Contribute to Educational Achievement in 2010

Current-Felder said last year 469 students who were eligible for scholarships did not receive money because funds were not available, and she fears even more will be turned down this year.

The office has already received 2,100 scholarship applications, and applications are accepted through April 15. The Student Day offering was down $70,064 to $484,188 in 2009, compared to $554,242 in 2008. World Communion Sunday dropped 10 percent to $930,878 from $1,028,865 in 2008.

“We know that the poor economy was a factor, and we appreciate those churches that observed Student Day and took an offering. We believe scholarships are a crucial investment in the future of The United Methodist Church – a concrete way to show young United Methodists that the church cares about their future. We really hope that individuals who can afford to do so will make an online contribution,” Current-Felder said many churches struggling with their own budgets in poor economic times may have made the decision not to observe Student Day because they felt they could not ask their members for additional money.

Scholarships are awarded through June for this fall, so donations would have to be made by June in order to help students this year, Current-Felder said. Donations made after that time would go toward 2011 scholarships.

Ten percent of the receipts go to the United Methodist Student Loan Fund, and the remainder is for scholarships. In addition to the rebate to participating annual conferences, a portion of Student Day receipts goes to United Methodist-related schools, colleges, and universities for scholarships awarded by the individual institutions.

To learn more about United Methodist loans and scholarships, visit www.gbhem.org/loansandscholarships.