Click here to access a printable press release.
Nancy Hardesty was a much beloved founding mother of EEWC-CFT and co-author of the groundbreaking book, All We’re Meant to Be. When she died in 2011, a scholarship fund was created to honor her life’s work of advocating for women’s and LGBTQ justice in Christianity.
Read more about the Nancy A. Hardesty Memorial Scholarship here.
The first scholarship recipient, Jennifer Newman, was selected in 2014 and will receive a $1000 scholarship.
The NAHMS committee, Becky Bender, Linda Bieze, Sharon Bowes, and Barb Crews, reviewed the applications and selected Jennifer Newman, a student at George Fox University, as the first NAHMS recipient.
Jennifer Newman will begin her senior year at George Fox University in the fall of 2014. She has a GPA of almost 3.9 out of 4.0. She’ll graduate with a double major in politics and philosophy, and a minor in women’s studies. Jennifer has been active with GFU’s debate team since her freshman year, and has traveled with the team as far away as the world championship in Chennai, India.
Jennifer’s work helping to found the universities unrecognized Gay-Straight alliance, Common Ground, was of particular interest to the scholarship committee.
Having grown up in a non-denominational evangelical church, coming to view herself as a Christian feminist has been an exciting process. Here are just a few quotes from the essay she wrote for her scholarship application.
I am a Jesus Feminist! I desire to be a woman who loves people wholeheartedly, who adventures, seeks God’s will, writes, takes walks in fields, pursues a career with the drive God has given me, and to never, ever give up on my dreams.
Christian feminism has encouraged me to pursue my gifts, as they are—my drive, my outspokenness, and my intellect. I have been given many opportunities in these areas: academic conferences, campus debates, etc. that I would not have taken advantage of before University, moreover, before becoming a feminist. For me, feminism absolutely had to come first, in order for me to feel comfortable as an academic voice.
Without a doubt, God has given me a unique calling in life in the realm of Christian feminism, and has blessed me beyond measure with opportunities and experiences preparing me for the road ahead. The Christian feminists before me have opened so many doors, allowing the space for young women like myself to continue moving dialogue forward.
To make a donation to the Nancy A. Hardesty Memorial Scholarship fund, please click here.
