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Awarded by the Charles B. Keesee Educational Fund, New Grant Named in Memory of 50-year Employee

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.鈥擜 海角网 student pursuing her Master of Divinity in Christian Education is the recipient of the first Vernie W. Lewis Scholarship from the Charles B. Keesee Educational Fund Inc. Avery L. Woods, also a 2020 alumna of GWU with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in discipleship studies, is the youth coordinator at Hope Community Church (HCC) in Shelby, N.C.

鈥淲hen I first found out about receiving the scholarship, I was so overjoyed and grateful,鈥� Woods shared. 鈥淒ivinity school was not a part of my plan for myself but something I felt God was leading me to step into; this scholarship affirms that.鈥�

Woods explained that she hadn鈥檛 considered going into the ministry as a vocation. Then, as she took on a volunteer role that led to a seven-week internship at HCC, she discovered, 鈥淕od had different plans.鈥�

She continued, 鈥淓very day, I get to point people to a hope that can only be found in Jesus! Probably one of my favorite parts of ministry is equipping people to be disciples who make disciples鈥攄eveloping leaders and then watching them step into their God-given calling.鈥�

Woods represents who the Keesee Foundation wanted to help by establishing the award. 鈥淰ernie W. Lewis was always interested in helping women who were going into ministry,鈥� noted the Foundation鈥檚 Vice President Doug Ramsey. 鈥淪he appreciated those who were willing to work hard to achieve their goals in life.鈥�

Lewis had been employed by the Keesee Fund for 50 years, most recently as the secretary-

treasurer. She passed away in September 2020. 鈥淭he Keesee Fund wanted to recognize her in an appropriate way, so the Trustees decided to award a scholarship in her memory,鈥� Ramsey explained. 鈥淎ccording to the guidelines the recipient of the scholarship must maintain a high GPA, and be planning on going into the paid Baptist ministry.鈥�

Ramsey also stated that the Board stipulated the Vernie W. Lewis Scholarship would be the largest individual grant awarded by the organization each year. This year鈥檚 amount, $9,500, was awarded to Woods and two other recipients at Campbell Divinity School and the Baptist House at Duke Divinity. They chose these schools, because Lewis had a close working relationship with them and their financial aid staff. Further, the Foundation hopes to award the Lewis Scholarship each year to students at these three schools.

The Keesee Fund was established in 1941 by Charles B. Keesee. He and his wife, Olivia Helms Simmons, had no children of their own and desired to help worthy young men and women obtain an education at Baptist institutions. Charles provided in his will for the establishment of an educational fund, and when Olivia died in 1944, she left the major part of her estate to the Fund. Since its inception, the Fund has assisted thousands of qualified students going into the Baptist ministry or religious work in the Baptist denomination.

Note to our readers: This article reflects the University’s tuition and fee schedule at the time of publication. Tuition and financial aid policies change annually. For the most up-to-date and accurate information on current tuition rates and financial aid resources, please visit the University鈥檚 official Admissions聽page.

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