Scholarships

“The young men, women, and leaders said to me: ‘Sister, nobody has explained this to us the way you have in a way we can understand. We need more women like you in the church.’” She understood then that she was needed just as she is: “a Latin American immigrant woman with indigenous roots who has witnessed and experienced firsthand cross-cultural challenges, life struggles, and the longing for Good News in our broken world.”

Having resisted God’s call for many years, it was in that moment that all her past experiences made sense.

“I knew God was calling.”

— Alina Saucedo Paucara, first recipient of the Simmons Scholarship
The foundation administers scholarship programs established by United Methodist donors for the benefit of United Methodist students. These funds support the dreams and gifts of talented young Christian leaders.

Simmons Scholarship

The Ben & Martha Simmons Scholarship Fund was created to support the education of seminary students seeking ordination within The Florida Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. Through The Florida United Methodist Foundation, this scholarship will support one full-time seminarian with an annual scholarship of approximately $6,000 per year, and renewable for up to four years.

The Simmons, members of Cypress Lake United Methodist Church in Ft. Myers, created this scholarship fund with a singular purpose: to make ministerial education available to more people who have been called.