This fall the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Scholarship Committee awarded 20 academic scholarships to deserving students, the committee’s highest number in one semester.
Scholarships are awarded for the fall and spring semesters to undergraduate and graduate students who have been active members of an Conference church for at least two years. For many, these vital scholarships are one of the Eastern PA Conference’s best-kept secrets but are deserving of much more awareness and support.
Joshua Foster received scholarships for his undergraduate and graduate studies. “The application process was not cumbersome,” he said, “and financial assistance helped with purchasing books and lab supplies.” He stated that he applied for seven semesters and received an award for each semester he was enrolled.
Foster attended Columbia University in New York City, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture in 2016. He then attended the University of Southern California earning a Master of Architecture and a Real Estate Certificate in 2019. While completing his master’s he also worked in the community to help others with affordable housing, addressing homelessness and economic development.
“Keeping my faith in the forefront has helped me stay focused,” said Foster, who now works for an architectural firm in Southern California. “All students should stay in good communication with their church family and pastor. It’s good to keep connections at church and share your college experiences with them.”
Foster said he is grateful for the Eastern PA Conference scholarships he received and the help committee members gave him throughout his educational process. Many promising students depend on these vital scholarships to study and prepare for careers that will benefit society and the church.
Usually the scholarships are funded by offerings received at Annual Conference sessions, along with other donations. However, this year’s virtual conference session, using Zoom video-conferencing, precludes us from receiving offerings onsite.
The scholarship committee and conference leaders are appealing to all churches and members to support the ongoing needs of our scholarship fund and the students it helps by sending your gifts directly to the Conference Office.
Please send gifts to Conference Office to support scholarships
You can mail your donations to the Eastern PA UMC Conference Treasurer’s Office at P.O. Box 820, Valley Forge, PA 19482. Please indicate “Conference Scholarships” or “Conference Ordained Ministry Scholarships” in the memo line of your checks.
Or you can give electronically by using our convenient online giving page. (https://www.epaumc.org/administration/finance/giving/).
Scholarship application deadlines are March 1 for the fall semester and November 1 for the spring semester each year. Applicants must be full-time students, taking a minimum of 12 credit hours, with a 2.5 or higher cumulative grade point average. Additional information on scholarships is available online (https://www.epaumc.org/administration/finance/higher-education-scholarships/).
Please continue to support higher education opportunities for our deserving students, and thus, support the future of The United Methodist Church. Thank you!