What happens to dollars you give to Special Sunday offerings that support scholarships? Some of those funds come back to Michigan to help students pay for their education.

ALLYSON POTTS
General Board of Higher Education and Ministry

We celebrate that the Office of Loans and Scholarships will be awarding over 2,100 students a total of $5.6 million in financial assistance for 2020.

Thanks go to congregations that supported special offerings on United Methodist Student Day, World Communion Sunday, and Native American Sunday which help fund a portion (13%) of these scholarships. The remaining funds for these awards come from gifts, annuities, and endowments GBHEM has invested and administered for decades.

Scholars in The Michigan Conference were among those who benefitted. Forty-four individuals from 34 Michigan local churches received a total of $122,100 in scholarships and awards in 2020.  

Students who are members of The United Methodist Church may apply for a Fall 2021 GBHEM scholarship online between December 15, 2020 – March 24, 2021 at www.gbhem.org/scholarshipapplication.

Student loans are also available at interest rates as low as 3.75% (lower than federal educational loan rates) with a creditworthy cosigner. Sometimes the United Methodist student loan helps fill the gap in funding for the student and their parents. The UM Student Spring Loan application is open December 10 through May at www.gbhem.org/loanapplication.

With this financial aid, GBHEM is opening pathways for students of all backgrounds to earn their graduate and undergraduate degrees and serve as the next generation of leaders for the church and the world.

Last Updated on October 31, 2023