The Skinner Scholarship Fund was established by the 1877 will of James H. Skinner as a means of supporting students at the University of Virginia who intend to pursue lay or ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church. Scholarships are awarded to both undergraduate and graduate students enrolled full-time at the University. Recipients are expected to be involved in a significant ministry while enrolled in the University of Virginia
The Skinner Scholarship funds are in an endowment administered by the university. The amount available each year varies with market conditions. Scholarships in the past have ranged up to $25,000. In addition to the Skinner Scholarships a Resident Skinner Fellowship is awarded to the graduate student chosen to provide leadership at Canterbury House.
Students who receive the Skinner Scholarship are asked to commit to the following:
- Participation in the Vocation Study Group which meets several times a semester and is a special opportunity to discuss God's calling in our lives.
- Involvement in parish life at St. Paul's or another Episcopal church, through regular attendance at worship and service to the parish.
- Taking responsibility for some aspect of lay ministry, in St. Paul's community, another church community, or the broader Charlottesville community.
The scholarship aims to provide resources to allow those committed to service to invest significant time in personal spiritual development and ministry to others; to make available additional time offset from working a part-time job to cover school expenses.
History
Born in 1826 James H. Skinner graduated from UVA in the class of 1846. He became a prominent lawyer in Staunton and served in the Virginia Legislature. At the start of the Civil War he became a captain in the 52nd Virginia Infantry Regiment. Promoted to lieutenant colonel and then colonel of the regiment, Skinner suffered wounds at Second Manassas, Gettysburg, and Spotsylvania. He lost an eye in the latter engagement but resumed his law practice after the war, and lived until 1898.
In his will Mr. Skinner set up a scholarship fund to be administered by UVA, a fund dedicated to the support of “persons who purpose to become Ministers of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America.” The terms of the will are now interpreted to include lay as well as ordained ministers in the Episcopal Church.
Requirements
The application has four primary components:
- General applicant information
- Enrollment & financial aid status
- Academic information
- Essays on ministry and commitments
The first three sections will take only a few moments to complete. However, the essays take more thought. We recommend you prepare them ahead of time and paste the text in the provided form; each essay should be approximately 500 words. The essay questions are:
1) On Ministry
The scholarship fund's purpose is to support students who intend to pursue lay or ordained ministry. In this essay, tell us what you think about ministry generally—lay and/or ordained—and how you understand the place of ministry in your life now and in the future. (In the second essay, you'll be asked to talk about your specific plans for service at the University while receiving this scholarship.)
2) On Ministry Commitments
Students who receive the Skinner Scholarship are asked to commit to the following:The scholarship provides resources to allow those committed to service to invest significant time in personal spiritual development and ministry to others rather than in working to cover school expenses. Being as specific as you can, tell us how you intend to invest this time in ministry and spiritual development, and affirm your commitment to being a vibrant part of Episcopal parish life.
- Participation with other Skinner scholars in group activities, including several meetings each semester to discuss vocation, God's calling in our lives.
- Involvement in parish life at St. Paul's or another Episcopal church, through regular attendance at worship and service to the parish.
- Taking responsibility for some specific form of lay ministry, whether at St. Paul's or elsewhere.
Graduate Student Support
Additionally, if you are applying as a graduate student, please have your advisor submit a statement of satisfactory progress to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The application will ask you to indicate the status of this letter.
Review Process
The Rector of St. Paul's Memorial Church appoints a committee to review all applications and make award recommendations to the Rector. The Rector nominates potential recipients to the Associate Director of Student Financial Services. In recommending applicants and awarding scholarships, the committee, the Rector of St. Paul's, and the University of Virginia do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, sexual orientation or disability. Awards are made for one academic year. Previous recipients are welcome to submit an application for another year of funding.
How to Apply
Applications are due from current students April 1st. The deadline for incoming first year students is April 15. Applications are accepted through our online application system available at this link.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 26 June 2012 13:37
