AGTrust awards $100,000 in college scholarships
college scholarships, Miguel Guerrerio
(Springfield, Missouri) and Elisabeth
Kilsdonk (Baker, Montana).
By: Christy Rowden and Dan Kersten
A key focus of the Assemblies of God Trust (AGTrust) and the Alliance for Assemblies of God Higher Education is to strategically raise funds in support of AG higher education and thus invest in the next generation of young leaders.
The overwhelming generosity of AGTrust charter members has made it possible for 10 students to receive sizeable scholarships totaling $100,000 to AG colleges for the 2009-2010 school year. In Tuesday’s service, General Superintendent George O. Wood honored these outstanding scholars with the first Ralph Riggs Scholarships, named after former General Superintendent Ralph Riggs.
The top two awardees, Elisabeth Kilsdonk and Miguel Guerreiro, will receive the $30,000 General Superintendent’s Scholarship to be distributed among their four years at an AG school, and the eight runners-up will receive the $5,000 Riggs Scholarship for their first year at an AG school.
“The joy of seeing our Fellowship award $100,000 worth of scholarships to 10 of its young people is unparalleled,” says Wood. “These young people are our future. I am very thankful to both the AGTrust and the Alliance for Higher Education for helping us invest in them. In my view, this definitely ranks in the top highlights of the past two years.”
The 2009-2010 recipients are as follows:
General Superintendent’s Scholarship $30,000
- Elisabeth Kilsdonk (Baker, Montana)
- Miguel Guerreiro (Springfield, Missouri)
Other Riggs Scholarships
$5,000
- Colin Knoth (Springfield, Missouri)
- Heidee Kolenda (Menominee, Michigan)
- Melia McDonald (Fairbanks, Alaska)
- John Mowery (Salunga, Pennsylvania)
- Courtney Preston (Mustang, Oklahoma)
- Krista Sachen (Brookings, South Dakota)
- Krager Tomes (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
- Desiree Vogt (Tribune, Kansas)
All Riggs applicants had to possess at least a 3.5 cumulative non-weighted GPA, be involved in an AG church and plan to attend an endorsed AG college directly following high school.
In just its first year, close to 90 applications were received, and final decisions were made based on a wide range of criteria including academic record, test scores, extracurricular involvement, Christian life, Christian service, financial need, personal essay and references.
For those high school seniors who plan to attend an AG college in fall of 2010, Ralph Riggs Scholarship applications will be available online at www.agtrust.org on November 1, 2009, and are due by February 15, 2010. To invest in the lives of students by becoming a member of AGTrust, go online at www.agtrust.org.