Alexis Bazydola and Paul Tribble are recipients of the Rev. Dr. Karen Layman Gift of Hope Scholarship and examples of the why the investment in the education and development of our future leaders is a priority for the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM). The scholarship is one of 70+ administered by the Office of Scholarships at GBHEM.
The goal of the Gift of Hope Scholarship is to award those connected to The United Methodist Church through their local churches, campus ministries, annual conferences or relevant social justice projects. Gift of Hope awards undergraduate leaders of the church with $1,000 scholarships annually.
Your gifts on United Methodist Student Day Sunday helps support the Gift of Hope Scholarship.
"The financial support of the Gift of Hope Scholarship is great and is helping me to stay on track with graduating debt-free," Bazydola said. "The scholarship definitely impacts both my present and future life. It allows me to save money so that I will have enough for tuition, books and things of that nature," explained Tribble. "It also helps set me up in a positive financial situation after college. Any scholarship I receive helps me stay debt-free throughout my time in college."
Bazydola and Tribble, active with their home church, Lebanon First United Methodist Church, in Tennessee and on campus, each plan to use their education and talent to make an impact in the world and United Methodist Church.
Bazydola, a sophomore majoring in business management at the University of Connecticut and two-time recipient of the Gift of Hope, is not only committed to her education but also to continued service to the church. She serves on the design team for Youth 2019, a quadrennial event that gathers youth from around the country for discipleship, fun and fellowship through interactive learning, worship, bible study and service opportunities.
With a goal of working in sports management within the National Hockey League, the scholarship helps to put her one step closer to her dream career. "I've wanted to work in hockey for years," Bazydola explained. "My dad is from New England so I searched for schools with my program track near hockey teams. I've had an opportunity to work with my school's hockey team and intern with the Nashville Predators."
Tribble, a junior mechanical engineering major at Tennessee Technological University, is very active with the Wesley Foundation on campus. He is a part of the Wesley basketball team and serves as a bible study leader at Wesley. "After college, I plan on using my mechanical engineering degree to get a job, hopefully in Nashville, so that I can continue to live around Lebanon. I also plan to continue working in my local church, possibly getting involved in the youth group there," he said.
Administering more than $5 million annually in scholarships throughout the church, GBHEM is one resource for financial support available to United Methodists pursuing education. "When preparing for school, I applied for scholarships through my church, my annual conference and several community resources in addition to GBHEM," said Bazydola. "We know that college is not cheap, so I encourage everyone to apply for as many scholarships as you can."
General Board of Higher Education and Ministry website
One of six churchwide Special Sundays with offerings of The United Methodist Church, United Methodist Student Day calls the church to support students as they prepare for life in uniting faith with knowledge. The special offering provides scholarships for qualified United Methodist applicants.
When you give generously on United Methodist Student Day, you support students as they prepare for life in uniting faith with knowledge. Give now.
