Scholarships Empower Graduates to Serve Communities, Answer Calls to Leadership

More than 470 scholarship recipients supported by The United Methodist Church’s General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) reached a major milestone this spring, earning degrees across disciplines ranging from theology and education to finance and science.

“The impact of these scholarships extends far beyond commencement,” said Roland Fernandes, general secretary for the General Boards of Higher Education and Ministry and Global Ministries. “By investing in these students, we are strengthening communities, equipping leaders, and advancing the church’s mission around the world. Their achievements are a testament to what is possible when the church comes together to provide opportunities for education.”

GBHEM supported 353 students who completed 163 bachelors and 129 masters degrees, including 87 masters of divinity, doctorates, and other professional credentials. Another 121 students graduated with support from the Grants and Scholarships Program (GRASP), highlighting the global reach of the church’s investment in higher education. For many graduates, the scholarships provided more than financial support — they were a lifeline that made education possible.

• Susan McCain, a teacher who earned her master’s degree in trauma-informed education from Columbia College in South Carolina, said the support allowed her to remain focused during a challenging year in the classroom. “This has been a rough year for myself and many of my students, and without the skills I learned in my degree, I think I would have handled my own and my students’ grief poorly,” McCain said about dealing with a student suicide. “I am so grateful for this scholarship giving me the opportunity to learn new strategies to help my students.”
• Kayla Evans, a Bachelor of Arts graduate of Huston-Tillotson University in Texas, said the scholarship affirmed both her perseverance and her purpose. “Your generous support is not only a financial blessing but also a reminder that my hard work, perseverance, and faith have not gone unnoticed,” Evans said, adding that the award helped her stay focused on her goal of becoming a financial analyst serving underserved communities.
• Madoda Signa Ndwandwe, who completed a theology degree at Seth Mokitimi Methodist Seminary in South Africa, described the scholarship as transformative. It was “a tremendous blessing and a prayer being answered,” he said, noting that it eased financial strain while affirming his calling to leadership and service.
• The Rev. Calyn Donaldson, a graduate of Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, has already begun putting that preparation into practice. She was commissioned as a United Methodist elder in the Texas Annual Conference and appointed as associate pastor at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church in Katy, Texas. “The support of the church was constant encouragement throughout seminary,” Donaldson said. “Through the support of the church, I was reminded of the value of opportunities seminary education provides as well as the constant growth that comes with it.”

As graduates step into careers in classrooms, churches, nonprofits, and businesses, they reflect the continuing impact of GBHEM’s commitment to education — empowering leaders to serve and transform the world

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.