Amish Descendant Scholarship: Paving the Way to Higher Education

For individuals emerging from Plain Anabaptist communities, the path to higher education can be fraught with unique challenges. The Amish Descendant Scholarship Fund (ADSFund) steps in to bridge this gap, providing crucial financial assistance and support to those who dare to pursue their academic aspirations.

The Amish Descendant Scholarship Fund: A Beacon of Hope

The Amish Descendant Scholarship Fund (ADSF) was founded by a committed group of former Amish individuals. They understand challenges faced by those who leave the community to pursue higher education, since the Amish only study to the eighth grade. ADSF's goal is to offer a helping hand by providing financial assistance and support.

Eligibility Criteria

The scholarship primarily targets individuals who:

Left a Plain Anabaptist community, with a family that is still Plain.
Navigated the challenges of enrolling in a college or university with only the eighth-grade education of their childhood.
Grew up Amish or Plain.

If you can answer "yes" to these questions, you are likely eligible for a scholarship from the Amish Descendant Scholarship Fund.

Award Details

Each year, the ADSF has a set amount of funds available and evaluate each applicant. Those who meet the criteria are awarded a scholarship. Award amounts vary depending on several factors, including demonstrated need.

Read also: Amish Tradition

Mentorship Program

Recognizing the unique challenges faced by students transitioning from a Plain Anabaptist background to higher education, the ADSF also offers a mentorship program. This program pairs students with mentors who have navigated similar paths, offering guidance, support, and a sense of community.

Are you hoping to start a college education but are unsure where to begin, or are you already enrolled and looking for support and guidance? If so, please apply for our mentorship program.

The Lonely Road and the "Stand-in Family"

Another part of the discussion centered around the lonely road from an eighth-grade education to college, which is where the idea came from to create a “stand-in family” for those who are going to college. The ADSF recognizes the importance of community and belonging, especially for students who may feel isolated due to their unique background. The mentorship program aims to create a "stand-in family" for these students, providing a support system that understands their experiences and challenges.

Those who apply for our scholarships have taken the difficult path of finding their way to college with a limited childhood education, which means they are a determined and dedicated group of students.

A Call to Action

The ADSF relies on the generosity of donors and volunteers to continue its vital work. Individuals can contribute financially, volunteer their time, or become mentors to aspiring students.

Our goal is to give every eligible applicant a scholarship to help them along their way.

How to Contribute

Financial Donations: Consider making a contribution to the ADSF to help provide scholarships for deserving students.
Volunteer Your Time: Assist with fundraising, administrative tasks, or writing blog posts to support the ADSF's mission.
Become a Mentor: Share your experiences and provide guidance to students navigating the challenges of higher education.

Will you consider making a contribution? Do you know the difficult journey to college with only an eighth-grade education in your childhood? Would you like to become a mentor to an aspiring or current student? We need volunteers to help support those who dream of earning a higher education. This can include helping to raise funds to writing blog posts to small administrative tasks.

Spreading the Word

Help the ADSF reach more students by sharing information about the scholarship and mentorship programs with your network.

Let’s make this happen by spreading the word. Please share a link to this post as far and wide as you like. And thanks to Naomi and Emma for founding the Amish Descendant Scholarship Fund and helping students find their way through college.

Additional Scholarship Opportunities

While the Amish Descendant Scholarship Fund is a valuable resource for students from Plain Anabaptist backgrounds, numerous other scholarship opportunities exist for students with diverse backgrounds and interests. A few examples of additional scholarship opportunities are listed below.

Read also: Crafting Perfect Thank You Notes

General Scholarship Resources

ScholarshipOwl: This platform helps students get matched to scholarships and increase their odds of earning awards.
Fast Web: An online scholarship search engine with a vast database of scholarships, fellowships, and grants.
College Board: A non-profit organization that provides resources for college planning, recruitment, admissions, and financial aid.

Specific Scholarship Programs

BDPA Scholarship: Open to graduating high school seniors and current college students who are BDPA members.
Scholarships for Students with Hemophilia or Von Wilebrand Disease: Specifically for students clinically diagnosed with these conditions.
HBCU Scholarships: For incoming college freshmen attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
STEM Scholarships: For undergraduate students majoring in a STEM field of study.
Scholarships for African American/Black Females: For students enrolled full-time as college juniors at accredited four-year HBCUs.
Scholarships for Students Improving Community Health and Wellness: For college freshmen, sophomores, and juniors working to improve community health.
Scholarships for Law Students or Students with Victim Advocacy Experience: For students with experience serving domestic violence survivors.
Scholarships for Students Involved in Community Service: For undergraduate and graduate students demonstrating active community involvement and leadership.

Ohio-Specific Scholarships

Ohio National Guard Scholarship Program (ONGSP): Available to current and former members of the Ohio Army & Air National Guard.
GEAR UP Ohio Scholarship: Designed to help low-income and first-generation college students in Ohio.
Ohio Safety Officers College Memorial Fund Program: Provides tuition assistance to family members of safety officers killed in the line of duty.
Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation Scholarships: Awarded to students pursuing careers in agriculture in Ohio.
Ohio Gas Association Scholarship: Targets Ohio residents pursuing careers in the crude oil and natural gas industry.
Ohio Reach Scholarship: A renewable award for students who have been in the custody of a public children service agency.
Florence Allen Scholarships: Awarded annually to provide Ohio women with the opportunity to achieve their full potential through education.

Crawford County Scholarships

Charles F. High Scholarship: For male residents of Bucyrus, Ohio and vicinity attending The Ohio State University.
Grace High Washburn Trust Scholarship: For female residents of Bucyrus, Ohio and vicinity attending The Ohio State University.
Crawford County Farm Bureau Scholarships: Supports the education of Crawford County high school graduates.
Crawford Success Center Scholarships: Provided to regularly enrolled students at the Crawford Success Center.
Ohio Mutual Crawford Opportunity Award: Offered to individuals in Crawford County pursuing fields aligned with the insurance industry.

Tips for Scholarship Applications

Start Early: Don't wait until the last minute to begin your application.
Be Mindful of Deadlines: Pay close attention to application deadlines and submit all materials on time.
Apply Even If You Don't Meet All Preferences: A preference is NOT a requirement. Don't hesitate to apply, even if you don't meet every listed preference.
Fill out the FAFSA: Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine your eligibility for financial aid.
Use Your Scholarship Lists as One of the Resources you use to look for scholarships.
Follow blogs to be notified when new articles are published.

Success Stories: Naomi Kramer Yoder and Emma Miller

Naomi Kramer Yoder and Emma Miller are two inspiring individuals who have successfully navigated the path from a Plain Anabaptist background to higher education. Their stories exemplify the transformative power of education and the importance of support systems like the ADSF.

Naomi Kramer Yoder: A mother of four with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Goshen College. She has been a nurse for 12 years and is currently a nurse at a birthing center.
Emma Miller: Holds a Bachelors Degree in Economics from San Diego State, and a MSc in Economics from London Metropolitan.

tags: #Amish #descendant #scholarship #eligibility