For students like Anna Mutzenberger, scholarships from The United Methodist Church are more than just a way to lessen the ever-increasing costs of higher education.

Anna Mutzenberger, scholarship recipient at DWU.

They are an investment in God’s work both now and in the future.

“I think the GBHEM scholarships remind me of my connection with the larger church,” said Mutzenberger, the recipient of the 2022 Youth Denman Award for evangelism. “I’ve been able to have a positive impact on my community through ministry we’ve shared together.”

Mutzenberger, a freshman communications and non-profit administration major at Dakota Wesleyan University, is the recipient of the UM Allocation Award and the Rev. Dr. Karen Layman Gift of Hope Scholarship.

This year, Mutzenberger is one of 14 students throughout the Dakotas Conference receiving a portion of the $12,000 in scholarship funding distributed through GBHEM. Recipients are students seeking undergraduate and graduate degrees, including four seminary students.  Award amounts range from $500-2,000.

Funding for United Methodist scholarships comes from Special Sunday offerings (United Methodist Student Day, World Communion Sunday, and Native American Ministries Sunday), wills and annuities, and other special donations and gifts. This year’s Student Day offering is slated for November 27.

Ninety percent of collections from Special Sunday offerings go to the GBHEM’s scholarship programs, while 10 percent is for student loans. Each United Methodist-related college gets money from the offering for scholarships, and each participating annual conference gets 10 percent of Student Day receipts to award to their own merit scholars. In 2022, the Dakotas Conference and Dakota Wesleyan University awarded just over $8,500 in scholarship funding based on the allocations.

Students do not need to attend a United Methodist college to receive a scholarship from GBHEM, but they must be enrolled in an accredited institution of higher education.
Students may be eligible for more scholarship program if enrolled in a United Methodist-related institution.

 Applications for 2023-24 open December 15, 2022 and close March 24, 2023.
Promote Student Sunday in your church with these resources from UMC.org.

DWU Student Anna Mutzenberger on campus this fall. Photos courtesy of Anna Mutzenberger.