Three students from Franconia Conference were named recipients of Everence college scholarships for the 2014-2015 academic year.
Everence, a financial, insurance and banking services organization rooted in faith and values, offers its scholarship program each year as a means of encouraging young people to explore the integration of faith and finances while helping them on their educational journeys.
This year’s $500 scholarship recipients include Abigail Anderson, Jacob Ford, and Sarah Nafziger. The essay topic was, “Describe a person who has modeled the concept of stewardship for you. How did his or her example influence your life choices?
Jacob Ford, of Franconia congregation in Telford (Pa.), pursuing a degree at New York University, wrote about William Temple Hornaday, Smithsonian Museum conservationist:
“It is not impossible that the most responsible thing to do with one’s wealth is to give it all away. It’s not impossible that a comfortable life is a weakness and not a strength, a sign of habits overdue for upheaval. Stewardship is, and must remain, responsibility, and Hornaday’s example in not an excuse to make deliberately bad decisions. Yet stewardship must not prohibit the preposterous.”
Sarah Nafziger, of Vincent congregation in Spring City (Pa.), pursuing a degree at Penn State, wrote about her father: “Both Dad and I are stewards of the Gospel. I have learned from Dad how to take care of things well. The Gospel is different than resources, my body, or my family–with those there is only so much I can invest and give. The Gospel is a treasure that God has entrusted me with that I can give freely and still keep.”
The third local recipient was Abigail Anderson, of Covenant Community Fellowship in Harleysville, (Pa.). She is pursuing a degree at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In her essay, Abigail said, “My parents have taught me to be generous with everything with which God has blessed us.”
These students are among 42 recipients of Everence college scholarships for the 2014-2015 academic year. About 200 students from across the country applied for scholarships – a benefit of being an Everence member – for the coming academic year. Recipients were chosen based on academics, leadership, community involvement and responses to an essay question.
“We look for students who succeed in school but go beyond that to get involved in their communities,” said Phyllis Mishler, member benefits manager for Everence.
One student received a $3,000 scholarship, three received $2,000 scholarships and 38 others received $500 scholarships for the upcoming school year. Visit everence.com for a complete list of scholarship recipients and their photos.
Everence offers banking, insurance and financial services with community benefits and stewardship education. Everence is a ministry of Mennonite Church USA and other churches. To learn more, visit www.everence.com/souderton or call 215-703-0111.
The opinions expressed in articles posted on Mosaic’s website are those of the author and may not reflect the official policy of Mosaic Conference. Mosaic is a large conference, crossing ethnicities, geographies, generations, theologies, and politics. Each person can only speak for themselves; no one can represent “the conference.” May God give us the grace to hear what the Spirit is speaking to us through people with whom we disagree and the humility and courage to love one another even when those disagreements can’t be bridged.