Women of Color as Biblical Scholars Award

Purpose

The Women of Color as Biblical Scholars Award (WOC) supports the academic journey of a Woman of Color at Pillar Seminary, providing sustained scholarship funding through the completion of her program, contingent upon the continued availability of funds.* 

Requirements

• The recipient is accepted into one of the two following programs at Pillar Seminary: Master of Arts or Master of Divinity**.
• The recipient is committed to taking at least 6 credit hours per semester (when needed credits are available) until graduation at Pillar Seminary***.
• The recipient must maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA at Pillar Seminary. Continuous enrollment of at least 6 credit hours per semester (see exceptions on hours already stated) until graduation is required for the scholarship. 
• The recipient must complete a donor thank you form prior to the payment deadline each semester.
• Application must be submitted by June 19, 2026 to be considered for a fall 2026 award.  

Submission

Upon receiving admission to Pillar Seminary and reviewing the criteria, the candidate completes the short application form found in Populi and submits a letter of no more than 750 words addressing the following criteria: 

• Qualification: Please state your gender and ethnic and/or racial identity to confirm you qualify for the scholarship. 
• Academic Record: How have you been successful in your past scholarly (university or other places of study) pursuits? How do you plan to be successful in your coursework at Pillar Seminary?
• Service: In what ways have you served in the community, church, and/or other organizations in the past? What areas of service are you currently involved in?
• Leadership: How have you demonstrated leadership in your community, church, and/or other organizations?

* Renewal & Availability: This award is renewable each semester provided the recipient maintains eligibility and funds remain available within the Women of Color as Biblical Scholars Award Fund. The fund is assessed annually; the recipient will be notified of the specific award amount at the start of each Academic Year. Please note that this scholarship is sustained by ongoing donations and is contingent upon available gift income. For the 2026/2027 Academic Year, the initial award covers up to full tuition for 6–9 credit hours per semester.

** Degree Status Exception: Students enrolled in the Certificate in Biblical Contextual Leadership may be eligible provided they have a declared intent to transition into the Master of Arts or Master of Divinity program. This exception applies to students currently in a preparatory or conditional status who are completing the certificate as a pathway to full degree matriculation.

*** Credit Hour Requirement: A minimum of 6 credit hours is required for eligibility unless course availability or degree requirements limit the student to 3 credit hours in a specific semester. In these instances, scholarship eligibility will be maintained. Further exceptions regarding enrollment status may be requested through the Exceptions Committee.