Information for Students

Purpose and Eligibility

The scholarship provides an incentive for confirmed members of St. Andrew's Lutheran Church to attend ELCA colleges and seminaries and is available only to St. Andrew's members who have been accepted for admission by a college or seminary of the ELCA.  The same student may receive the scholarship for more than one year if the student is enrolled full time and is making satisfactory progress toward a degree.

Selection Process

Eligible individuals should submit a request to the Extended Ministry Fund committee by December 31 for the following academic year.

First time applicants/incoming freshmen must include:

• Applicant's name, address, phone number and email address.
• A copy of the letter from an ELCA college or seminary indicating the applicant has been accepted for admission.
• A written statement explaining why s/he wants to go to that college or seminary and what the applicant expects the educational experience will contribute to the individual's future calling, profession, life and faith.

Repeat applicants must include:

• Applicant's name, address, phone number and email address.
• A written statement detailing what the Christian higher education has meant to their faith and personal development, specific experiences that have enriched their lives, and what they expect to learn and experience in the future academic year.
• Comments about academic performance that will demonstrate that the applicant is making satisfactory progress toward graduation (e.g. number of credit hours per term, grade point average).

In any year when there are requests for scholarship funds, the Extended Ministry Fund Committee will review the applications and determine allocation of scholarship funds by February 15.

Amount of the Scholarship Awards

The amount to be awarded to an individual student will depend on these factors:

• The number of students requesting support
• The amount of funds available to be awarded
• The amount that may be needed in subsequent years to continue to provide scholarship support to students receiving the scholarship

For students who receive the LEFSA scholarship to attend colleges that have matching grants available, the Extended Ministry Fund (EMF) Committee will file the necessary documentation to make the students eligible for the additional support.

Reports

Recipients are expected to provide an annual report about his/her experiences in college to the EMF Committee.Those reports may be shared with the congregation.