Merit Award Guidelines

Deadline for Application: March 1, 2008

The Virginia Conference Merit Awards arc administered through the Annual Conference by the Conference Board of Higher Education Ministries and the Conference Council on Youth Ministries. Funded by a rebate to the Conference Board of Higher Education Ministries, through its Office of Loans and Scholarships, the awards are designated for United Methodist students who plan to attend United Methodist colleges or universities. Each year the Annual Conference is able to make available for scholarships 10% of the previous year's United Methodist Student Day Offering (20% if the Conference Student Day Offering is over $40,000). Our Conference Board of Higher Education Ministries dispenses the conference Merit Awards in accordance with the following guidelines:

GUIDELINES FOR THE VIRGINIA CONFERENCE MERIT A WARD PROGRAM  

1. The awards are given to United Methodist students who will be attending colleges and universities recognized as United Methodist by the University Senate. These institutions need not be within the bounds of the Virginia Conference.  
2. The awards are given for 'merit' and awarded to students who have made outstanding contributions in one or more of the following areas:
   A. their local church and community,
   B. their local church and district, or
   C. their local church and conference.  
3. Students are nominated by their local church or their District Council on Youth Ministries (or, in districts which have no functioning youth council, a District Council on Ministries). A local church or district may not nominate more than one student annually.  
4. To be complete, local church nominations must include:
   A. A completed local church nomination form, including a written statement explaining why the nominee merits this special recognition.
   B. A form, filled out by the nominee, which includes a full list of service to his or her local church, community, district, and/or conference.
   C. Letters of recommendation from the nominee's pastor, and one other adult who is familiar with the student's character and service.
   D. A recent photograph suitable for publishing.  
5. To be complete, district nominations must include:
   A. A completed district nomination form, including a written statement explaining why the nominee merits this special recognition. (Please have District Superintendent sign form.)
   B. A form, filled out by the nominee, which includes a full list of service to his or her local church, community, district and/or conference.
   C. Letters of recommendation from the nominee's pastor, and from one other adult who is familiar with the student's character and service.
   D. A recent photograph suitable for publishing.  
6. Awards range from $700 to $850 and are made on the basis of an academic year. They shall be made to the student as part of that student's or his/her parent's contribution to the cost of education.  
7. One person should be assigned the responsibility of ensuring that all materials are completed and returned to the Merit Award Committee, c/0 Raymond H. Edmonds Jr., Director of Higher Education, 10330 Staples Mill Road, P. O. Box 1719, Glen Allen, VA 23060 by March 1, 2008.