Scholarships for Entering Students

The Harding Memorial Scholarship Competition
This scholarship was made possible by and created in honor of Mr. Jack E. Harding, a lifelong resident of Newark, Ohio, and good friend of MTSO, and his mother, Mrs. Alberta E. Harding. Its purpose is to attract the nation’s most capable students to MTSO for full-time graduate theological study in one of four Master’s degree programs: Master of Divinity (preferred), Master of Arts in Christian Education, Master of Arts in Counseling Ministries, Master of Theological Studies. It is awarded through a national competition. The winning student receives full tuition plus an annual $10,000 stipend. The Harding application is due February 1 of each year. All finalists are required to visit our campus on designated dates to determine the winner.

Premier Scholarships
Our Premier scholarships are determined at the time of admission. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher from prior institutions to apply. The completed Premier Scholarship application must be returned by the priority deadline of March 1. By completing this application, your name will be put into the applicant pool for committee review. If you are chosen for a Premier scholarship, the committee will determine which one you will receive. Listed below are the different scholarships that we award through the generosity of our donors.

The Rev. and Mrs. James P. Alford Scholarships are awarded each year to entering Master of Divinity students who have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above at the undergraduate and/or graduate level, are members of The United Methodist Church, show active involvement in the community, and demonstrate both financial need and commitment to parish ministry. These full-tuition awards may be renewed, provided the recipients continue to meet the criteria for the program. This endowed scholarship program was established by the late John W. and Mary Alford.

The Burton D. Morgan Foundation Scholarships are full-tuition awards made to exceptional students in the addiction counseling track of the Master of Arts in Counseling Ministries (MACM) program, with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher., which needs to be maintained. This scholarship was established by The Burton D. Morgan Foundation of Akron, Ohio.

The Burton D. Morgan Scholarship for Youth Ministry is awarded to students pursuing careers in Youth Ministry through the Master of Divinity or Master of Arts in Christian Education degree programs. The award will be made to a student who has achieved a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 upon entering MTSO. This scholarship is renewable, assuming that the student continues to maintain a GPA of 3.0. The Morgan Scholarship was established by the Burton D. Morgan Foundation of Hudson, Ohio.

The Lawrence and Helen Brooke Scholarship is a full-tuition award made to a student preparing to become an ordained elder and intending to serve town and rural congregations within The United Methodist Church. Helen Brooke and her late husband, Lawrence, established this scholarship fund.

The Gordon Canaday Scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship awarded to a student who would not normally qualify for scholarship aid. Entering students must have a 2.5-2.99 GPA on a 4.00 scale. Demonstrated financial need shall not be a factor. The scholarship is renewable, though the GPA restriction need not apply in renewal years. If no suitable candidate is available in any given year, then the scholarship will not be awarded. This scholarship is made possible by the generosity of Mr. Gordon Canaday.

The Barbara and Michael Cantlin Endowed Scholarship Fund is awarded to persons with exceptional ability, as evidenced by their demonstrated commitment to the church and a minimum GPA from other postsecondary academic work. Applicants must be preparing to spend a lifetime in any number of “vital ministries” of the church, including deacons, Christian educators, chaplains, youth ministers, or ordained clergy. Preference is for United Methodist students, though the scholarship can be awarded to a person from any denomination who closely meets the criteria. This scholarship is made possible by the generosity of Barbara and Michael Cantlin.

The Henry F. and Louise Tuechter Dornette Endowed Scholarship is awarded to an entering full-time Master of Divinity student presenting a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or higher, who is a member of The United Methodist Church and preparing for leadership as a pastor in a congregation. This award provides full-tuition plus a stipend, and may be renewed for up to three years, provided the recipient continues to meet the criteria for the program. This scholarship was funded by the Helen Dornette Trust and continues Helen Dornette’s legacy of supporting scholarships at MTSO.

The Walter and Marian English Scholarships are awarded to entering Master of Divinity or Master of Arts in Christian Education students presenting a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, together with membership in The United Methodist Church and interest or commitment to parish ministry. Recipients should display the unique combination of personal, academic and leadership qualities that are necessary for effective ministry. Applicants must demonstrate gifts and graces for ministry and have an obvious love and commitment to Christ, the church and its ministries, and for people, along with strong letters of recommendation. The recipients must enroll full-time and demonstrate financial need. Graduates of the five United Methodist universities in Ohio will be given preference. These full-tuition awards may be renewed for up to three years, provided the recipients continue to meet the criteria for the program. The late Walter English established this endowed scholarship program of the School through the Columbus Foundation.

The International Student Scholarships are awards based on demonstrated financial need to selected entering students. The International Student Scholarship Fund was established in honor of Bishop Dwight and Mildred Loder.

The MTSO Student Scholarships are awards based on demonstrated financial need to selected entering and continuing students. The MTSO Student Scholarships are available for students of African American, Native American, Hispanic American, Asian American or Pacific Island descent.

The William M. and Libbie E. Gall Scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship awarded to an entering MTSO student, no more than 25 years of age, who plans to be ordained and serve in pastoral ministry. The student must be enrolled in the Master of Divinity program and exhibit evidence of the leadership skills, gifts and graces necessary for strong Christian leadership. He or she should have and maintain at least a 3.5 grade point average. The William M. and Libbie E. Gall Scholarship was established by William M. Gall.

The Gladden Scholarship provides either full or partial tuition support to 1-3 students a year and is renewable. The Gladden Scholarships are awarded to MTSO students who can demonstrate a clear desire to be in ministry to and with disenfranchised members of our society, as an ordained clergy member or local church pastor. These scholarships will be awarded with first priority to members of First Congregational Church in Columbus, then to any member of the United Church of Christ, and finally to any person meeting the primary criterion of being in ministry with disenfranchised members of our society. There is no financial need or academic criteria for this scholarship.

The Honors Scholarships are awarded each year to three entering students who have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above at the undergraduate or graduate level and demonstrate financial need. Named in honor of Frances A. Warner and Raymond and Margarette Bennett, these full-tuition awards are not renewable.

The Huntington Scholarship is awarded to an entering student from the central Ohio area who is enrolled full-time in the Master of Arts in Counseling Ministries program and who demonstrates financial need. The Huntington National Bank established the endowed scholarship fund, recognizing the need for drug and alcohol abuse counselors in the work place. The recipient must be committed to act as a "consultant" to The Huntington National Bank for the year in which the award is made. The $5,000 scholarship is renewable for the one or two years necessary to complete the degree program, provided the recipient continues to meet the criteria stated above.

The Kleist Scholarships are awarded to recent college graduates with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, demonstrated financial need, and leadership ability to prepare for parish ministry as a first career. The scholarships are restricted to students enrolled in the Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Christian Education degree programs. Special consideration is given to ethnic and United Methodist students. These $7,500 scholarships are renewable for up to three years, provided the recipients continue to meet the criteria for the program. This scholarship program is made possible through the generosity of Peter D. and Eleanore Kleist and the Kleist Family Foundation.

The Magee Christian Education Foundation Scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship awarded to a student with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher in the Master of Arts in Counseling Ministries (MACM) program. This scholarship program is made possible through the generosity of the Magee Christian Education Foundation in Lake Junaluska, NC.

The Raymond and Margaret Mason Endowed Scholarship is awarded to a student enrolling in the Master of Divinity program and who exhibits evidence of the leadership skills, gifts and graces necessary for strong Christian ministry. The student should be from the greater Columbus area and shall be preparing for the pastoral ministry as an ordained pastor in his or her own denomination. The recipient of this full-tuition scholarship should demonstrate academic competency and commitment to theological studies and community affairs. The recipient should have and maintain a grade point average of 3.5 and present strong letters of recommendation from their pastor or judicatory leaders. This scholarship was established by the Raymond E. Mason Foundation at The Columbus Foundation.

The Nathaniel H. McCartney Invitational Scholarship is awarded to a United Methodist Church member with a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or higher and who is a certified candidate for ordained ministry in The United Methodist Church. The student must demonstrate the skills necessary for ordained ministry. The McCartney Scholarship is an “invitational” scholarship and recipients must be nominated by a church official. The award is renewable and consists of full-tuition and a book stipend. A housing stipend is awarded for the first year. This scholarship was funded by William, Robert and James McCartney in 1997 in honor of their father.

The Presidential Scholarship is a full-tuition award for entering students based on a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above, commitment to the mission and ministry of the church, membership in The United Methodist Church, and financial need. The scholarship is renewable, provided the recipient continues to meet the criteria for the program. Joe and Margaret (Dolly) Sterling established this endowed scholarship fund at the School.

The Robert V. Rice and Martha K. Rice Endowed Scholarships will be awarded to students in the Master of Divinity program and seeking ordination for pulpit ministry. Recipient should demonstrate the ability to proclaim the Word of God. The Rice Scholarships are renewable for the duration of the student’s full-time enrollment at MTSO. Mr. and Mrs. Rice, of Waldo, Ohio, established the Rice Scholarships through their estate.

The William D. Van Nostran Family Scholarship is a full-tuition award which includes a stipend. Recipients must be students in the Master of Divinity program, members of The United Methodist Church and be preparing for parish ministry in either East or West Ohio Conferences. Recipients must be married, with a spouse and children. A grade point average of 3.0 is required and this scholarship may be renewable up to three years. This scholarship is made possible by the ongoing generosity of Mr. William D. Van Nostran.

The Roy and Amelia Zook Scholarship is awarded to an entering Master of Divinity (with specialization in Christian Education) student presenting a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher, and who demonstrates the gifts and graces for ministry and has an obvious love for the role of Christian Education in proclaiming the love of God to the people. Recipients must be seeking ordination or consecration as a full-time minister and enroll full-time. Meeting all other criteria, any qualified candidates who are members of the Garfield Memorial United Methodist Church, Pepper Pike, Ohio, shall be given preference. This full-tuition award may be renewed for up to three years, provided the recipient continues to meet the criteria for the program. This scholarship program was established by Roy Zook and the late Amelia Zook.

Scholarship Application