Bradburds Fund New Scholarship for Excellence 

May 17, 2007

Arnold Bradburd LHD '00 and Julia Bradburd have given a cash gift of $300,000 to Meadville Lombard Theological School to fund a four-year, merit-based scholarship to be available for award in the fall of 2008.  The Scholarship will cover the full tuition of its recipient. Arnold Bradburd announced the gift at the May meeting of Meadville's Board of Trustees.

"Students used to be able to come here tuition-free," said Bradburd, "but the economy turned and now, new ministers are beginning their careers carrying a significant burden of debt.  We need to make it easier for the best and the brightest students to become the best and the brightest Unitarian Universalist leaders in our faith movement."

The Bradburds' scholarship announcement comes just six months after the announcement of the Spencer and Susan Lavan Scholarship for Excellence last November.  Arnold Bradburd hopes this gift and that of the Lavans will encourage others within the Unitarian Universalist movement to support professional ministry through scholarships such as these.  "Professional ministry is unbelievably important to the future of Unitarian Universalism," said Julia Bradburd.

"The Bradburds and the Lavans have given these gifts to our school," said President Lee Barker, "because they understand that, for our faith movement to create significant change in the world, we need to have religious leaders and scholars grounded in our traditions. Their faith in the work of this school is evidenced by these generous cash gifts and for that, we are truly grateful."

The Bradburds' gift to the school is one of many key elements of the school's Going Forward Objectives (read the objectives, here), which were approved in total and unanimously by the Board at the May meeting.  These objectives help Meadville to begin to lay the foundation of a theological school that is learning- and student-centered, and, to fulfill that mission at a level of excellence consistent with the best theological schools in the country.

Full application information here.

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Contact:
Tina Porter tporter@meadville.edu
(773) 256-3000 ext. 236