Bethesda Auxiliary offering scholarships for seminarians, college students

The Bethesda Auxiliary, in partnership with Bethesda Lutheran Communities, is offering scholarships to students who want to serve and support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. (iStock)

The Bethesda Auxiliary, in partnership with Bethesda Lutheran Communities, is offering $30,000 in student scholarships for the 2019–20 school year.

The scholarships are for undergraduate- or graduate-level students, including seminarians, who plan to enhance the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

In the undergraduate category, five $3,000 scholarships will be awarded to junior and senior students pursuing undergraduate degrees in any academic area that will prepare them to serve and support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Scholarship candidates must:

be an active, communicant member of a Lutheran congregation;

be classified as a freshman, sophomore or junior at an accredited college or university;

have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; and

have a career objective in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities.

In the graduate category, five $3,000 scholarships will be awarded to a Lutheran seminarian or post-graduate student displaying interest in service to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in a congregational setting. The scholarship application is open to all eligible seminary/post-graduate students.

Scholarship candidates must:

be an active, communicant member of a Lutheran congregation;

be a current college senior, accepted to begin seminary studies in the fall, or currently be classified as a first-year or second-year student at any seminary affiliated with the LCMS, WELS, ELCA, LCMC, ELS or NALC (students going on to their internship/vicarage year do not qualify); and

be committed to inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities within the local parish.

The deadline to apply is May 17, with scholarships to be announced by July 1. To download an application, go to bethesdalc.org/get-involved/scholarships.

Karen Carter, president of the Bethesda Auxiliary, said, “We’re excited to support youth who hope to put their talents and energy toward enhancing the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Recognizing the achievements of students who have a shared interest in supporting our mission elevates us all. It’s gratifying to support these students in such a direct way.”

Bethesda Lutheran Communities is a national Christian organization that provides homes and other services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Bethesda Auxiliary, in partnership with Bethesda Lutheran Communities, reaches forward in faith, word and deed to share the love of Jesus with people who have developmental disabilities.

For more information, go to bethesdalc.org.

Posted April 5, 2019