity program on campus. The recipient may receive this scholarship for three years by meeting certain conditions. Recipients must live in campus housing to receive the $4,000 stipend. Applicants must be from the U.S. or Canada and be a member in good standing of a congregation that is affiliated with Mennonite World Conference; preference is given to members of Mennonite Church USA or Mennonite Church Canada. Application deadline: March 15

Criteria for award recipients

The decision to award a grant will be based on four factors:

1. Previous academic performance, based on information gained from transcripts and references, including a minimum GPA of 3.5.
2. Leadership potential and demonstrated skills, based on information gained from references.
3. Theological discernment, based on an essay written by the applicant on the subject of “The Church” (1,200 to 1,800 words).
4. Personal character and emotional health, based on information gained from references.

Procedures to apply for AMBS merit-based scholarships

Applicants must submit the following by March 1 for the upcoming academic year: (Note: In the hope of creating space for more applicants during the uncertain times of the pandemic, we are extending this deadline to March 15.)

1. A completed application for admission with all supporting materials, including transcript(s) and references
2. A completed scholarship application
3. An essay on the subject of “The Church” (1,200 to 1,800 words)

In addition, candidates for the Next Generation Scholarship may be interviewed.

Understandings for merit-based scholarship award recipients

1. Recipients will be enrolled as full-time students (full-time is defined as nine credit hours or more per semester plus one Intensive Term course).
2. Students in the MDiv program are eligible to receive the award for three years. Students in an MA program are eligible to receive the award for two years.
   Note: To finish a degree in the allotted time frame, a student must complete 27-30 credit hours per year, which generally consists of 12 hours per semester plus one or two Intensive Term courses.
3. Eligibility from year to year will be based on satisfactory progress toward completion of the degree, including:
   • Maintaining a minimum 3.0 GPA
   • Continuing as a full-time student
   • Supporting and adhering to AMBS community life standards
   • Supporting and participating in enrollment and recruitment activities and initiatives
   • Actively participating in campus activities
   • Assuming leadership responsibilities on the AMBS campus
   • Living in AMBS campus housing (to receive the $4,000 annual stipend for living expenses)

4. Recipients will be eligible to apply for other AMBS scholarships. Priority for other scholarships will generally be provided to students receiving 50 percent or less in tuition assistance. Congregations can also provide assistance, but full-tuition scholarship recipients will not be eligible to receive church matching grants.