Emma Norton

APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE to the recipients of this year's Emma Norton Scholarships.  Each of the following recipients have met the criteria and will be awarded a scholarship of about $488:

 

1.      Bonnie Buckley, Eden Prairie, MN.  Bonnie has a BA in Speech from MI State Univ. in E. Lansing, MI & a M. Ed in Family Education from the U of MN, Mpls.  She is currently attending Candler Seminary at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, and is working toward a M.Div. degree. Her home church is Good Samaritan UMC in Edina, MN.

2.      Jen Johnson, Minneapolis, MN.  Jen has a BS in recreation from Iowa State Univ., Ames, Iowa & is currently enrolled on a part-time basis at United Theological seminary, New Brighton.  Jen is working toward a M.Div. from UTS.  Jen's home church is Lake Harriet UMC in Minneapolis, MN.

3.      Erica Jo Koser, Mankato, MN. Erica received a BA in Nursing from Concordia College, Moorhead, MN, & is currently attending Luther Seminary in St. Paul,  working toward a Master's Degree in Children, Youth and Family Ministries.  Erica's church home is Centenary UMC in Mankato, MN.

4.      Carissa Lick, Evanston, Illinois. Carissa has a BA in Religion from Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN & is currently attending Garrett Seminary in Chicago, working toward a M.Div. degree. Carissa's home church is Wells UMC, Wells, MN & her church home while in seminary is First UMC, Evanston, Il.

5.      Dianna Merriman, Ramsey, MN.  Dianna has a BFA in Music from the U of AZ, Tucson & is currently attending Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, MN where she is working toward a M. Div.. Her home church is Elk River UMC.

WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF THE EMMA NORTON SCHOLARSHIP MONEY?  The scholarship money comes from Emma Norton herself.  Concerned about the struggles of women to obtain an education in the early 1900s, Emma Norton gave $25,000 in stocks and bonds to the Women's Home Missionary Society.  Her stipulation with this generous gift in 1912 was that the money was to remain intact and that each year half of the interest would be used for scholarships for women going into full-time Christian vocations.  The other half of the interest would be used for a national mission.  Emma Norton Services is the recipient of the 2011 national mission award.

The stock account has grown since 1912 and hundreds of scholarships have been awarded over the years.  The fund is managed by the Women's Division of the General Board of Global Ministries.  The designated fund committee of the MN Conference United Methodist Women manages the distribution of the interest, including the national mission and the scholarships.

CONGRATULATIONS to these five outstanding women in ministry.

Faye Christensen, Chair, Emma Norton Distribution Fund Committee, MN Conference UMW