Loans, scholarships from GBHEM provide future opportunities for Arkansas Methodist students BY CALEB HENNINGTON Digital Content Editor
D
uring the last Sunday in November of each year, United Methodist congregations from around the U.S. come together to celebrate United Methodist Student Day, one of six Special Sundays with offerings in the United
Methodist Church. Offerings collected during this weekend will go toward providing scholarships and loans for students who meet the qualifications of each United Methodist scholarship. According to the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, 36 Arkansas United Methodist students received more than $78,500 in scholarships in 2017, thanks in part to offerings taken during United Methodist Student Day. After this year’s Student Day on Nov. 25, the net receipts collected by the treasurer of the General Council of Finance and Administration, will be sent to the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and placed in the United Methodist Student Loan Fund in order to give future students the means to attend an institute of higher education. Scholarships are divided into four categories – general scholarships, racial-ethnic specific scholarships, ministry as a career scholarships, and doctorate-level scholarships – while loans are divided based on loan amounts and interest rates. Rachel Shepherd – a psychology and religious studies student at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas – said the scholarships she received from GBHEM have allowed her to focus greater energy toward her academics. “Even as I still have to take out some loans to make sure everything is paid for, I feel so much more comfortable in my investments because the scholarships that I have received have significantly lowered the amount of student loan debt that I will face in the future,” Shepherd said. Shepherd said the religious studies part of her degree focuses 17
on social justice, and she hopes to attend graduate school at a seminary where she can pursue a degree in pastoral care and counseling, mental health care, and/or spiritual direction. Chad Hornsby, another student of Hendrix College, agrees that the scholarships he’s received from GBHEM have allowed him to focus on other areas without having to worry about his financial situation. “For me, having scholarships gives me the freedom to volunteer and work on projects that develop my skill sets because I don’t have to worry about only doing what can make me money so that I can pay for education,” Hornsby said. Shepherd recently started the candidacy process to become an ordained deacon in the Arkansas Conference, and she hopes to return to Arkansas to serve a local church in some capacity or as a
ARKANSAS UNITED METHODIST