Giving to Beeson Divinity School

Thank you for your willingness to support Beeson Divinity School! Our roots are firmly planted as we continue to train future ministers of the Gospel. We reflect on the gracious foundation laid by Ralph Waldo Beeson, which secured the vitality of our institution and afforded Beeson Divinity School the ability to seek and establish excellence in all areas of community and academics. God's call for Beeson and those who support her mission is to shore up resources for the next years. We pray for such provision so we can continue to offer scholarship assistance, endow faculty and staff resources and provide for an interdenominational body of dedicated students who, above all else, are men and women of God. Your giving to Beeson is an answer to these prayers. May God bless you as He blesses this divinity school through your support.

Academic Programs

Scholarships

Beeson Divinity School Alumni Fund

The Beeson Divinity School Alumni Fund is dedicated to scholarships for Beeson Divinity School students who need financial aid.

Student Scholarship Fund

All full-time Beeson Divinity School students receive scholarship assistance from the Student Scholarship Fund. Your contribution goes directly toward sustaining and increasing our ability to keep Beeson affordable and attractive to potential and current students.

Timothy George Scholarship for Excellence

This scholarship was established in early 2016. Its purpose is to honor Beeson's founding dean, Dr. Timothy George, and to shore up significant resources for fully-funded tuitions available to the next generation of excellent candidates for Christian leadership.

A Tribute to Timothy George

Dr. Robert Smith Jr. Endowed Scholarship

The Dr. Robert Smith Jr. Endowed Scholarship was established to honor longtime faculty member Dr. Robert Smith Jr. for his more than twenty years at Beeson and his more than 50 years of preaching God’s Word. This scholarship will provide significant financial assistance to outstanding applicants who are called to the preaching ministry.

Dr. Kenneth Mathews and Dr. Frank Thielman Scholarship

The Dr. Kenneth Mathews and Dr. Frank Thielman Scholarship was established in honor of the two longtime Beeson professors.

Dr. Gordon Bals Endowed Scholarship

The Dr. Gordon Bals Endowed Scholarship was established to honor Dr. Gordon Bals, associate professor of divinity for pastoral care, for his work in the Birmingham area through his teaching, writing and work as the founder of Daymark Pastoral Care Counseling. The scholarship will be awarded to Beeson students pursuing a Master of Arts in Christian Counseling degree.

Sue Meadows Auchtmuty Scholarship

The family of Sue Meadows Auchmuty established an endowed scholarship in her honor. Sue Meadows Auchmuty was one of 10 siblings in a one-car, blue-collar working family. Neither her employment in retail sales on weekends and holidays nor on the graveyard shift in a textile plant in the summer would be enough to complete her education. Financial assistance was a must. She proved to be a good steward of that sacred trust by applying herself, making good grades and becoming a high school math teacher. She was married to Dr. James A. Auchmuty, Jr., who served as the senior pastor of Shades Crest Baptist Church in Hoover, Alabama, from 1972 to 1999.

General James M. Hutchens Military Chaplain Scholarship

The General James M. Hutchens Military Chaplain Scholarship was established to honor the ministry of General James M. Hutchens and to provide financial assistance to men and women called to military chaplaincy.

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Aletha Dawson Scholarship

This endowed scholarship is named for the late daughter-in-law of Rev. L. O. Dawson, the founding pastor of Dawson Memorial Baptist Church. The recipient must have demonstrated financial need and be of good character and good habits.

Antonio Smith Scholarship

This annual scholarship is named for the son of Dr. Robert Smith Jr., Distinguished Professor of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School. This scholarship is awarded to one African American student annually who has demonstrated financial need.

Banks and Evelyn Farris Scholarship

This endowed scholarship is in honor of Banks and Evelyn Farris. Mr. Farris was the Vice President for Alabama Power. Priority is given to students with a demonstrated financial need.

Beeson Advisory Board Annual and Endowed Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to a deserving student or students on behalf of the Board. The annual portion of this scholarship will be given this year but has not yet been fully endowed.

Brookwood Bryant Strain Divinity School Scholarship

This endowed scholarship is in honor of the founding pastor of Brookwood Baptist Church. First consideration goes to Brookwood Baptist Church members and second to any qualified Baptist student.

The Dr. Reginald Calvert Racial Reconciliation Annual and Endowed Scholarship

This scholarship was initially established by a gift of from Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Wilson. The award shall be given to a student with demonstrated interest in African American heritage or a student who has demonstrated experience or a commitment to working with the African American community.

Day-Sanders Scholarship

This endowed scholarship is named for the mother and grandmother of retired Beeson professor Dr. Norfleete Day. The scholarship is awarded to one or more female students who demonstrate financial need.

Dan International Student Scholarship

This endowed scholarship is named for Rev. Emmanuel Titus Dan and his wife Fulga Pascu Dan, who served as cross cultural missionaries among Romanians in the United States and Australia. They served with the IMB of the SBC in their retirement. They are the parents of Dr. Stefana Laing of Beeson Divinity School. Priority is given to students who are studying on a visa preparing for international missions, cross-cultural ministry, or church planting.

Dean Scholarship

This endowed scholarship is awarded to a handful of select MDiv students who have an undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or above (on a 4.0 scale), demonstrate strong Christian character and ministry leadership potential through previous roles of service in church and/or community, and who have an expressed commitment to enter vocational Christian service upon graduation.

Donahoo Scholarship

This endowed scholarship was established by J.W. Donahoo in honor of his late wife, Lillian Payne Donahoo. It is awarded to a full-time student who shows great promise for ministerial service.

Katherine M. Eakin, Phillip & Martha Inman Endowed Scholarship at Beeson Divinity School

This scholarship was established by Katherine Eakin in honor of Phillip & Martha Inman. Priority is given to female students at Beeson Divinity School who are involved in the Center for Women in Ministry.

Elaine Annual Scholarship

This annual scholarship was established in honor of Elaine Cook by her husband and Beeson alumnus, Darrel Cook. Recipients must be current Beeson Divinity School students over the age of 28 who demonstrate ministry potential and have completed at least 40 hours of academic work with a GPA of 2.7. The first preference will be for students who are serving in a local church.

Claude Heard Ford Endowed Scholarship

This endowed scholarship was given in honor of Claude Heard Ford, MD, by his wife. The recipient can be any Beeson Divinity School student.

Gary Fenton and Alta Faye Fenton Endowed Scholarship

This endowed scholarship is named for Dr. Gary D. Fenton, retired pastor of Dawson Baptist Church in Birmingham, and his wife Alta Faye. This scholarship is awarded annually to one or more students who demonstrate academic excellence and a calling to ministry in the local church.

Rev. Robert Gladney, Jr. Endowed Scholarship

This endowed scholarship is named for Bob Gladney, former staff member at Dawson Memorial Baptist Church and elsewhere. The recipient(s) should be Southern Baptists who are called to preach and who demonstrate financial need.

Allen Ross Endowed Scholarship

This scholarship was given in honor of longtime Old Testament professor Allen Ross. The scholarship is awarded to a rising third year Beeson Divinity School student.

Fullman-Trott Endowed Scholarship

This endowed scholarship was funded in honor of Mr. and Mrs. John Fullman and Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Trott by their nephew, Mr. Herschel H. Day. Priority is given to students, preferably female, who demonstrate financial need.

Lynn and Bill Hairston Annual Scholarship

This annual scholarship shall be awarded to a currently enrolled Beeson Divinity School student(s) whose church membership is in an Episcopalian or Anglican congregation and who has a minimum GPA of 3.0.

General Holle Military Chaplaincy Endowed Scholarship

This endowed scholarship is in memory and honor of General Everett H. Holle. It shall be awarded to student(s) preparing for the military chaplaincy and who will serve in the United States Military Chaplaincy Corps.

Mary and Victor Hanson, III Beeson Divinity School Annual Scholarship

This annual scholarship is named for Mary and Victor Hanson, longtime supporters of and donors to Beeson Divinity School. Preferred recipients are students who give strong evidence of making a significant contribution to the work of the Kingdom of God.

Dr. Patricia Outlaw Endowed Scholarship

This scholarship is named for retired Beeson professor Dr. Patricia Outlaw. This scholarship is awarded to one African American student annually who is engaged in full-time pulpit ministry.

Mark Gignilliat Endowed Scholarship

Is named for Beeson Old Testament and Hebrew professor, Dr. Mark Gignilliat.

Frederick Moss and Mary Della Moss Endowed International Scholarship in Biblical Theology and Applied Evangelism

The scholarship is given in memory of F. Frederick and Mary Della Moss, who were members of Dawson Memorial Baptist Church.

Delores Emanuel Nation Endowed Scholarship

This scholarship is named in memory of the mother of Beeson alumnus Philip Nation, who serves as the vice president for Thomas Nelson Bibles at HarperCollins Christian Publishing. Recipients shall be Southern Baptist and have plans for local church ministry and demonstrate financial need.

Nancy Norton Endowed Scholarship

This endowed scholarship was established by Mr. John Norton in memory of his late wife, Nancy. Recipients must be females who are interested in missions, church planting or church growth.

Joe Nix Quin Endowed Scholarship

This scholarship is named for Samford graduate and successful pharmacist, Joe Nix Quinn. Priority is given to students preparing for pulpit ministry.

Jennifer Davis Rash Endowed Scholarship

Jennifer is a Beeson graduate and has served on search committees for both the Beeson Dean and the Samford President. The scholarship was established on the 25^th anniversary of her employment at The Alabama Baptist, where she is now president and editor-in-chief. The scholarship provides financial aid for Southern Baptist women and other underrepresented students at Beeson Divinity School.

James V.K. Ratliff Endowed Scholarship

This endowed scholarship was established by the family of Mr. Ratliff, a longtime Birmingham business leader and active member of Mountain Brook Baptist Church. This scholarship may be awarded to any deserving Beeson Divinity school student(s).

John Wesley Beeson Endowed Scholarship

Named after longtime Methodist minister and the father of Beeson’s founder, this endowed scholarship is awarded to students who demonstrate academic excellence when applying to Beeson Divinity School. Priority is given to students preparing for the MDiv.

Lelia Byant Beaird and Mary Nell Beaird Scholarship

Preference shall be given to students who are preparing to serve Jesus Christ through a lifetime of pulpit ministry or are already engaged in such, and who show evidence of a calling to pulpit ministry.

PCA Student Deans Fund

This is awarded at the Dean’s discretion to students preparing for ministry in the Presbyterian Church in America who have need. This was developed by donors who wish to support students preparing for ministry in the Presbyterian Church in America.

Schultz Family Beeson Divinity Endowed Scholarship

Was established by the Schultz family of Memphis, Tennessee to simply share with others what God has provided for their family and to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Vaughn Burrell Scholarship

This scholarship is named for Birmingham businessman Vaughn Burrell, who is an active layman at First Nazarene Church of Birmingham. Priority is given to students who are members of Nazarene churches.

Winfred Ann Turner Hull Scholarship

This endowed scholarship is in memory of Mrs. Leland Hull, who served as a very effective Bible teacher to groups of young mothers at St. Luke’s Episcopal, St. Peter’s Anglican and Cathedral of the Advent. Priority will be given to students in the Anglican denomination and who demonstrate academic excellence.

Ralph Waldo Beeson Scholarship

Named after Beeson’s founder and faithful Presbyterian layperson, this endowed scholarship will be awarded to many full-time admitted students.

Lucille Burgess Walls Endowed Scholarship

Named in honor of the mother of James Walls, a friend of Beeson and attendee of Lay Academy, this scholarship is awarded to a deserving student as deemed by the Beeson Awards Committee.

Roger Willmore Endowed Scholarship

This scholarship was given in honor of Dr. Roger Willmore, former Alabama pastor and Director of Missions for Calhoun County Baptist Association. Recipients should be students preparing for pulpit ministry.

Woodward Scholarships

South Roebuck Baptist Church established this endowed scholarship to assist candidates for international missions. Priority will be given to students preparing for international missions. Male recipients should be preparing for preaching ministry and female recipients should be preparing for educational ministry.

Andrew Westmoreland Scholarship

This scholarship is named in honor of the 18th president of Samford University, Dr. Andrew Westmoreland.

Third Presbyterian Church of Birmingham Annual Scholarship

This scholarship will be for members of Third Presbyterian Church preparing for ministry in the Presbyterian Church in America.

Gregory Tippins Scholarship

Was established by family, friends, and others in memory of Dr. Gregory Tippins who, after completing degree requirements for the Doctor of Ministry, passed away before the degree could be awarded. At the recommendation of the Dean of Beeson Divinity School, the Samford Board of Trustees awarded the degree posthumously to Dr. Tippins’ widow.

Redeemer Community Church Endowed Scholarship

Was established and endowed in June of 2023. First preference is for the scholarship to be awarded to members and staff members of Redeemer Community Church and, if none are eligible, second choice is for the most deserving students preparing to serve as ministers or missionaries.

Wesleyan Certificate Scholarship

Is for members of Wesleyan tradition churches who are pursuing a Wesleyan Certificate.

South Highland Presbyterian Church Endowed Scholarship

Was established for students who are members of the Presbyterian Church USA, or ECO Presbyterian Church, or the Evangelical Presbyterian Church who are preparing for ministry. In the unlikely event that no potential recipients meet the preceding qualifications, the recipients of this scholarship will be selected by the Scholarship and Awards Committee of Beeson based on financial need.

Elaine Cook Annual Scholarship

This annual scholarship was given in honor of Elaine Cook by her husband and Beeson Divinity School alumnus, Darrell Cook.

Giving to Beeson