Twelve Metro-East high school graduates are receiving a financial boost for college after receiving New Life in Christ Church scholarships that totaled to $25,700. The awards were presented during the Celebration of Education baccalaureate service held on Sunday, May 25.
The O’Fallon, Ill. church has provided $405,000 in scholarships to 210 college bound students throughout the St. Louis region in Illinois and Missouri since it was founded in 2003.
The annual Celebration of Education event recognizes New Life in Christ members who are graduating from high school, college, and graduate school as well as those transitioning from elementary and middle school levels.
“For many students who will be heading to college this fall, there are uncertainties surrounding whether they’ll have access to federal student loans and grants due to on-going program changes at the U.S. Department of Education,” said New Life Senior Pastor Bishop Geoffrey V. Dudley, Sr., PhD.
“We hope the New Life scholarships will provide the financial foundation needed for students to pursue their academic dreams.”
Scholarship recipients are chosen based on their high academic achievement and their ability to demonstrate a love for serving others as well as their communities.
Those receiving the highest scores are awarded scholarships which have a monetary range of $1,000 to $4,500.
Also, during the program, the church recognized two students posthumously – Khloé Tucker and Jermel Ware.
Tucker attended Shiloh Middle School in Shiloh, Ill. and Ware attended West Jr. High School in Belleville, Ill. Both would have transitioned from eighth grade to attend high school this fall.