Scholarships
Making Your Mark
Supporting Our Students
Several scholarships are available from St. Paul’s United Methodist Church Foundation due to the generosity of church members who have endowed funds. Their gifts have been given in love, with hope for the future as students are supported in their educational pursuits.
About the Scholarships
St. Paul’s Scholarship is open to students pursuing higher education, providing financial assistance to help them achieve their academic goals. The Leola Clark Scholarship is specifically designated to support students of particular need, honoring a legacy of community investment and empowerment. For those answering a call to ministry, St. Paul’s Seminary Scholarship offers assistance to individuals pursuing theological education. These scholarships reflect the church’s commitment to education, faith, and the future of its community.
What’s Available
Click on the tabs below for information about each scholarship type. Scholarship applications are closed for the 2026–2027 school year. Please check back in early 2027 for next year’s scholarships.
Scholarships Available: several
Scholarship Award Amount: Minimum of $1,000, except where noted otherwise
The application and all supporting documentation must be postmarked or received no later than April 15 each year.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Each applicant must be a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, or a participant in the church’s ministries.
- Each applicant must be pursuing a post-secondary education in an accredited college, university, community college, or vocational or technical school, not including continuing education.
However, programs not meeting the described criteria may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
The scholarship recipients and the amount of the St. Paul’s scholarships will be determined by the Foundation Scholarship Committee, made up entirely of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church members. All applicants, both recipients and those not receiving a scholarship award, will be notified no later than the last Friday in May each year. Payment of all scholarship awards will be made to the educational institution the recipient will be attending.
The St. Paul’s Scholarships originated from a gift to provide scholarship funds to local orphaned children from the estate of Cornelius Arnold, received in the mid-1940s. In subsequent years additional amounts have been added to the original gift and the focus has broadened to support graduating high school students and other people pursuing college or other post-high school education.
The five named scholarships below are also considered for applicants utilizing the St. Paul’s Scholarship Application.
The Fran and Stan Richardson Scholarship is to be awarded annually in the amount of $1,000 and originated with a gift from Fran Richardson. The scholarship has been endowed by a gift from Robert and Pamela Richardson.
The Dr. Mary E. Wilson Scholarship is to be awarded annually in the amount of $1,000 to a person pursuing a degree in education. It was established by her children Alan Wilson and Fred and Karen Wilson in memory of Dr. Wilson, a long-time professor at Kirkwood Community College and an active member of St. Paul’s UMC.
The Robert James (R. J.) and Grace M. Noonan Scholarship is to be awarded annually in the amount of $1,000 to a graduate of Cedar Rapids Washington or Jefferson High Schools and was established by Grace Noonan from gifts in memory of Robert Noonan.
The Joel Hermann Scholarship is to be awarded annually in the amount of $2,500 to a graduate of Kennedy High School. Preference will be given to a student pursuing a degree in education. This endowment was established in 2021 by Edgar and Patricia Hermann in memory of their son.
The Mahlke Family Scholarship is to be awarded annually. The number and amount will be determined by the Foundation Scholarship Committee each year. Preference will be given to students pursuing a degree in engineering. This endowment was established in 2023 by Dave Mahlke in honor of his family, all of whom valued learning and teaching.
Number of Scholarships Available: 1–3
Scholarship Award Amount: Minimum of $1,000 per year. Scholarship is awarded for 4 years upon receipt of proof of enrollment and continued good standing each year following the first.
The Leola Z. Clark Scholarship is a need-based, general scholarship available to any high school senior who is a resident of Linn County. This scholarship originated from a gift from Leola Clark, a long-time member of St. Paul’s UMC.
Mrs. Clark was a pioneer in the insurance business in Cedar Rapids. Circumstances in her early life forced her to leave high school, earn her GED, and enter the workforce. She did so successfully, becoming one of the first female underwriters. She established a scholarship program with our foundation to assist graduates with their college plans. Leola died at the age of 103 in 2009.
The application and all supporting documentation must be postmarked or received no later than April 15 each year.
Eligibility Criteria:
- The applicant must be pursuing a post-secondary education in an accredited college, university, community college, or vocational or technical school, not including continuing education.
- The applicant must live in Linn County and have need based on life circumstances.
- The applicant must be graduating from high school during the current school year.
The scholarship will be awarded by a committee of St. Paul’s UMC members. All applicants, both the recipient and those not receiving a scholarship award, will be notified no later than the last Friday in May. Payment of all scholarship awards will be made to the educational institution the recipient will be attending.
Number of Scholarships Available: 1 or more
Scholarship Award Amount: up to $2,500
The St. Paul’s Seminary Scholarship is designated for seminary study by an individual currently enrolled as a seminary student in a seminary graduate degree program preparing for a full-time career in ministry, missions, or Christian education. This scholarship was originally established in 1993 by the Rev. Wayne and Phyllis Wasta in memory of his parents, Erwin and Louise Wasta, who were long-time members of St. Paul’s Church. In subsequent years, additional amounts have been added to the original gift, which has provided an endowment sufficient to sustain this scholarship.
The application and all supporting documentation must be postmarked or received no later than April 15 each year.
Eligibility Criteria:
The applicant must be:
- A member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa or
- A member of another United Methodist church in the Pictured Rocks District of the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church or
- A member of any other church in the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church or
- A United Methodist member pursuing candidacy through the Iowa Conference.
The seminary being attended must be accredited by the Association of Theological Schools and be recognized by the University Senate of the United Methodist Church as an affiliated or approved graduate theological seminary. The scholarship will be awarded by the Foundation Scholarship Committee, made up entirely of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church members. All applicants, both recipients and those not receiving a scholarship award, will be notified no later than the last Friday in May each year. Payment of all scholarship awards will be made to the educational institution the recipient will be attending.
In addition, the Iowa United Methodist Foundation and the United Methodist Church General Board of Higher Education and Ministry offer a variety of scholarships and loans to students attending United Methodist and other accredited colleges and universities. Some scholarships and loans are reserved for seminary students.