Apply for Wurffel-Sills Student Aid

The Wurffel-Sills Scholarship and Interest-Free Student Loan program at the Synod of the Northeast was established from a combination of two memorial funds—The Karl, John, Elizabeth Wurffel Memorial Fund and The Allie L. Sills Memorial Fund. The core purpose of the fund is to assist students with demonstrated financial need in their higher education goals within the guidelines of the funding policy. Since 1991, through this fund, the Synod of the Northeast has assisted over 1,000 students with scholarships and interest-free loans.

All members of any presbyterian church within the bounds of the Synod of the Northeast are eligible to apply. Students must be full-time undergraduates, full, part or at least half-time seminary students. Seminary students must be enrolled in Master of Divinity (MDiv), Master of Religious Education (MRE), or Commissioned Pastor/Ruling Elder (CRE) study programs.

Within the application, there are several places where a “third party” is required to provide information on your behalf. When required, please be prepared to provide a direct email address for your contact person. It’s helpful to reach out to your contact person in advance to make them aware that an email will be sent from the Synod of the Northeast asking for their participation. Please be mindful of your contact person’s time and provide them with enough time to complete the questionnaire by the April 30, 2025, deadline. Third party responses are required for proof of church membership, proof of Inquirer status (if applicable), and proof of tuition costs.

Since this is a financial need-based funding program, proof of household income is required. If you are a dependent of a parent(s) or legal guardian(s), meaning they will claim you on their taxes, you will provide a copy of their previous year’s filed taxes. If you are independent (single or married), you will provide a copy of your personal filed taxes. For example, as we are accepting applications for the 2025-2026 school year, a copy of your (or your parent’s or legal guardian’s) 2024 filed taxes (Form 1040 – first two pages only) is the requirement. Space to attach this document is provided in the application.

The final portion of the application is the essay. Since we will not have an opportunity to meet you in person, it is very important for you to “introduce” yourself to the review committee through your essay. All applicants are required to provide an essay to tell the application review committee about yourself, any financial hardships you may be facing, your interests, why you are choosing your career path, your church community involvement, and your faith journey. This is the best way to highlight who you are and how your faith has shaped you and your future goals. Space is provided to enter your essay or to include as an attachment.

All completed applications are reviewed by a committee in the spring. The award amounts vary based on the funds available and the number of applicants. The committee’s goal is to offer the most assistance to as many applicants as possible with either a scholarship, an interest-free student loan, or, in some cases, both. All applicants will be notified when their completed application is received. Notice of any award offered will be received shortly after applications are reviewed by the committee. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

To begin your application, go to our website: www.synodne.org and choose “Wurffel-Sills Student Aid” from the Grants tab. After you read through the information, click the green “Apply Here Now” button. This will bring you to our grants management site. If you are a first-time applicant, you will be asked to create a profile. If you are a returning applicant, you will use your previously created login information and password.

For questions, please contact Stacy Galloway in the Synod office at (315)446-5990 or by email at Stacy.Galloway@synodneorg.