Bishop Watson's scholarship endowment raises more than $195,000

12/19/2011

 On Sept. 15, the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation (UMHEF) held the Bishop B. Michael Watson Scholarship Endowment Dinner at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park. To date, more than $195,000 has been raised toward a goal of $300,000 to fund scholarships for eight United Methodist-related colleges and universities in Georgia.
The Georgia United Methodist Foundation, which has been a long-time supporter of the UMHEF, contributed $25,000 in honor of this event. In 2011, the Foundation also awarded 42 scholarships totaling $42,000 to students participating in the United Methodist Dollars for Scholars program.
"There are so many deserving students who wish to attend a United Methodist institution of higher education, yet are unable to do so because they lack the financial resources," said Foundation president the Rev. Chuck Savage. "If the nearly 490,000 United Methodists in Georgia each gave $1 to the Bishop B. Michael Watson Scholarship Endowment, we would be able to help their dreams become a reality. No gift is too small. Everyone can play an important role in establishing scholarships that will strengthen and support the future leaders of the Church."
  For more information or to contribute to the Bishop B. Michael Watson Scholarship Endowment, contact the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation at 800-811-8110 or 60 Music Square East, Suite 350, Nashville, TN 37203, e-mail Sheila Graham at sgraham@umhef.org or visit www.umhef.org/watson.  
The Foundation asked seven scholarship recipients to share what receiving the United Methodist Dollars for Scholars scholarship meant to them:
   
Taylor Bishop, Wesleyan College
Hometown: Moultrie, Georgia
“The Triple Dollars for Scholars scholarship has been a tremendous help with my tuition at Wesleyan College. This scholarship has helped me pay that little bit of tuition I had left over each semester and allowed me to stay at Wesleyan, which is not only a joy to attend because it's a Methodist institution, but also because it's the perfect college fit for me.” 
Katelyn Burch, Emory University
Hometown: Cartersville, Georgia
“The scholarship from the Georgia United Methodist Foundation has helped me to pursue my dream of attending the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University. I look forward to graduating this May with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I hope to continue my education at Emory and become a pediatric nurse practitioner. I am so grateful that the United Methodist Church supports higher education and students like me.” 
Jesse Carter, Young Harris College
Hometown: Evans, Georiga
“The Georgia United Methodist Foundation allowed me to attend a great college with great people. This scholarship helped take some of the financial burden off of my family and me. I hope this scholarship will continue to be awarded to students in the future.”
Kasey Dawson, Clark Atlanta University
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
“I am forever grateful for receiving this scholarship. It filled a significant financial void. This scholarship has allowed me to focus on my academic pursuits without the worry of financial obligations and has therefore contributed to my further scholastic success (3.73 GPA). I hope this Foundation continues to change the lives of college students.”
Ben MacMinn, LaGrange College
Hometown: Waverly Hall, Georgia
“I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitudefor your financial support. I was blessed as a recipient of the Dollars for Scholars Scholarship from the United MethodistHigher Education Foundation. Your generosity in making this award available has been unmatched. This award has allowed me to further achieve my educational goals in religion and philosophy with a concentration in church leadership. Without the support of the Georgia United Methodist Foundation, I would not have had the opportunity to attend a Methodist College as prestigious as LaGrange College. Ultimately, I intend to further my education through seminary and continue on to be a full-time missionary. Your generous support and kindness allows me to continue my education. It is also a great encouragement towards my bachelor’s degree so that I too may have the opportunity to make a difference in others’ lives, just as the Georgia United Methodist Foundation has made in my life. Thank you again. Your generous giving has done more than you can know.” 
Clint Parker, Reinhardt University
Hometown: McDonough, Georgia
“This scholarship has meant a lot to me. Reinhardt University is more than just a school. It has become a second home. With this scholarship, I have been able to further my education and meet great friends in the process without having the burden of worrying about where I would get the money to attend this Methodist school. This is how the scholarship from the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation has helped me through the years.”  
Autumn Whitfield, Andrew College
Hometown: Guyton, Georgia
“I am very thankful for the opportunity I have been given. I've wanted to attend Andrew College since I was a junior in high school, but knew that the tuition was very expensive. My parents and I prayed about it, and God blessed me with an academic scholarship, athletic scholarship, and the United Methodist Dollars for Scholars scholarship. All of these made it possible for me to attend this college. I thank God every day for the amazing things He has done and continues to do in my life.”