The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) issued more than 470 scholarships to graduates earning degrees across disciplines ranging from theology and education to finance and science.
“The impact of these scholarships extends far beyond commencement,” said Roland Fernandes, general secretary for the General Boards of Higher Education and Ministry and Global Ministries. “By investing in these students, we are strengthening communities, equipping leaders, and advancing the church’s mission around the world. Their achievements are a testament to what is possible when the church comes together to provide opportunities for education.”
GBHEM supported 353 students who completed 163 bachelors and 129 masters degrees, including 87 masters of divinity, doctorates, and other professional credentials. Another 121 students graduated with support from the Grants and Scholarships Program (GRASP), highlighting the global reach of the church’s investment in higher education. For many graduates, the scholarships provided more than financial support — they were a lifeline that made education possible.
Scholarship Supports Teacher/Student During Crisis
Susan McCain, a teacher who earned her master’s degree in trauma-informed education from Columbia College in South Carolina, said the support allowed her to remain focused during a challenging year in the classroom. “This has been a rough year for myself and many of my students, and without the skills I learned in my degree, I think I would have handled my own and my students’ grief poorly,” McCain said about dealing with a student suicide. “I am so grateful for this scholarship giving me the opportunity to learn new strategies to help my students.”
Kayla Evans, a Bachelor of Arts graduate of Huston-Tillotson University in Texas, said the scholarship affirmed both her perseverance and her purpose. “Your generous support is not only a financial blessing but also a reminder that my hard work, perseverance, and faith have not gone unnoticed,” Evans said, adding that the award helped her stay focused on her goal of becoming a financial analyst serving underserved communities.
Madoda Signa Ndwandwe, who completed a theology degree at Seth Mokitimi Methodist Seminary in South Africa, described the scholarship as transformative. It was “a tremendous blessing and a prayer being answered,” he said, noting that it eased financial strain while affirming his calling to leadership and service.
The Rev. Calyn Donaldson, a graduate of Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, has already begun putting that preparation into practice. She was commissioned as a United Methodist elder in the Texas Annual Conference and appointed as associate pastor at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church in Katy, Texas. “The support of the church was constant encouragement throughout seminary,” Donaldson said. “Through the support of the church, I was reminded of the value of opportunities seminary education provides as well as the constant growth that comes with it.”
As graduates step into careers in classrooms, churches, nonprofits, and businesses, they reflect the continuing impact of GBHEM’s commitment to education — empowering leaders to serve and transform the world.
Your Generosity Supports Educational Efforts
By supporting the World Service Fund apportionment, you help agencies like General Board of Higher Education and Ministry provide scholarships for students in colleges and universities including seminaries. Please encourage your leaders and congregations to support the World Service Fund Apportionment at 100 percent.
General Board of Higher Education and Ministry website
This story shows the impact of the World Service Fund—one of seven apportionment funds of The United Methodist Church—to connect our hearts and resources in mission around the world. Through this fund, the Church supports global ministries, discipleship, evangelism, education, and social justice work that transform lives and communities. Together, we share the love of Christ across boundaries and bring hope where it’s needed most.
When your church contributes faithfully to the World Service Fund, you help the whole Church live out God’s mission in every place.
