GBHEM Scholarship Helps Esguerra Pursue Nursing Career

“Thank you to the United Methodist Church, the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, and everyone working behind this scholarship.”
— Marie Adelaine Esguerra, Olivet Nazarene University
The COVID-19 pandemic inspired Marie Adelaine Esguerra, a 2024 General Board of Higher Education and Ministries Ethnic Scholarship recipient and student at Olivet Nazarene University, to become a nurse.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, I saw the need for frontline health workers. I have so much respect and admiration for all the nurses, especially those who risk their lives to save other people. They served as an inspiration that challenged me to pursue a nursing degree,” Esguerra says.
Her journey is rooted in her deep faith and commitment to serving others. Raised in a church where she actively participates in feeding programs, teaching, and medical missions, she has always felt called to care for those in need.
“Our church has been making a difference by providing food to 60 to 90 families in our local community,” Esguerra says. “We rely entirely on food and financial support from donors, caring individuals, and a team of volunteers.”
As a student, Esguerra’s academic achievements reflect her dedication to learning and her resolve to make a difference. She views education as a pathway to contribute to her community, both locally and globally. The Ethnic Scholarship, awarded by The United Methodist Church, is an essential resource for Esguerra and her family, alleviating some of the financial burdens of her education.
“Thank you to the United Methodist Church, the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, and everyone working behind this scholarship,” Esguerra says.
GBHEM Scholarship Program
GBHEM Scholarships offer financial aid to United Methodist students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees. Every year, an average of $4 million is awarded to help students in the United States and abroad pursue their dreams through higher education. With this financial aid, GBHEM is opening pathways for students of all backgrounds to earn their degrees and serve as the next generation of leaders for the church and the world. Learn more.
Related Posts
This Lenten season, I invite us to loosen our grip on the need to capture, control, or fully comprehend the Divine. What if the most profound truth is that the Sacred is beyond our ability to fully name and too infinite to capture in syllables and words?
For the Rev. Dr. Sharad Creasman, hope shows up every day at Brevard College, often in the smallest, most human moments. “I am inspired by students’ giggles, laughter, smiles, vocational interests, questions about life, and everything in between, and their dreams about their futures."
The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) has launched a new Course of Study (COS) Catalog, a unified resource that — for the first time — brings together COS course offerings from the nine sites in one easily accessible location.




