Background

Frank (1916-1999) and Audrey (1920-2006) Senn were very active and devoted members of Trinity Methodist Church in Newberry, SC, from their marriage in 1941 until their deaths. They faithfully supported Trinity with their attendance, their offerings, and their service. They also believed strongly in the power of Education and were both lifelong learners.
Over the years, they served in many capacities at Trinity as members or leaders of official board, Sunday School, Methodist Youth Fellowship, Revival, Bible School, Men’s Club, Women’s Circle, Missionary Society, Staff Pastor Parish Committee, Finance Committee, Building Fund Committee, and delegates to Annual Conference. There are few jobs at Trinity that they did not fill, with the exception of singing in the choir due to a lack of musical talent.
It is noteworthy that both Frank and Audrey’s mothers were college graduates. Attending college as a female during that timeframe was especially remarkable. Frank’s mother, Elizabeth McMillan (1889-1948) was from Bamberg, SC, and Audrey’s mother, Leila McTeer (1889-1988) was from Yemassee, SC. They both moved per train to the Silverstreet area to teach in one-room schoolhouses, grades 1 through 11, and lived as boarders in the homes of their students.
After high school, Audrey followed in her mother’s footsteps and became a college graduate by graduating from Winthrop College. But Frank, being from a farming family of ten children, did not have the opportunity to attend college as he was NEEDED on the farm. However, Frank and his five brothers and four sisters all graduated from high school. When Frank’s mother was dying at age 59, she made her husband promise that their four daughters would have the opportunity to get a college degree. He kept his promise, and all four girls graduated from college.
These were all significant educational accomplishments in the deep South in an agricultural community in the 1930’s and 1940’s. Both Frank and Audrey were raised with a deep understanding of the importance of education. Therefore, this Frank and Audrey Senn Memorial Scholarship is dedicated to the purpose of offering Trinity Church’s young people the opportunity to continue their education after high school.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Must be a member or regular attender of Trinity United Methodist Church or its youth ministry.
• Must be a graduating senior with a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher, or a current undergraduate college student, with a cumulative 2.7 GPA or higher. Those returning from military service who plan to attend college immediately upon return are also eligible.
• Must plan to attend or be attending a University, College, Technical or Trade School and be attending school full-time as defined by the institution.
• Spouses, Children, Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren of Frank Morgan Senn, Jr. and Charles David Senn are ineligible to apply, based on IRS rules for scholarship funds.

Selection Criteria

Applicants will be selected based on the following:

• Christian Character
• Academic Success
• Leadership Potential
• Church Loyalty

Additional Short Answer Questions and Attachments

On the last page of the application, you will select the Frank and Audrey Senn, Sr. Memorial Scholarship Fund and complete the following additional information:

• A personal statement response about yourself that includes information on your church membership and involvement and your community service.
• Provide the name and email address of one person, who is not a relative of yours, who has agreed to submit a letter of recommendation for you. This person will receive an email from our system allowing them to submit your recommendation. Please ask them if they are willing to write a reference for you before submitting their email address. Please also let them know when you have submitted your application because that is when they will receive the email.

Awards

Amount of Award:  At least $1,000 annually, renewable for up to four years.

Number of Awards: At least 1 new award per year.

Renewal for Prior Recipients: A prior recipient of this scholarship fund is eligible to renew the award each subsequent year of his/her education career for up to four years. To renew, he/she must complete all the required follow-ups assigned by the CFCG Scholarship Director, and maintain a 2.7 GPA while in college in addition to the other eligibility criteria as defined in the scholarship’s guidelines.

If a prior recipient does not maintain the eligibility criteria or faces unique circumstances that require him/her to take time off or take a reduced course load for a semester, the student should contact the Community Foundation to determine if he/she is eligible for continued funding.