Women's Ministries Scholarship Program

Scholarship Sponsored by General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Overview
The General Conference Department of Women’s Ministries (GC WM) operates a scholarship fund to help women who are committed to the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church attend a Christian college when they would otherwise be unable to afford it. Awards are determined by academic merit, demonstrated financial need, and community involvement. Award amounts change each year and depend on available funds. Scholarships must be requested through the recipient’s home division.

Who may apply
- Any woman intending to study at a Seventh-day Adventist college located in the division where she resides is eligible.
- Preference is given to students in the final two years of college-level study.
- Selection emphasizes financial need, academic ability, personal initiative to improve, and commitment to serving the Lord and the Church’s mission.

Application requirements and submission process
- Applicants must complete the official application form and provide: a recent photograph, a transcript covering their most recent year of study, and three letters of recommendation (from a pastor, church leaders, and/or teachers).
- Submit the completed application first to the conference or mission Women’s Ministries (WM) director. The application will then move to the union WM director, then the division WM director, and finally to the GC WM director.
- If there is no conference WM director, send the application to the union WM director. If neither conference nor union WM directors exist, forward the application directly to the division WM director.
- Division WM directors will appoint a scholarship committee to screen applicants. Each division committee forwards its recommendations to the GC WM Scholarship Committee for consideration.

Conditions and recipient obligations
- Every recipient must sign a “Commitment Statement” pledging to uphold Seventh-day Adventist standards and to use her education to further the Church’s mission.
- Students are normally expected to study within their home division unless a division WM scholarship committee approves an exception to complete a particular course of study.
- The GC WM will implement measures to prevent nepotism and favoritism in awarding scholarships.
- Institutions accepting scholarship funds must confirm that these awards are supplementary to any other scholarships available to women at that institution.

Selection considerations
- Candidates are evaluated on financial need, leadership potential, academic performance, and dedication to the Church’s mission.
- Efforts will be made to consider overall ethnic balance when choosing recipients.
- Scholarships for high school students in developing countries may be considered.
- GC WM will coordinate with Griggs University to develop options for students in remote or isolated regions.

Administration and follow-up
- The scholarship program is open to Adventist women across all world divisions.
- The program will be publicized through brochures, GC WM newsletters, and other appropriate channels.
- Division WM directors participate in screening, present candidates to their division scholarship committees, and submit approved names to the GC WM Scholarship Committee for final authorization before any funds are released.
- When feasible, the division WM director should present the scholarship to the student at her university.
- Division WM directors are responsible for filing periodic progress reports with GC WM on each scholarship recipient.