Division of Higher Education

Wednesday, November 28, 2001
Contact: Brad Lyons, Director of Communications
(314) 991-3000 - blyons@dhedisciples.org

DHE Leadership Scholars Program Applications Now Available

Undergraduate or incoming students who demonstrate potential and promise for church leadership are invited to apply for the 2002-2003 Division of Higher Education Leadership Fellows Program.

"The purpose of the Division of Higher Education is to nurture men and women - lay and clergy - for transformational leadership in the church and the wider human community through the church's institutions of higher education," said DHE president Dennis Landon. "Active involvement in campus ministries and other leadership-related activities will encourage and strengthen a student's church leadership potential."

This spring, DHE expects to add approximately 10 new Leadership Fellows to the 2002-2003 class, which includes 18 students already involved in the program. The annual grant for fellows will be $2,000.

To be eligible for the fellowship, a student must:

Be an undergraduate student or a high school senior planning to attend a regionally accredited American college or university;
Intend to be a full-time student (24 or more semester hours or equivalent) in the coming academic year;
Be a participating member of a congregation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ);
Express a commitment to serve the church as a clergy or lay leader and to participate in the leadership development activities required by the DHE Leadership Fellows Program.

DHE undergraduate scholarship recipients will be required to participate in planning and leading campus ministry programs or similar activities. The campus chaplain, director of church relations, ecumenical campus minister or another appropriate official will oversee this participation. Awards will be renewed for students who meet certain academic and service requirements. In addition, DHE Fellows will attend annual leadership conferences each fall in St. Louis, Mo.

Fellowship guidelines and the application packet are available online at www.disciplesscholarships.org or through the mail by calling (314) 991-3000 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Central Time Monday through Friday.

All materials for the 2002-2003 scholarships must be postmarked by February 16, 2002. This includes an official transcript from the student's current school, a completed copy of the Free Application for Financial Student Aid (FAFSA) form OMB 1845-0008 titled "Student Aid Report," and all forms included in the application packet available online.

DHE's scholarship program for undergraduate Disciples students is funded using income from a series of endowments and gifts. About two-thirds of scholarships go to students at Disciples-related colleges and universities, and about one-third go to students at other independent institutions and at public universities. Including cooperative efforts with local congregations, DHE helped distribute almost $219,000 in scholarships in 2001.

Fourteen universities and seven theological institutions in 12 states are in covenant with the Christian Church, serving 24,000 students. In addition, three schools and three theological institutions maintain historical ties with the denomination. Also, DHE is affiliated with more than 80 campus ministries programs across the country.