Change and Continuity

Daniel and Yusseff

The CFNA Scholarship Program 

The 2020–21 school year is off to a different start for the 21 New American students attending Lutheran schools with help from CFNA scholarships. Fortunately, their schools are open, providing appropriate physical distancing, and offering virtual learning to those concerned about spreading COVID-19 to family members. We feel blessed, after the disruptions last spring, that this program can continue to serve New American students for the fourteenth year with the support of the Lutheran Foundation, schools, congregations, and generous individual donors.

The Executive Board made some changes to the scholarship program this year, which should strengthen the program for the future. The program was expanded to serve preschool and kindergarten children, since reaching children early with academic and social skills, plus the love of Jesus, is particularly critical when the language spoken at home is not English. In addition, the students supported by scholarships must now have the endorsement of a Lutheran pastor, who will help build the “bridge” between New Americans and Lutheran congregations, which is the goal of all CFNA programs. Finally, to increase the involvement of scholarship students and their families with CFNA programming, all scholarship students must now have an endorsement from Stanish Stanley, Executive Director.

Thelma

Because of the high number of graduations last year (3 elementary and 4 high school grads), we were able to add a number of new students to the program, including two Nepalese preschool students at Word of Life, a first-grader at Salem, Black Jack, and a seventh-grader at CCLS. Two New American graduates from the EAGLE College Prep charter school and Compass Christian after-school program at St. John’s Morgan Ford are now enrolled at Lutheran South.

As in the past, all of the schools where these students are enrolled are also providing substantial financial aid to make attendance possible. In addition, a number of faithful supporters of the scholarship program have already made contributions toward matching the goal of $27,500 to obtain the Lutheran Foundation matching grant for 2020–2021. In addition, Concordia Kirkwood continues to provide generous support, not only for students attending CCLS but also for other students needing support. Please consider supporting a scholarship for one of these students by making a contribution to CFNA; every dollar helps us meet our goal.

By Judith Meyer
Facilitator, Scholarship Assistance Ministry