One UMHEF Donor Supports African Students with Endowment Fund

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:

UPDATE: UMHEF has closed applications for the UM Dollars For Scholars program.

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.

UPDATE: All UMHEF scholarship applications are now closed. The main scholarship season will open again January 1, 2022. Sign up for our monthly email newsletter to receive news, announcements, and more.

Even though our main application season has closed, UMHEF is still accepting applications for the following scholarship opportunity.

Chaplain Samuel Grover Powell Scholarship
THIS SCHOLARSHIP IS NOW CLOSED. This scholarship provides financial assistance to students preparing for chaplaincy in any branch of the military. 

NOTE: For students who have already applied for our two main programs, General Named Endowed Scholarships or UM Dollars for Scholars, notice of your award status was sent via a letter in the US mail around mid-May. If you have not yet heard from us, feel free to reach out.

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.

The deadline has been extended for scholarships from the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation. Students may now apply through Friday, March 19.

The last year has been a year like no other. Students have been impacted in many unexpected ways. In light of these challenges, many students have requested more time to complete their applications. So, the deadline has been extended to accommodate these requests.

If you have not applied, please take this extra time to prayerfully consider school choices and round up necessary information. Your application and supporting materials must be submitted by March 19.*

Let us help make your higher education goals possible! 

Now that the deadline has been extended, learn more about UMHEF scholarships.

Eligibility and Important Notes

General Named Endowed Scholarships

United Methodist Dollars for Scholars

Other Scholarship Opportunities

Scholarships from GBHEM (separate from UMHEF)

The deadline is fast approaching for students to submit applications for UMHEF scholarships. Applicants must be members of The United Methodist Church and planning to attend a United Methodist-related school, college, university, or seminary for the 2021-2022 school year.

The deadline to apply is March 1, 2021.

UMHEF’s two main programs are General Named Endowed (GNE) Scholarships and the United Methodist Dollars for Scholars (UMDFS) program. The GNE application is a competitive scholarship that considers leadership, GPA, and financial need. With this one application, students will be considered for over 100 different endowments.

Additionally, the UMDFS program is the foundation’s most popular program. It starts with a $1,000 scholarship from a student’s home UMC. If selected, this scholarship is matched by UMHEF to total $2,000. Participating UM schools and UM Conference Foundations may each match the initial scholarship to total up to $4,000. Participants can be found here.

Finally, more information on eligibility criteria and the application process can be found here. Applications and supporting materials must be submitted/postmarked by the approaching deadline of March 1.

The grand vision of UMHEF is that it be financially possible for qualified United Methodist students to attend a United Methodist-related institution of higher education. Annually, the Foundation provides over 1,000 UMC students with scholarships totaling more than $2 million.

Please Note: Scholarships offered by UMHEF are separate from those offered by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. You must apply for UMHEF scholarships using our applications. Learn more about those opportunities here.

Once again, the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation is pleased to offer a FREE Lenten Calendar for the 2021 season.

Lent is an important time in the Christian calendar when we can prepare our hearts and spirits for Jesus. As Easter approaches, we draw nearer to the cross where He paid the ultimate sacrifice. The guide linked below
offers ideas for focus and preparation each week of Lent.

We invite you to use the calendar on the back of this document to plan what you’ll do each week. We hope you are able to center your heart and mind on God each day and become new in Christ this Lenten season.

Please also feel free to SHARE this resource with your friends, family, church congregation, and community as desired. If you use the guide and find it helpful or meaningful, we’d love to hear from you. Send us a note!

UMHEF is now accepting applications for scholarships from United Methodist students planning to attend a UM-related school in 2021-2022.

You are invited to apply for our General Named Endowed scholarships, UM Dollars for Scholars scholarship program, and several others. Unless otherwise noted, the deadline for applications and supporting materials is March 1, 2021.

The United Methodist Higher Education Foundation awards more than $2 million in scholarships every year to more than 1,000 United Methodist students. Learn more about UMHEF scholarships and how to apply today.

This Advent season, UMHEF invites you to stay connected to the true meaning of Christmas with a free Advent activity for all ages.

Advent begins Sunday, November 29 and continues through Christmas Day. Learn more about the Advent season by browsing articles at UMC.org.

As our gift to you, our generous and consistent supporters, hard-working students, and faithful friends, we invite you to use this unique printable, color-in Advent wreath to prepare your hearts for the coming of our Savior. As you color in each flame and candle for a different week of Advent we hope it will help you reflect on the season, God’s promises, and Christ’s coming.

Show Off Your Work!

We’d love to see your in-progress and completed candle wreaths. Post a photo of your colored-in candles on social media and tag @umhef or #umhefadvent. Watch, too, for posts on our Facebook page inviting you to share in the comments.

Share this Free Advent Activity

Share this free Advent activity with friends, family, your congregation, etc.! It’s the perfect at-home activity ready to print. UMHEF grants permission to save, reproduce and distribute this printable; please do not alter or edit the document in any other way.

This year has brought many challenges. We here at the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation continue to be inspired by the countless ways folks have rallied together. You have helped neighbors, friends, and even strangers in need. You have stepped up to accept the challenge.

If you are a United Methodist student, know that we stand with you in the gaps that this year may have created. 

To parents, organizational partners, and generous friends, will you to consider another challenge? More than ever, our UM students are facing new financial hardships. They are unsure what their academic future holds. Accept the challenge to give a little more in 2020. Your gift will ensure more students can attend United Methodist colleges and universities.

Can you…

make a one-time $20 gift?
give $20 more than you usually give?
increase your gift by 20%?
give 2 times the amount you gave in 2019?

Accepting this challenge means something different to everyone. No matter how much, every dollar makes a difference. Every increase shows your belief in the power of quality education. 

Thank you for your prayerful generosity! Follow along with us on Facebook and Instagram for more from our scholars.

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.