The Wurffel-Sills Scholarship & Interest-Free Student Loan Program is a combination of two memorial funds - The Karl, John, Elizabeth Wurffel Memorial Fund and The Allie L. Sills Memorial Fund - established to assist students with demonstrated financial need with their higher educational goals. Since 1991, the Synod of the Northeast has assisted over 1,000 students with an interest-free student loan, scholarship, or both.

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must be a member of any Presbyterian Church (USA) within the Synod of the Northeast. The application is open to full-time undergraduate students, full-time or part-time (at least half-time) students enrolled in seminary studies leading to a Master of Divinity (MDiv) or Master of Religious Education (MRE), and students enrolled in a seminary study program to fulfill Commissioned Pastor/Commissioned Ruling Elder (CRE) certification requirements. Students taking non-credit courses and graduate studies (other than MDiv, MRE, or CRE certification) are not eligible to apply.

HOW TO APPLY

Each year the application process begins in January with a deadline of April 30th. To apply for undergraduate or seminary assistance, please complete the online application using the link at the bottom of the page. Please be prepared to provide the following where required:

Proof of Church Membership (Third-Party Request)
Proof of Inquirer Status from CPM Chairperson (Third-Party Request If Applicable)
Proof of School Status and Tuition/Financial Aid (Third-Party Request)
Personal Essay (Input Text in Space Provided or it can be attached)
Previous Year’s Federal Filed Tax Returns Form 1040 (Add as an attachment) Example of Form 1040

REVIEW PROCESS & AWARDS

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.