Women's Ministries Scholarship Program

Scholarship Sponsored by General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Purpose — in plain language
The GC Women’s Ministries (GC WM) scholarship program exists to help women who are committed to serving the mission of the Seventh‑day Adventist Church attend a Christian college when they could not otherwise afford it. Awards depend on academic achievement, demonstrated financial need, and service to the church and community. The amount available each year varies with funding, and scholarships are distributed through each applicant’s home division.

Who may apply
- Any woman planning to attend a Seventh‑day Adventist college located in the division where she lives is eligible.
- Primary consideration is given to students in the final two years of college‑level study.
- Applicants must demonstrate financial need, academic ability, leadership and community involvement, and a clear commitment to serving the Lord and the mission of the Seventh‑day Adventist Church.

What you must submit
The application package should include:
1. A completed application form.
2. A recent photo.
3. A transcript covering your most recent year of study.
4. Three letters of recommendation (pastor, church leaders, and/or teachers).

How to submit (step‑by‑step)
1. Give your completed packet to your conference or mission Women’s Ministries director.
2. The conference director forwards it to the union WM director, who forwards it to the division WM director, and then the division sends recommendations to the GC WM director.
3. If your conference has no WM director, send your application to the union WM director. If there is no conference or union WM director, send it directly to your division WM director.

Screening and selection
- Each division WM director appoints a scholarship committee to review applications. That division committee forwards its recommendations to the GC WM Scholarship Committee for final approval.
- Applicants are considered primarily on financial need, leadership skills, academic record, and personal commitment to the Church’s mission.
- The committees will also consider overall ethnic balance, support for high school scholarships in developing countries, and help for students in isolated areas (in consultation with Griggs University where appropriate).

Conditions and obligations
- Every recipient must sign a Commitment Statement agreeing to uphold the standards of the Seventh‑day Adventist Church and to use her education to further the Church’s mission.
- Recipients are generally required to study within their own division unless a special arrangement is approved by the division WM scholarship committee to complete a particular field of study.
- GC WM will maintain safeguards to prevent nepotism and favoritism.
- Institutions receiving scholarship funds must treat these awards as additions to (not replacements for) other scholarships the institution offers to women.

Administration and follow‑up
- Scholarships are available to Adventist women in all world divisions.
- The program will be promoted through brochures, GC WM newsletters, and other channels.
- The division WM director participates in screening, presents approved candidates to her division committee, and then forwards names to GC WM for final approval before funds are transferred.
- Where possible, the division WM director will present the scholarship to the student at her university.
- Division WM directors will file regular progress reports on each recipient with GC WM.

If you’re interested, start by contacting your conference, union, or division Women’s Ministries director — they can tell you the application deadlines and guide you through the process.