SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Lennon-Berini Scholarship
The Lennon-Berini Scholarship opportunity is right around the corner. The awards will be handed out on the last Sunday in December.
The criteria for applicants are:
Be a member of Duluth’s First United Methodist Church
Have completed at least two years of college
Be pursuing a people-centered career
Application forms available here:
Applicants will need to compile all materials (completed application form, transcripts, recommendations, and candidate statement) into a single electronic file and send to Terry Wallin at teto62@charter.net. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Previous scholarship recipients are expected to provide letters of recommendation that have not been previously submitted. The Lennon-Berini Scholarships for 2026 will be $2,500 each.
Terry Wallin
President/Trustee
Lennon-Berini Scholarship
Ardath Gibson Scholarship (AGS)
The Ardath Gibson Scholarship was established in 2012. All eligible college students are invited to apply for the Ardath Gibson Scholarship. To be eligible for the Scholarship, one must be a member of First United Methodist Church or someone who has family who are members. The applicant must be pursuing a degree at the undergraduate or graduate level in healthcare, the physical sciences, engineering, or business. The Ardath Gibson Memorial Scholarship Selection Committee will have discretion in determining if the applicant’s studies meet these criteria. The Scholarship for 2026 will be $1000, and will be awarded on Sunday, December 27th.
Ardath Gibson (1915–2012) practiced her faith as a United Methodist, ultimately making First United Methodist Church in Duluth her home. As a business professional, she recognized the importance of higher education, establishing this scholarship for individuals pursuing degrees in business or the sciences.
To apply, candidates must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The application packet must include:
• The completed AGS Form
• A brief statement about how the candidate views their education/career choice would benefit the community.
• High School and/or College Transcript(s).
• Current letters of recommendations from two parties, unrelated to the applicant, who know the applicant well.
The completed application packet may be submitted between November 1 and November 20, 2026:
• By mail to FUMC, 230 E Skyline Parkway, Duluth, MN 55811, or
• Emailed to Pamela Brown, Facilitator for the AGS Selection Committee, pamela.brown@reliabilitysolutions.us
Margaret Swanberg Scholarship (MSS)
Margaret Swanberg was a long-time member of First United Methodist Church. As a very active member at First United Methodist Church, she chaired and served on many boards and committees. Her professional education career began with teaching kindergarten and primary grade students. She went on to become a professor at the university level before moving to Duluth. Margaret moved to Duluth in 1946 to serve the Duluth School System as Director of Elementary Education and Curriculum.
The Margaret Swanberg Scholarship was created to support individuals who are members or whose families are members of First United Methodist Church. The scholarship, established in 2012, is for individuals who are pursuing an undergraduate or graduate level degree. The Margaret Swanberg Scholarship is $1000 and will be awarded on Sunday, December 27th.
Applicants must be:
• A woman (divorced, widowed, single parent) who needs to return to school to be trained or retrained to find a suitable job in the working world.
• A student graduating from high school who wishes to prepare to become a minister, Christian education director, counselor, or social worker.
• A student graduating from high school who wishes to become an early education teacher, kindergarten teacher, or primary school teacher.
The Margaret Swanberg Memorial Scholarship Selection Committee will have discretion in determining if the applicant’s studies meet these criteria.
To apply, candidates must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The application packet must include:
• The completed MSS Form :
• A brief statement about how the candidate views their education/career choice would benefit the community. This statement should also include how they meet the criteria set in Margaret Swanberg’s bequest.
• High School and/or College Transcript(s).
• Current letters of recommendations from two parties, unrelated to the applicant, who know the applicant well.
The completed application packet may be submitted between November 1 and November 20, 2026 by one of the following methods:
• By mail to FUMC, 230 E Skyline Parkway, Duluth, MN 55811, or
• Emailed to Pamela Brown, Facilitator for the MSS Selection Committee,