The College of Bible and Ministry and the Louie Yingling family awarded $40,000 to two freshmen Bible majors and several smaller scholarships to upperclassmen every year since 2009. According to Dr. Allen Diles, chairman of the Bible scholarship committee, alumnus Louie Yingling fell in love with Harding during his undergraduate years. Although he did not finish his degree, Yingling left part of his estate to the university to provide scholarships to Bible students, doubling the annual Bible scholarship budget. Diles said the scholarship committee awarded two freshmen the Yingling Scholarship every fall to aid their financial burden for eight consecutive semesters. The application process began the spring before each freshman applicant's first fall semester at Harding. "We wanted the money to help Bible majors reduce their debt leaving school," Diles said. "(The freshman scholarship) was to be used as a recruiting tool to adve1tise this nice scholarship we give to Bible majors. We in the College of Bible and Ministry wanted (the upperclassman scholarships) to be funds that could reward students we already had here we knew were deserving but would otherwise have more debt. The agreement was drawn up so we would be able to award a maximum of two incoming freshmen every year a $10,000 per year scholarship." Junior Jonathan Godsey said the scholarship drastically reduced his post-graduation debt and gave him a peace of mind about life after Harding. "I wouldn't be at Harding without the Yingling Scholarship," Godsey said. "The fact I got it is a huge help to me. For me, this wouldn't have happened otherwise. It's a blessing." Sophomore .Joshua Werlz listens to the speaker al the Yingling Scholarship lu11chco11 on Oct. 30. Wertz said Lhe Yi11glin9 Scholarship allowed him to ultend llm·cirng. I Photo hy Karn Fujisawa Senior Pla1111ed Gifts Officer Don Kee speuks about the benefits and legacy of the Yingling Scholurship 011 Oct. 30. The luncheon celebrated and welcomed Yingling Scholarship recipients. I Photo by Kazr.t Fujisawa Junior 1Ju11ter Hackworth preaches at the twilight se1·uice at College Church of Christ on Oct. :2.5. llackworlh worked as a ministry intern for the church and was in charge of orgunizing the service eL•ery Sunday. I Pholo by Owen Brown BIBLE 2,"iH Yingling scholar junior Hunter Hackworth said being awarded the scholarship reassured him of both his choice of college and career. "It is confirming a belief! already had," Hackworth said. "I wanted to be a preacher, and other people saw my potential and said I have talent in that area. It is a means of making those steps to becoming a good preacher and effective communicator of the Gospel. Sophomore Joshua Wertz said the scholarship not only provided a way for him to come to Harding, but a way to form new friendships. "It's neat because some of the Yingling scholars became friends because of this," Wertz said. "One thing about the Bible department a lot of people don't realize is, compared to most other departments and majors on campus, we are by far the closest as far as students go." By Hunnuh Perry
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