Posted by William Nunnelley on 2008-01-22

Samford University will hold its first Preministerial Scholars Day Saturday, Feb. 2. About 30 high school seniors interested in preparing for the ministry and their parents will attend to learn more about Samford preministerial programs and scholarships.

The students will interview for scholarships and hear talks by Dr. Fisher Humphreys, professor of theology in Samford's Beeson Divinity School, and Dr. James Barnette, Samford associate professor of religion and director of ministerial formation.

Samford will award preministerial scholarships of varying amounts to incoming freshmen committed to studying for the ministry. Some scholarships could range as high as $16,000 a year in value.

Recipients must demonstrate "a clear calling to full-time ministry in a traditional, church-related position, as well as high academic standards and giftedness and competence in areas demanded by church-related ministries," said Dr. Barnette. Scholarship recipients will be notified by March 1.

The program began in 2007 when eight Samford undergraduate students were awarded the first preministerial scholarships. The program now will be open only to incoming freshmen.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.