Reba Arnold Fitzgerald Education Scholarship

Scholarship Description

The Reba Arnold Fitzgerald Education Scholarship is a memorial scholarship funded by her family for the purpose of encouraging students who are pursuing a career in teaching.

In 1930, 16-year-old freshman Reba Arnold was a student in the first classes of Bryan College.  Her desire was to prepare for public school teaching.  Since the newly opened college was not academically recognized for teacher certification, Reba dropped out after 2 years, but returned in 1956 and graduated in 1960.  She taught in the schools of Rhea County for 22 years.

It is her family’s desire to honor her life by assisting students who will be trained with a Christian worldview, not for the purpose of evangelizing students, but instead for the purpose of modeling Christian principles in the classroom.  The recipient of the Reba Arnold Fitzgerald (RAF) Education Scholarship will become a member of a community of RAF Scholars who mentor and encourage one another as they complete Bryan’s teacher preparation curriculum.

Scholarship Guidelines

1. The scholarship will benefit full-time students attending Bryan College who meet the following criteria. Applicants must:

• Be education majors
• Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Submit an essay by February 1 conveying why they believe God is leading them into the education field
• Be in good standing with the College according to the Community Life Standards Handbook
• Have demonstrated financial need

2. Once a student is selected as a recipient of the RAF Scholarship, the scholarship will be available to renew up to three more years provided the student:

• Remains in good standing with the College according to the Community Life Standards Handbook
• Maintains a minimum 3.0 GPA
• Continues to major in Education

3. Recipients will be designated as RAF Scholars and should meet once per year. Rebecca Tucker is to be invited to the annual meeting.
4. Awarded funds will not be given directly to the recipients; rather, the college business or financial aid office will credit recipients’ tuition and fee expenses each semester.

Instructions to Apply