Esther Hare Speaks for Women's Scholarship
Annual Homecoming event raises funds for female scholars
Esther Hare, daughter-in-law of Eric B. Hare, speaks at the 2015 Women’s Scholarship brunch during Alumni Homecoming in September. (Photo by Brian Tagalog.)
The Andrews University Women’s Scholarship Committee had its 24th WSC Brunch on Friday, Sept. 25, with more than 80 attendees.
“The brunch is intended to introduce people to the work of the committee, which exists to help raise funds for female students who study at Andrews,” says committee member Patricia Spangler, editorial manager for the Division of Integrated Marketing & Communication at Andrews University.
The program theme centered on missions, with Esther Borrowdale Hare as guest speaker. Hare is the widow of Leonard Hare and the daughter-in-law of one of Adventism’s most notable missionaries, Eric B. Hare. Her presentation was titled “From Missionary Kid to Missionary Adult: My Life as a Missionary.” The committee chose the theme because of the importance of missions to the Adventist Church—the Sabbath School lessons were on missionaries this quarter and this year is the centennial of the year Eric B. Hare and his wife, Agnes, began medical and gospel work among the Karen people of Burma.
“Mrs. Hare told the guests delightful stories about growing up a missionary kid and then becoming a missionary herself as a newlywed,” says committee member Meredith Jones Gray, chair of the Department of English. “She led off with a tale about the challenges of hosting and feeding ‘the brethren’ who came to visit their mission station when she and her husband were located in a remote area. Mrs. Hare is an outstanding example of the many women who have made significant contributions to the church.”
In regard to the food, the program and the fellowship, many attendees commented that it was “the best brunch ever.” This annual event at Alumni Homecoming provides donors the opportunity to meet the recipients of the current year’s scholarships, to fellowship together and to provide direct feedback to committee officers. It is also the time when most of the donations to the committee scholarships come in.
“The Mission Statement of the Women’s Scholarship Committee is to assist qualified female students at Andrews University to achieve their educational dreams by providing financial assistance through endowed scholarships,” says chair of the WSC Demetra Andreasen. “Thus they can be helpful Christian citizens who can change the world.”
“When the Andreasens came, the WSC voted to ask Demetra to be its new chair, and she has proven to be an able and inspiring leader,” says Stella Greig, executive secretary of the WSC.
The 2015 WSC consists of Demetra Andreasen, chair; Stella Greig, executive secretary; Madeline S. Johnston, recording secretary; Lisa Ahlberg; Lorena Bidwell; Donna Habenicht; Meredith Jones Gray; Laura Malcolm and Patricia Spangler.
The WSC puts an announcement in the Andrews Agenda in January or early February calling for scholarship applications for the next school year, providing directions and deadlines. The completed application must be submitted, along with two letters of recommendation, by the date and to the place designated in the announcement.
During the past 24 years, the WSC has given out close to 300 scholarships, totaling almost $300,000. Presently, the committee has seven endowed scholarships and two in the process of endowment.
If you wish to contribute to a Women’s Scholarship Fund, visit andrews.edu/go/give for a list of endowed scholarships. You may also donate by check (payable to Andrews University); on the memo line write the name of the scholarship fund you want to contribute to or write WSC scholarship and the committee will put it in the fund most in need.
For more information email Stella Greigs at greigs@andrews.edu.
