College Scholarships
2012 Baltimore-Washington Conference
Scholarship Application Process
Important Dates | Scholarship Descriptions
Application Deadlines | Application
The Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church Scholarship Program provides scholarships to help supplement the financial needs of today. Scholarships are for undergraduate students enrolled fulltime in an accredited college or university in the United States.
Funding for the BWC scholarships is provided through the Special Student Sunday Offering, the BWC Board of Trustees, the Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry, the United Methodist Women, the United Methodist Men, and other designated gifts. Students will need to complete the online application each year. Applications are reviewed by members of the Joint Scholarship Coordinating Task Force.
Scholarship applications are accepted online only March 1 – May 30, 2012. Awards are determined, and scholarship award letters will be sent out July 30-August 30. Payment of scholarship awards are made after the Scholarship Office has received a verification of enrollment at a college or university for the fall term.
The following are standard criteria for EVERY program offered:
- Applicants must be an ACTIVE, full member of The United Methodist Church for at least ONE year. Membership is determined by the date the applicant was confirmed and took membership vows with a United Methodist church. (Members of other denominations are not eligible.)
- Applicants must be pursuing a degree program at an accredited college or university within the United States
- High school students may apply IF they will be college students in the fall term.
- Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
- Applicants are required to be full-time students according to their school’s standards for the program for which they are enrolled.
- Awards may be based on evidence of financial need, academic merit and/or acceptance by an accredited institution.
March 1 – May 30 Online Application Process
June 1 – June 30 Application Review Process
July 30 – August 30 Award Letters Sent
September 1 – Checks sent to approved colleges for approved applicants
Please review scholarship descriptions below BEFORE APPLYING ONLINE for a scholarship.
Baltimore-Washington Conference Scholarship Descriptions
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BWC Higher Education and Campus Ministry Scholarship: For applicants going to an approved Methodist College. In the Northeast Jurisdiction or across the United States.
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Sophia Dietsch Education Scholarship: For applicants of Baltimore City Only; who are going into ministry / seminary student / or in the candidacy process. Award is $400 per year up to $2000 total (no more than 5 years). Students must be a candidate for ministry in the United Methodist Church and from Baltimore City. Student must have held membership in a church of the Baltimore-Washington Conference for at least one year. Applicant must be a degree candidate at an accredited college, university or seminary.
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Francis Asbury Scholarship: Only available for the child of a pastor.
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Board of Trustees Scholarship: Open to all applicants, based on need, GPA, finances. May be awarded to undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral students; who are full active members of the UMC for at least one year; have a minimum GPA of 2.5+, and are attending any accredited institution within the U.S.
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United Methodist Women (UMW) Scholarship: The United Methodist Women Scholarship Fund provides financial assistance for undergraduate students who are members of churches within the Baltimore-Washington Conference. The awards are made according to financial need, academic achievement and active church membership. The scholarship amounts range from $400.00 to $1,000.00 per year. Scholarships are renewable; a new application must be submitted annually for review. Payments are made directly to the colleges in August or December. This scholarship is not available to the child of a pastor.
- UMW – Alice Bryant Scholarship: One award of $500 per year. Applicant must be applying to be a full-time student at a community college or university, carrying a total of 12 credit hours or more per semester/quarter. Applicant must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and be an active member of a United Methodist Church in the Annapolis District. Applicant must have evidence of financial need.
Other Scholarships Available
Ministerial Education Funds available to seminary students who are certified candidates in the Baltimore-Washington Conference:
The Baltimore-Washington Conference Board of Ordained Ministry provides grants and loans/scholarships for seminary students related to the Baltimore-Washington Conference and for clergypersons needing financial assistance to complete their education. Persons needing such assistance should contact the administrative assistant for the Board of Ordained Ministry.
PLEASE DO NOT APPLY to the Joint Scholarship Coordinating Task Force for this assistance.
* EXCEPTION: Seminary students from Baltimore City may apply for the Educational Scholarship: Sophia Dietsch Fund.
Other scholarships and loans are available through the General Board of Higher Education (national level). Call the Office of Loans and Scholarships at 615-340-7344, visit their website, or email them at umscholar@gbhem.org or umloans@gbhem.org.
Lon Morris College (Texas) offers a renewable full-tuition scholarship for one student per conference.
Scholarship Application Deadlines
The Scholarships Office will process and review COMPLETE applications. Complete means the online application has been submitted, along with ALL required supporting documents (official transcripts with grades through December, letters of recommendation from pastor, student essay, and any other remaining items detailed BY MAY 30.
Only one application is needed each school year. Renewal applicants must submit new applications each school year.
The online scholarship application will be open March 1 each year. Click here to start your online application.
Deadline for accepting scholarship applications and to receive transcripts for the 2011-2012 school year is May 30.
The online scholarship application will CLOSE May 30, no exceptions.
