ELCA NEWS SERVICE September 4, 2003 Scholarships Awarded To International Students Attending Lutheran Colleges 03-165-JB CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) awarded scholarships of $1,500 each to 16 international students attending ELCA colleges and universities. The scholarships, from the Phoebe Herman Scholarship Endowment Fund, were awarded through the ELCA Division for Higher Education and Schools (DHES). Phoebe Herman was an active Lutheran who lived in Selinsgrove, Pa.. Upon her death she left most of her estate to the ELCA Foundation, with a third of the proceeds to be used for scholarships for "worthy and needy" students of any Lutheran college in the United States, said Arne Selbyg, director for colleges and universities, DHES. The ELCA Foundation maintains the fund. "Each year our colleges nominate many students who are in desperate need of funds, and it is really difficult to make choices," Selbyg said. "We have given highest priority to students who do not qualify for regular financial aid, such as students from countries who would be unable to attend our colleges without such support." The establishment of the Phoebe Herman Fund is one example of how Lutherans can leave a gift that will have long-lasting meaning for future generations, said the Rev. Donald M. Hallberg, executive director, ELCA Foundation. "Phoebe Herman left a legacy in establishing an endowed scholarship program through the ELCA Foundation that annually supports students at the 28 ELCA colleges and universities," he said. "As we celebrate this year's scholarships we are reminded that we too, can leave a legacy for our favorite ministries." The 2003 grants were awarded to: + Yury Bahdanionak, Belarus, attending Augsburg College, Minneapolis + A-me Li, Thailand, Augustana College, Rock Island, Ill. + Dan Rizk, Lebanon, Augustana College, Sioux Falls, S.D. + Konah Harris, Liberia, Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kan. + Kisumbo Mdegella, Tanzania, California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, Calif. + Nahla Gomaa, Egypt, Capital University, Columbus, Ohio + Liliana Herakova, Bulgaria, Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. + Trang Thu Le, Vietnam, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pa. + Amit Bohara, Nepal, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn. + Cassie Benoit, The Bahamas, Lenoir-Rhyne College, Hickory, N.C. + Chipo Chikara, Zimbabwe, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Wash. + Ebele Chizea, Nigeria, Thiel College, Greenville, Pa. + Samuel Smith, Liberia, Waldorf College, Forest City, Iowa + Linh Kieu, Vietnam, Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa + Isaac Boye-Arthur, Ghana, Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio -- -- -- Information about ELCA colleges and universities can be found at http://www.elca.org/dhes on the ELCA Web site. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news