Elsie M. Stouffer
Memorial Trust Scholarship
Elsie M. Stouffer was born November 16, 1902 to Alice Richards Stouffer and Joseph Stouffer in their farm home near
Fostoria, Iowa. Elsie was the youngest of three girls and four boys born to Alice and Joseph. She attended country school
near Fostoria and graduated from Spencer High School. She received a BA degree from Grinnell College and an MA
from Stanford University. Elsie was a Lydia Roberts Fellow at Columbia University. She had planned to do research for
her PhD in South America, but cancelled her plans because of the outbreak of World War II.
Elsie taught high school in Camas, Battle Ground and Kalama, Washington and was principal of the Ketchikan, Alaska
High School from 1941 to 1959.
The summer of 1941, found Elsie working for the US Armed Forces Institute, Alaska Command as Guidance Director.
During the summer of 1942, Elsie worked for the Alaska Spruce Logging Program. This project cut Sitka Spruce trees
and towed them to Seattle where the Boeing Aircraft Company used the wood to manufacture airplane propellers. This
program was soon discontinued with the introduction of metal propellers. She also worked a number of summers for
Libby, McNeill and Libby in their salmon cannery in Ekuk, Alaska.
While Elsie was living in Alaska, the US Land Bureau opened a tract of land of homesteading. Elsie and a friend filed on
adjoining home sites and both built cabins on their lots. Elsie returned to Spencer in 1959 and taught Spanish at Iowa
Lakes Community College in Estherville until she retired in 1962.
Elsie was someone who was friendly and people oriented. She was interested in many things, nature and agriculture being
among them. Elsie was a longtime member of the Fostoria United Methodist Church.
Before her death, Elsie established a trust to be managed by the Northwest District of the United Methodist Church. Half
of the annual net income of the corporation is to be set aside to fund ten (10) scholarships of equal amounts. The
scholarships shall be used to provide educational opportunities for young people who are receptive to Christian principles
and who are seeking advanced education in fields useful to society. The selection of the scholarship recipients shall be
based on the recipients’ moral character and his/her dedication to worthwhile attainment.
Please return this application by March 13, 2015 for consideration for a 2015
-16 Elsie M. Stouffer Scholarship.
2015 ELSIE M. STOUFFER MEMORIAL TRUST
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
PERSONAL
Name _____________________________________________________________________________
Permanent Address___________________________________________________________________
City, State, ZIP, County _______________________________________________________________
Home Phone (___)__________ Birth Date __________________________________
Married or Single____ Are you a citizen of the United States?____ If not, where?__________________
If married, do you have dependent children?______ Indicate ages_______________
Please include a picture of yourself. If you are awarded a scholarship, your picture will be published in the Northwest
District newsletter and on the Northwest District website.
Write about yourself, your home and family, and interests in a way which will give the selection committee the best
picture of you as an individual. Do not include information requested in other sections of this application. (Use an extra
page if necessary).
CHURCH
To what church are you a connected?_________________________________________
In your own words, tell of your participation in church activities from the local church through the district, conference,
and national level. (Use an extra page if necessary).
EDUCATION
Name of college/technical school/ seminary you plan to attend_________________________________
Freshman _____
Sophomore _____
Junior _____
Senior _____
Seminary ______ year
Have you been accepted? _____ Will you be a full time student? _____
GPA ____
ACT/SAT score (requires documentation)_______
VOCATION
For what career are you preparing? How do you feel this career will be useful to society?
ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS
State briefly your extracurricular interests and activities; include any leadership roles you have held.
FINANCIAL NEED
Indicate how you plan to finance your education. If you desire, relate any special circumstances which have a direct
bearing on your need for financial assistance.
REFERENCES
Please include 3 letters of recommendation– including one from your local pastor and one from a community leader.
Letters should speak to student’s overall character and involvement in church and community.
STATEMENT OF APPLICANT AND CO-SIGNERS
We certify that all information given on this application is true, correct and complete to the best of our knowledge.
Applicant ___________________________________________________________________ Date ___________
Parent/Guardian (if under 18)____________________________________________________ Date ___________
Please enclose a current picture of yourself for use on the website and in the district newsletter.
Please return this completed form by March 13, 2015 to:
Northwest District Office UMC
701 Seneca St Ste 2
Storm Lake, Iowa 50588