"The United Methodist Scholarship fund helps students from our local churches reach their goals and serve others. The program supports students that have become involved in their local churches, in student ministries on campus, and in outreach programs. Students learn to give back and serve others to make the world a better place for all that they encounter." These are the words of Erik Wehlander, a United Methodist scholarship recipient, a member of Esmond UMC in South Dakota, and a senior at Dakota Wesleyan University.

The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) distributed more than $28,000 of scholarship funding to 15 students throughout the Dakotas Conference attending a higher education institution during the 2017-18 academic year.  Recipients are students seeking undergraduate and graduate degrees, including two seminary students.  Award amounts range from $350-5,000.

On Nov. 25, congregations will receive a special offering, which ensures a brighter future for United Methodist students.  Funding for United Methodist scholarships comes from the Special Sunday offerings on United Methodist Student Day, World Communion Sunday, Native American Ministries Sunday, wills and annuities, and other special donations and gifts. Get resources for Student Day here. 

Finding out about United Methodist scholarships and applying is easy according to Wehlander. “I learned about the United Methodist Scholarships in a variety of ways. DWU has information on the website and sends emails out. My church and the conference also provide information about possible United Methodist scholarships,” says Erik. “It was a simple online process. It was not difficult to complete. You could save your work, go back to it to add more information and uploads until you were ready to submit the application.  The program also makes it easy to get the information needed from your church and from the school you are attending.”

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 merit scholars. In 2017, Dakota Wesleyan University and the Dakotas Conference awarded merit scholarships totaling $7,500 in scholarship funding based on the allocations through Student Day giving from United Methodist individuals and churches throughout North and South Dakota.

Erik has received a United Methodist scholarship each year as an undergraduate at Dakota Wesleyan University. He shares that your giving on Student Day has impacted his life significantly. “The scholarships have been very valuable to me as I have pursued my education. They allowed me to go to the school of my choice, stay involved in my spiritual journey throughout college, and earn the degree I need to move forward."

Here is a list of Dakotas Conference 2017 recipients:

• Natalie Buck, Oakes UMC, Emory University — Candler School of Theology
• Thomas Carlson, Cresbard and Tolstoy UMC, Dakota Wesleyan University
• Tanner Carlson, Bismarck Legacy UMC, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus
• Nathaniel Collins, Belle Fourche UMC, Dakota Wesleyan University
• Jessica Higgins, Brandon Celebration UMC, Morningside College
• Autumn Hilton, Sioux Falls Asbury UMC, Goshen College
• Laura Hoiten, Sioux Falls Sunnycrest UMC, Dakota Wesleyan University
• Rachel Kriz, Geddes UMC, Dakota Wesleyan University
• Jordan Louks, Spearfish UMC, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
• Alyssa Roy, Mitchell Fusion UMC, Dakota Wesleyan University
• Samantha Schumacher, Mitchell First UMC, South Dakota State University
• Allison Uecker, Sioux Falls First UMC, Nebraska Wesleyan University
• Erik Wehlander, Esmond UMC, Dakota Wesleyan University
• Hannah Wehlander, Esmond UMC, Dakota Wesleyan University
• Samantha Wilson, Calvary United Methodist Church, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Students who are members of a United Methodist Church may apply for a 2018-19 GBHEM scholarship online between January 3, 2019 – March 1, 2019, at www.gbhem.org/scholarshipapplication. Student loans are also available at interest rates as low as 3.75% (lower than federal educational loan rates) with a creditworthy cosigner.