The Sunnyside Ministry College Scholarship Program

When asked what inspired her, Mother Teresa once said, “In the face of every child, every leper, and every poor person we minister to, I see the face of Christ and experience his blessings.” While no one would ever equate Sunnyside’s work in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with her work in Calcutta, all of us at Sunnyside have reason to believe her words to be true. The people who come through our doors challenge us to respond to their need with actions that will bless this earth with a just peace as if we were greeting our Lord at the threshold.

Sunnyside Ministry is an emergency assistance agency. The Board of Evangelism and Home Missions of the Moravian Church in America, Southern Province, established this life-changing ministry in 1978. The purpose is to assist the families in south central Forsyth and north central Davidson Counties materially and spiritually. The goal is to help our neighbors overcome threatening situations brought on by limited resources. “The mission of Sunnyside Ministry is to follow Christ by providing hope through service to those in need within our community.”

One of the responses to this charge is the Sunnyside Ministry College Scholarship Program. With a magnificent gift prior to her death in 1999, Blanche May Vogler, a member of Home Moravian Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, established this scholarship program and a similar program for the Florida District. In 1999, Sunnyside selected two scholars for $1,000 grants that were renewable for four years. These fine young people qualified because of their extreme financial need and potential for success in academics. Also considered were their leadership qualities and a proven benevolent spirit. From this modest but auspicious beginning a truly remarkable story is unfolding.

Miss Vogler’s will also contained bequests to Salem Congregation and Home Moravian Church. Salem Congregation made the income from part of their Vogler bequest available for this program. That allowed Sunnyside to increase the number of awards and to increase the grants to $1,500 per year. In late 1999, Home Moravian Church also made a four-year grant from their Vogler funds. This grant enabled Sunnyside to enhance the scholarships by offering laptop computers, paid internships, and summer enrichment assistance to the selected applicants.

As of today, Sunnyside has awarded 19 four-year scholarship grants, 19 laptop computers, many student internships, and 3 summer enrichment grants. In addition, one-time special achievement awards have been awarded to 10 other applicants. Four of the Sunnyside scholars have graduated and all the others are on schedule to graduate. The program expense for the 2004/2005 school year will be more than $35,000, including scholarships and enhancements.

A five-member committee appointed by the Board of Evangelism and Home Missions directs the scholarship program. The committee feels blessed by their work with these fine young people. Over the years, they have examined over 130 applications for scholarship support. After 50 interviews, 29 scholars have been awarded some kind of assistance. The Vogler initiative, other individual contributions, and the support of the Salem Congregation and Home Moravian for this program cannot be measured.

Although the $1,500 scholarships are endowed by the Vogler gifts, the enhancement portion of this program is in jeopardy. The grant that funds this portion expires at the end of 2004. Travon Morrison, a senior at Winston-Salem State University who has taken part in every aspect of the program says, “I didn’t come from a strong financial background and having this scholarship can only be described as a blessing straight from God. It will break my heart if these programs are not available to other students who find themselves in the same situation that I was in.” Unless additional funding is received, the laptop computers, paid internships, and summer enrichments are in danger of being eliminated.

All those working at Sunnyside Ministry experience God’s rich blessing each day. Often, however, they feel challenged by all the unmet needs they see. The scholarship program is a perfect example of that challenge. Wayne Shugart, a scholarship committee member, says it this way, “The experience of the committee is that we have many, many more worthy applicants than can be accepted. The unfulfilled need is tremendous.” He feels that way because he has seen the life changing impact the college experience has had in the lives of the Sunnyside scholars. He feels that way because the committee has had to say no to about 100 applicants. He feels that way because he has seen the joyful tears of a grandmother who raised a granddaughter in poverty and saw her become the first family member to graduate from college, become an ICU nurse, and joyfully see to it that her grandmother never lacks for anything again.

The hope of the committee members is that the program continues to grow and the enhancement package of computers, internships, and summer enrichment will continue to be funded. They see the challenge in the faces of those who ask for help. Are those tears of joy or sadness? Who is that at the threshold? Who is that in need?