Lutheran laywomen

The applicant must:

be a citizen of the United States of America.
hold membership in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
be enrolled full time in a undergraduate or graduate program at an accredited college or university.

The applicant can apply as a “mature woman”

be at least 21 years old.
have experienced an interruption in education of two or more years since completion of high school.

Or as a Traditional Age Student

Be under 25 for an undergraduate degree or any age for a graduate degree.
Have not experienced an interruption in education of more than two years since completion of high school.

Additional Scholarship Committee Considerations

Recipient Commitment

Women of the ELCA must be notified in writing of any change in education plans.
Scholarship funds must be used within the academic year of the award.
Scholarship funds must be returned if the educational program is canceled, or if it is terminated by the recipient’s personal decision.
Scholarships funds will be forfeited if the scholarship recipient does not adhere to the timeline set for providing information and documentation needed for awarding funds.
If requested, recipient will be interviewed for Women of the ELCA print and/or electronic media.

Application Process Time Line

February 5

Women of the ELCA begins accepting application.

April 5
All applications must be submitted online on or before this date.

July 1
Scholarship recipients are notified.

Application

The following forms must be mailed directly to Women of the ELCA from the individuals providing the references:

Pastors’ Reference Form (If the pastor is a relative, request a reference from the chairperson or vice-chairperson of the congregation.)
Academic Reference Form (A letter of recommendation from a faculty member who has taught the applicant within the last three years; disregard if out of school more than three years.)
Personal Reference Form (A letter from someone who has knowledge of the applicant’s potential.)