Westminster Presbyterian Church Establishes Endowed Scholarship at Macalester

St. Paul, Minn. – Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis, Minn., has established a $350,000 endowed scholarship at Macalester College.  The scholarship will support a qualified Macalester student who is a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church.

“Our relationship with Westminster Presbyterian Church has been a long and historic one dating back to the 1880s,” said Macalester President Brian Rosenberg.  “Their gift of this endowed scholarship underscores the importance of our joint commitment to excellent higher education in and for an age that is increasingly multicultural and global as we continue our connection long into the future.”

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and Macalester College freely covenant together to support educational opportunities for all people that lead to their growth in scholarship, faithfulness in character, and preparation to serve the common good.  In 1880, the Presbyterian Synod of Minnesota adopted Macalester College, and today, several dimensions of the college’s life remain deeply influenced by this relationship. The strong connection is also maintained by the many current Macalester students, families, and alumni who are counted among the Westminster congregation.

One of the most meaningful examples of the shared values is Macalester’s Lilly Project for Vocation and Ethical Leadership and its internship program.  The Lilly Project supports 10 Macalester students as they work for the broader good through engaging in community projects and research in line with their vocation. In each of the last five years, Macalester and Westminster have collaborated to create an internship at Westminster for a student considering church ministry as a vocation.

Dating back to the 1880s, many Westminster pastors have served on Macalester’s Board of Trustees, providing invaluable leadership and guidance for the college. Among those was Arnold Lowe, who for ten years chaired the college’s Board. Current trustee Timothy Hart-Andersen is the most recent Westminster pastor to share in that long legacy. He now serves as Vice Chair and previously served as Chair of the Board.

“Through the creation of the Westminster-Macalester scholarship, a deserving student will be afforded the chance to obtain a world-class education at an institution that matches his or her congregation’s values,” said Hart-Andersen. “Supporting Westminster students through a scholarship is a pledge for their future and a commitment to the relationship between Macalester and Westminster for generations to come. We are delighted to initiate this new dimension to the historic relationship between Westminster and Macalester.”

Macalester College, founded in 1874, is a national liberal arts college with a full-time enrollment of 1,958 students. Macalester is nationally recognized for its long-standing commitment to academic excellence, internationalism, multiculturalism and civic engagement.  Learn more at macalester.edu