Thursday, July 18, 2002
Contact: Brad Lyons, Director of Communications
(314) 991-3000 — blyons@dhedisciples.org

The Division of Higher Education will distribute more than a quarter-million dollars in scholarships during the 2002-2003 academic year.

The recently concluded scholarship season proved to be the largest amount DHE has ever processed - $269,475, an increase of 18.7 percent over the previous year. Just two years ago, DHE helped to distribute less than $178,000.

"Working with this variety of scholarships is just part of our overall mission to develop leadership for the church," said DHE President Dennis Landon. "While money isn't everything, it certainly does help us as we work on this continuing mission."

Scholarships provided directly through DHE funds totaled $69,000. These funds are provided by endowments from individual donors and a portion of the unit's operational budget.

• A majority of those funds - $58,000 - went to the DHE Leadership Fellows, an undergraduate scholarship program recognizing future leaders for the church. In the upcoming school year, 29 students coast-to-coast, at public schools and private schools related to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and other denominations, will each receive $2,000 scholarships. In addition, those students are paired with mentors on or near their campuses to develop leadership skills.
• Ann E. Dickerson Scholarships are for female members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) working toward the Ph.D. degree in religious studies. Two students received $2,000 each.
• The William Gilbert and Florence Leonard Jones Scholarship is given annually to a full-time student pursuing the degree of Doctor of Philosophy who is either preparing for ordination in, or already ordained in, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and intends to provide leadership to a congregation or other agency of the church. This year's recipient received $2,000.
• Recipients of the Dewitt and Othel Brown Ministerial Scholarships are nominated by the Disciples-related theological institutions for their outstanding leadership and ministerial potential. This year, two graduate students received $2,500 each.

• The Taylor Scholarship endowment, provided by a gift to First Christian Church of Winterset, Iowa, is for graduates of high schools in surrounding Madison County who continue their education. DHE oversees investments of the fund, serves as a central processing agent for scholarship materials, and evaluates applications. This year, Taylor Scholarships worth $96,625 were distributed to 64 students.
• The East Scholarship Fund, managed in cooperation with Hyde Park Christian Church in Austin, Texas, is for Disciples students residing in the Austin area. DHE collects materials and serves as the trustee for the fund. Twenty-eight students will share $58,850 in scholarships in the upcoming academic year.
• The Burnett Fund is managed in cooperation with First Christian Church of Burnet, Texas, for Disciples students in the Burnet area. DHE collects materials and serves as the trustee for the fund. Three students will receive $1,000 each.
• The first class of the Phillips University Legacy Foundation Leadership Scholars includes 11 students who will share $42,000. DHE collects scholarship materials and serves in a consulting role to the Phillips University Alumni and Friends Association.

DHE works to nurture transforming leadership for the church in partnership with the 14 universities and seven theological institutions in covenant with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). In addition, three schools and three theological institutions maintain historical or associate ties with the denomination. DHE is also affiliated with more than 80 campus ministries programs across the country.