Mae Gibson Wall announced 2009 President's Scholar

May 12, 2009

We are proud to announce that Mae Gibson Wall has been selected as the first recipient of the President's Scholarship for Excellence. Mae has just returned from a trip to Hyderabad, India, where she volunteered with Child Haven International in an orphanage there. The experience included living in the orphanage from January through May of this year, providing whatever service was required of her. Mae is also the recipient of the 2008 Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics and said in her application essay to Meadville Lombard that it was her meeting with Professor Wiesel that inspired her trip to India. The photo below was taken just a few weeks ago and shows Mae with the children at the orphanage.

Mae says this scholarship allows her to start on her path toward ministry sooner than she had envisioned. "I am profoundly grateful to have been awarded this incredibly generous scholarship," said Mae. "Without this, I would have had to postpone my entrance into a Master of Divinity program by at least one year in order to prepare myself for the substantial financial undertaking of continuing my education. But thanks to the President's Scholarship, I can transition smoothly into the program from the recent completion of my B.A., and enter the ministry that much earlier."

"The scholarship is also meaningful for me," Mae continued, "because it means that the people at Meadville Lombard see something in me that tells them I am suited to the vitally important yet challenging work of entering the UU ministry. As sure as I feel inside that this is my path, it is especially encouraging to have the support of longstanding and professional members of the Unitarian Universalist community. Thank you very much for this overwhelming honor."

"Thirteen incredibly strong applicants were in consideration for this award," said Rev. Dr. Lee Barker, President of Meadville Lombard. "It was very difficult for the faculty and myself to make a decision, but Mae's academic and personal achievements gave her that extra distinction. That it was difficult to name a President's Scholar this year tells us the future of Unitarian Universalism is in good hands."

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Contact:
Tina Porter
(773) 256-3000 ext. 236