The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) awarded more than $3.7 million in scholarships to 1,895 United Methodist students in 2024, including 16 in the Arkansas Conference of the UMC receiving a total of $29,350. Students range from first-year to doctorate-level across the denomination.
Arkansas Conference recipients include Grace Jones, Jefferson Carter, Quin Clark, Andrew Dillman, Alexandria Ellis, Elizabeth Emis, Jamie Mckuin, Elisabeth Meadows, Madison Pennington, Grace Rogers, Julia Staggs, and Bryce Terry.
“Thank you for the honor of receiving the Rev. Dr. Karen Layman Gift of Hope Scholarship. I hope to continue to pursue leadership within the United Methodist Church as laity. Also, I know I will be less burdened by financial worries thanks to this generous scholarship. Lastly, thank you to the scholarship committee and donors for their dedication to the education of Methodist youths across the globe!” – Grace Jones, scholarship recipient at the University of Arkansas. Grace’s home church is Beebe First UMC, and her membership is currently at Central UMC in Fayetteville. She served as YSF Chair on ACCYM from 2021-2023. Currently, she is serving as the Student Ministry assistant at the University of Arkansas Wesley Foundation.