Everence honors scholarship recipients

Micah Musser picked up litter along the road when he was a boy, but not by choice. It was his father’s idea.

Micah, the top Everence college scholarship winner for the 2015-2016 academic year, is from Newmanstown, Pennsylvania. He plans to use the $2,000 award to help with his education at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

Everence asks scholarship applicants to answer an essay question about someone who modeled the concept of stewardship in their lives.

Micah wrote about some of the lessons his dad taught him. When Micah, his brothers and his father went on walks, his dad “insisted that we carry bags to collect any litter we found.”

He added, “In everything, my father modeled the characteristics of fiscal responsibility and constant generosity and expected the same from us.”

Micah said he plans to study law and then work for the Department of Justice in prosecuting people who unlawfully gain their money at the expense of others.

Danae Dubberke, a $1,000 scholarship winner from Fresno, California, wrote about her grandfather, Dieter, who came to the U.S. from Germany as an orphan and built several thriving businesses through hard work and determination.

“His desire to live within his means and save money led to the creation of many successful businesses, investments and properties,” Danae said. “Through my grandpa, I learned the value of saving money, working hard, and taking reasonable risks.” Danae attends California State University Fresno.

Mark Kreider, our other $1,000 scholarship winner, is from North Newton, Kansas, and a student at Goshen College (Indiana). Mark wrote about his grandparents, who saved money to support a portion of each grandchild’s education.

“At Christmas, instead of giving material gifts to the family, my grandparents give monetary gifts to Mennonite Central Committee in the name of each family member,” Mark said. “The money is then used to promote peace and justice worldwide, reminding us of the reason we celebrate the good news of Jesus’ birth.”

In addition to these three national scholarship recipients, Everence is awarding $750 scholarships to 39 regional winners for 2015-2016.