Amid the busyness of the season, the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation invites you to spend a moment every day of December this Advent thinking about the story of Jesus’ birth. With one Bible verse a day, may you find your own peace and joy in the journey to the miraculous gift at the manger.
Download the Verse-a-Day Advent Calendar below for FREE as our gift to you. It’s our hope that you may feel Christ with you during this special season.
The Robert Siegmund Rothe Scholarship Endowment Fund has been created to honor the memory of long-serving United Methodist Higher Education Foundation Board of Trustee Robert “Bob” Rothe of Kerrville, Texas, who passed away on July 29, 2021.
An alumnus of Southern Methodist University, Bob dedicated more than fifteen years to supporting the higher education of countless other United Methodist students through UMHEF. Once voted Trustee of the Year by his peers, Bob was respected and loved by all he served alongside.
Bob’s service went far beyond UMHEF. He served in leadership roles within community organizations like Allen Rotary Club, Allen Chamber of Commerce, First United Methodist Church of Allen, Allen Community Outreach, Arts of Collins County Foundation, Allen Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, Allen Schools Foundation, and First United Methodist Church of Kerrville, TX.
Our heartfelt sympathies are extended to Bob’s wife, Merry Ann Rothe, and his family and friends.
Gifts may be made in Bob’s memory to the Robert Siegmund Rothe Scholarship Endowment Fund here. Simply choose the fund from the drop-down menu.
Having grown up in The United Methodist Church, Fernando Domingos sees a parallel between his interest in mission and his choice of psychology as his college major at Africa University: both focus on people and communities. With assistance from the Martha G. Rowlett and Robert J. Arnott Scholarship Endowment, awarded by the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation, Fernando is now working toward his Master of Divinity at Drew University with the aim to give back.
Although mission work is hard, Fernando knows it is God’s work, and God will sustain him. He looks forward to hearing the stories of others, becoming an advocate for social justice, and helping to build strong communities.
After graduating from Africa University, Fernando has spent the past two years in Brazil working with Shade and Fresh Water, an after-school program of the Methodist Church of Brazil for at-risk youth ages 6 to 14. Through his education and experience in Brazil, he saw a shortage in pastoral care and counseling services. His sights are set on this area of focus as he pursues his graduate degree at Drew.
Fernando’s lifestyle is “one set to serve God and others.”
Fernando shared that his first priority is to always give back smiles as he comforts those going through life’s challenges, and to orient others to have a heart of love and charity. His lifestyle is one set to serve God and to serve others. He prays that after completion of his MDiv, he can “extend the services of the church community in larger ways to help others through a great heart of love to the work of God in this earth.”
Learn more about the vision and reach of UMHEF.
Read about the Martha G. Rowlett and Robert J. Arnott Scholarship Endowment.
Support students like Fernando.
In Martha Rowlett’s book Weaving Prayer Into the Tapestry of Life, she wrote in the introduction, once done with most books they can be shelved or passed on, “but this book wants to hang around and be used. It would like to be a friendly companion to help you connect with God about the living of your life as you weave your personal life tapestry.”
That also describes Dr. Rowlett. If you’ve had the opportunity to spend time with her, you want to keep her around. Dr. Rowlett and her late husband, Dr. Robert Arnott established an endowed scholarship through the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation. While working at Claremont School of Theology, Dr. Arnott visited Africa for a conference where he bonded with Bishop Lawi Imathiu and was inspired to establish an endowment that would provide scholarships for students from Africa attending United Methodist schools in the United States or Africa.
Over the past few years, Martha has so enjoyed receiving updates and letters of thanks from the students that she decided to gift a portion of her estate plan while she is still alive. Students like Fernando Domingos have benefitted from this gift. From Angola, Fernando is a member of Redentor United Methodist Church in the West Angola Annual Conference and holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Africa University. With assistance from the Martha G. Rowlett and Robert J. Arnott Scholarship Endowment, Fernando is now working toward his Master of Divinity at Drew University with a focus in this area.
It is Martha’s goal to be able to see even more impact, but she claims that she is “simply following in their direction. This was Bob and Bishop Lawi’s dream and I know that they would’ve been happy to see this happen.”
If you are interested in establishing an endowed scholarship, or if you would like to support a current fund, please contact the UMHEF Development Officer, Melissa Houck by email or call (615) 649-3970.
Once again, the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation is excited to share with you its Annual Review. This important document celebrates all the ways the support of generous donors and partners have allowed the Foundation to live into its grand vision throughout the past year.
Despite challenges faced across the globe during the COVID-19 pandemic, last year was a time full of reasons to celebrate. We invite you to view the following 2020 Annual Review and join us in giving thanks for all of the ways UMHEF has been able to make it economically possible for United Methodist students to attend UM-related schools. We celebrate YOU and your part in this exciting year.
View this year’s review below:
A limited number of United Methodist Dollars for Scholars awards are still available for the 2021-2022 academic year! UMHEF will match a $1,000 award from your local United Methodist church, making your scholarship worth $2,000. If the UM-related school you plan to attend in the fall still has funds available within our 2021 program, your award total could reach up to $3,000!
Learn more about the United Methodist Dollars for Scholars program here.
The students you support through the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation are changing the world! This is just one of their stories, that of a young United Methodist student at West Virginia Wesleyan College. Hannah Povroznik continues to make a difference, even during a pandemic, by living out a vision she had in high school.
In 2017, Hannah founded a food insecurity charity known as Boxing It Up to Give Thanks. This initiative set out to package boxed Thanksgiving meals for food pantries throughout North Central West Virginia. The vision was to eliminate food insecurity for one day, leaving more time for families to do what families do best – make memories!
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Boxing It Up persevered into its fourth year of service while expanding the original vision through a team of leaders from West Virginia Wesleyan College. In 2020, the charity raised $32,000 and fulfilled the need of all food pantries across counties in North Central West Virginia.
With a community voice and years of determination, this initiative has ultimately raised $90,000, distributed 61,000 pounds of food, and provided nearly 18,000 individual Thanksgiving meals in total. Equally important, Hannah’s example has instilled leadership into the minds of students and changed the face of food insecurity in West Virginia.
“Thank you for helping to make my college years what they are today. West Virginia Wesleyan’s support of Boxing It Up’s endeavors has been inspiring! For making my college experience possible, I thank you!”
Hannah, west virginia wesleyan college
There are countless other stories about UMHEF scholars doing amazing things. When you donate to UMHEF, you help fund not only the education of students like Hannah but also their ideas and dreams that impact communities in enormous ways. Become a part of all the good students are doing by making a one-time or recurring gift to fund UMHEF scholarships. GIVE HERE.
Thank you for your support. We hope Hannah’s amazing work inspires you as much as she’s inspired us here at UMHEF.
Every year about this time, the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation publishes an Annual Review. This exciting and important document celebrates all the ways the support of generous donors and partners have allowed the Foundation to live into its grand vision throughout the past year.
Last year was no exception. We invite you to view the following 2019 Annual Review and join us in giving thanks for all of the ways UMHEF has been able to make it economically possible for United Methodist students to attend UM-related schools. We celebrate YOU and your part in this exciting year.
TIP: Click “Full Screen” for optimum viewing/reading.
Every year, the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation publishes an Annual Review celebrating the various ways we have lived into our vision thanks to the ongoing generous support of donors like you.
“In addition to scholarships, your gifts also allowed students to stay connected to the church during their education, minimize or eliminate educational debt, and study in faith-based communities as they discerned callings of service and leadership within The United Methodist Church.”
Bob Fletcher, UMHEF President/CEO
Click below to view the Annual Review for 2018, including complete remarks from UMHEF’s President/CEO, Bob Fletcher as well as scholarship reports, giving and distribution figures, introductions to new members of the UMHEF Board of Trustees, the chance to meet a few UMHEF scholars and how your support has changed their lives, and more.
This month, the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation launched the Bishop Bruce and Char Ough Scholarship Endowment funds at two special events honoring the couple and their legacy of ministry and leadership within the United Methodist Church. Biship Bruce R. Ough is the resident bishop for the Dakotas-Minnesota Area of The United Methodist Church. The new scholarship endowment includes two funds, one for students at Dakota Wesleyan University and one for students at Hamiline University, to help those who are discerning a calling to or preparing for a career in ministry.
On May 15, United Methodists from North and South Dakota areas gathered to honor Bishop Bruce R. and Char Ough on the campus of Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota. This event was co-hosted by the Dakotas United Methodist Foundation,Dakotas Conference, and Dakota Wesleyan University. (Read more about this event.) A second event was held on May 21 on the campus of Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota and co-hosted by the Minnesota United Methodist Foundation, the Minnesota Annual Conference, and Hamline University. (Read moreabout this event.) At both events, distinguished colleagues, UM leaders, and alumni offered gracious words in celebration of the Oughs.
“I am a product of a mentoring culture. I was not born a leader. I was raised to be a leader by others who very intentionally invested in me.” Bishop Ough shared these words about raising up the next generation of United Methodist leaders, inviting those at each event to lend their support to the efforts of the new endowment. “This scholarship is not meant to be about me. It is about the next generation that we are to call forth and mentor. I believe that preparing the next generation of spiritual leaders is every leader’s responsibility and ultimately, the legacy I want to leave.”
Give to the Bishop Bruce and Char Ough Scholarship Endowment for Dakota Wesleyan University here.
Give to the Bishop Bruce and Char Ough Scholarship Endowment for Hamline University.
For questions about your gift to this fund or other UMHEF efforts, please contact UMHEF Development Officer, Cindy Patterson, at 615-649-3970 or cpatterson@umhef.org.
Photos courtesy of Dakotas UMC
Lent is an important time in the Christian year when we can prepare our hearts and spirits for Jesus. The forty days of Lent, not counting Sundays, last from Ash Wednesday through Easter Saturday. The time period represents the forty days Jesus suffered in the wilderness, enduring the temptations of Satan by remaining close to God through fasting and prayer. The unimaginable time of Jesus’ trials and suffering is what prepared Him to carry out His ministry.
As Christians, we can dedicate the Lenten season to God and ask God to prepare our own hearts and minds for the ministry God has entrusted to us. Whether God is calling you to a time of repentance, fasting, prayer, or servanthood, the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation (UMHEF) has created a Lenten calendar to help you center your heart and mind on God each day and become new in Christ.
You may download the calendar below and print it for use at home, work, or school. Feel free to make copies and share with family, friends, your fellow church members, etc. Make this tool be a blessing to you and help you grow in your faith.
The United Methodist Higher Education Foundation has just created new $5,000 named endowed scholarships specifically to support students attending United Methodist-related Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Apply today using the General Named Endowed Scholarship application by the March 1 deadline. You must complete the application in full and send in all required documentation, postmarked by the deadline.
APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
United Methodist-Related Historically Black Colleges and Universities include:
Bennett College
Bethune-Cookman University
Claflin University
Clark Atlanta University
Dillard University
Gammon Theological Seminary
Huston-Tillotson University
Paine College
Philander Smith College
Rust College
Wiley College
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