Mary E. Bivins Foundation
Scholarship Policy
Scholarship Purpose:
As stated in the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Mary E. Bivins Foundation the purpose of the
Religious Scholarship Program is to educate ministers to preach the Christian religion. Scholarships are
provided for an upper-level undergraduate or graduate education leading to a Bachelors or Masters
Degree in a field that prepares the student to preach the Christian religion. Priority will be given to
students intending to serve as pulpit pastors upon graduation.
Scholarship Criteria:
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Must be an individual dedicated to seeking an undergraduate or graduate education leading to a
Bachelors or Masters Degree in a field that prepares the student to preach the Christian religion.
Must be classified as a college junior or above by the first semester for which the scholarship
would be effective, unless grandfathered as a current scholarship student applying for the 2010-11
academic year. Official college transcript(s) for all previous work is required.
The degree program selected by the student and an institutional degree plan specifying the
course requirements must be submitted to and approved by the Scholarship Committee as part of
the application process. Dual degrees will not be considered.
Must be committed to studies and maintain a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or above or
a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0 or above. For new scholarship applicants, all previous college
level work completed within the last 5 years will be considered when applying the cumulative GPA
requirement.
Must be a permanent resident of the northernmost 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle and a
citizen of the United States of America. A permanent resident of the Texas Panhandle shall be
defined as an individual who has resided in the northernmost 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle
o for the 12-month period immediately preceding the date of application
o who has been gainfully employed in the northernmost 26-county area for a 12-month
period immediately preceding the date of application,
o or a returning student who has been continuously enrolled in a Bachelors and/or Masters
program
Exceptions to residency criteria will be considered on an individual basis for applicants who have
served in the military or Peace Corps for the 12-month period immediately preceding the date of
application.
Must enroll and pass a minimum of 12 hours each semester at the undergraduate level or 9 hours
each semester at the graduate level with said hours being applicable to the approved degree
program. Exceptions must have approval from the Foundation prior to the scholarship being
awarded.
Must enroll in a college or university that is an accredited institution. An accredited institution is
defined as a school, college or university that has been accredited by a nationally recognized
accrediting agency listed on the U.S. Secretary of Education’s published list. Students transferring
must meet the college junior or above classification requirement detailed within the policy and
have a cumulative college GPA of 2.75 before an award will be considered.
1
Amended and approved b y MEBF Board of Directors 06-30-10
Amended and approved by MEBF Board of Directors 04-29-09
Amended and approved by MEBF Board of Directors 11-30-05
Original approved by MEBF Board of Directors 07-12-01
Scholarship Awards:
Effective for the 2010-2011 academic year, scholarship awards are increased from $2,000 to $2,500 per
semester for those students classified as a junior or senior and increased from $3,000 to $3,500 per
semester for graduate students. Sophomore students will be grandfathered for the fall 2010 semester
and continue to receive $1,000 per semester if all criteria are met, until they ascend to the junior
classification. Scholarship awards are to be used for tuition, books, fees, and other expenses as
necessary for college/university attendance.
Students Attending Institutions with a Quarter or Trimester System:
Effective for the 2010-2011 academic year, a student attending an institution that grants quarter hour
credit rather than semester hour credit should understand that 18 quarter hour credits equals 12 semester
hour credits (2/3 semester hour equal one quarter hour), and should plan their schedule accordingly to
meet enrollment and course completion criteria. If a student has questions regarding this issue, please
contact The Mary E. Bivins Foundation.
Application Process:
The application process will begin in January of each year with scholarships awarded no later than the
end of July of the same year.
Interview Process - New Student, Renewal or Returning Student:
All applicants completing the new student application are required to participate in an interview in person
with the Scholarship Interview Advisory Committee. The Scholarship Interview Advisory Committee will
review all new student applications that meet criteria and complete interviews with each new student
applicant. Any student renewing an application or a student who has been a Bivins Scholar recipient in
the past and is reapplying and who has not been interviewed by the committee is also required to
interview in person with the Scholarship Interview Advisory Committee. Interviews and subsequent
recommendations from the Scholarship Interview Advisory Committee are to be presented to the Grants
and Scholarship Committee for consideration in formulating final recommendations to the Mary E. Bivins
Foundation Board of Directors.
The Scholarship Interview Advisory Committee will be comprised of no more than five (5) area ministers
representing different Christian denominations including an independent and/or nondenominational
minister. The Scholarship Interview Advisory Committee is to be annually appointed by the Mary E.
Bivins Foundation Board of Directors from recommendations made by the Grants and Scholarship
Committee.
2
Amended and approved b y MEBF Board of Directors 06-30-10
Amended and approved by MEBF Board of Directors 04-29-09
Amended and approved by MEBF Board of Directors 11-30-05
Original approved by MEBF Board of Directors 07-12-01