Hjalmarson receives Omaha Presbyterian Seminary Foundation Apollos Scholarship

Dori Hjalmarson, entering her second year in the San Francisco Theological Seminary Master of Divinity program, is the recipient of the prestigious Omaha Presbyterian Seminary Foundation Apollos Scholarship. Hjalmarson is among the nearly 80 percent of all masters-level students at SFTS who receive financial assistance to pursue theological studies.

The Omaha Presbyterian Seminary Foundation supports excellence in Christian leadership in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) through its scholarships. The Apollos Scholarship is named for the enthusiastic Christian described in Acts 18:24-26 whose acquaintances encouraged him to receive further education so he could proclaim the Gospel's complete truth.

“I'm profoundly grateful for scholarships provided by people who care deeply about the future of the church,” said Hjalmarson, a member of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). “Scholarships help students stay debt-free, which will allow us to choose ministries based not on financial needs but based on our sense of call from God.”

Hjalmarson will serve as a chaplain’s assistant in 2012-13. She’s also involved in the Seminary Singers, participated in the on-campus performance of the Vagina Monologues and helps promote events for SFTS Welcome, which supports the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the church and drafted the seminary's Inclusive Community Statement.

Hjalmarson also received the Cranmer Scholarship from Lafayette Orinda Presbyterian Church for merit based tuition assistance. Minhee Kim and David Altshuler, also chaplain’s assistants this year, are other beneficiaries of the Cranner Scholarship.

Bentley Stewart is one of two SFTS Presidential Scholarships recipients, covering full tuition. Lora East was also awarded the Presidential Scholarship along with the SFTS Exceptional Merit Award used to offset the cost of rent.

The SFTS Alumni Scholarships, which cover between 70-85 percent of tuition, were awarded to Nathanael (Jung Su) Peik, Susan Pierson, Melody Stanford, Emily Stockert and Nicole Trotter.

SFTS alumni continue to play a huge role in both supporting seminary students through financial gifts and referring students to SFTS.

Stewart, a pediatric chaplain, was pushed to return to SFTS after a nine-year long layoff by alum John Herman (M.Div. ’87, D.Min. ’02). Herman was Stewart’s pastor at Desert Palm United Church of Christ in Tempe, Ariz.

“Receiving a scholarship was huge – I wouldn’t be here without it,” Stewart said. “SFTS has always been sacred ground for me. I wanted somewhere that would be rigorous academically, but I also wanted an experience that would connect head and heart.”