Update: As of 12/14/2012 all the scholarship money has been used in the account. If you’re at Urbana12, please swing by ESN’s booth and various other gatherings/opportunities. For more information check out ESN’s exhibit profile page.
What benefits will an Emerging Scholar reap from participating in Urbana?
A graduate student in Survey Research and Methodology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, writes:
For members of the Emerging Scholars Network, the Urbana conference promises to be a fantastic event. I can personally speak to the value of attending Urbana as an undergraduate emerging scholar, and I anticipate that attending Urbana as a graduate student will be just as rewarding. First, the Urbana conference gives undergraduates and graduate students alike an opportunity to meet with Christian scholars who are further along the academic path than they are. In my own life, it has been very challenging to find other young Christians who plan to pursue a career in academia. Because of this, I was phenomenally blessed by ESN’s social events, where I was able to meet, learn from, and be encouraged by others with a similar calling to mine.
Second, the sessions at Urbana that focused on academia were fantastic to go to as an undergraduate. Some of them helped me prepare for life in graduate school, while others helped me realize how my passion for academia could further the kingdom of God. I learned things from these sessions that helped me transition from undergraduate to graduate education, and that still encourage me and help me in my master’s program now.
There are few other conferences where devout scholars from all academic fields can come together to encourage each other, learn from one another, and together seek God’s will for building the kingdom in the academy. ESN has stepped up to provide a gathering place for this to happen at Urbana, either informally at its resource table, or in scheduled seminars and social events. It promises to be an amazing conference for Emerging Scholars of any age, and I look forward to the great things that God will do through those who “strive to think God’s thoughts after Him” (Johannes Kepler) at Urbana 2012.
To learn more about what ESN has to offer at Urbana12, check out our exhibit profile page. Once you’ve registered, begin the ESN scholarship application process by completing this form (6/22 update). A member of InterVarsity’s Faculty Ministry will follow-up with you via email. If you have questions, email me through this form with Urbana12 Scholarship in the subject line.
If you are among first five ESN members to register for Urbana12 and the ESN Scholarship, you have the opportunity to receive a free copy of one of the following: Finding Calcutta, Operation World, Teaching in Distant Classrooms . . . Update: This opportunity is no longer available 🙁
Conference Fees:
June 30, 2012 $339 (students) / $439 (non-students)
Nov. 12, 2012 $399 (students) / $499 (non-students)
Dec. 27, 2012 $449 (students) / $549 (non-students)
As you may guess, ESN recommends saving money by registering before June 30. If additional scholarship is required, please first check with your campus staffworker/chaplain and your local congregation, especially the missions committee. We have money available for thirty $100 scholarships.
Future posts on the specifics of what’s available for Emerging Scholars at Urbana12 is in queue.
Personally, I’m hoping that there is the opportunity to get to know you better (and/or reconnect with you) at Urbana12. Don’t worry, if you’re unable to make it, we’ll do our best to have the blog, the Facebook page, and possibly a Google+ hangout to share some of the blessings, including lots of pictures 🙂
Updated: 5/24/2012, 9:48 AM. 6/22/2012, 3:14 PM. 12/5/2012, 2:17 PM. 12/17/2012, 8:59 pm.
Tom enjoys daily conversations regarding living out the Biblical Story with his wife Theresa and their four girls, around the block, at Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ Church (where he teaches adult electives and co-leads a small group), among healthcare professionals as the Northeast Regional Director for the Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA), and in higher ed as a volunteer with the Emerging Scholars Network (ESN). For a number of years, the Christian Medical Society / CMDA at Penn State College of Medicine was the hub of his ministry with CMDA. Note: Tom served with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship / USA for 20+ years, including 6+ years as the Associate Director of ESN. He has written for the ESN blog from its launch in August 2008. He has studied Biology (B.S.), Higher Education (M.A.), Spiritual Direction (Certificate), Spiritual Formation (M.A.R.), Ministry to Emerging Generations (D.Min.). To God be the glory!
I have to say, my husband and I were on the fence about attending, but this put us over the edge. Thank you! It makes all the difference!
Yeah! Received your emails. The scholarships are in process.
As you and your husband are the first to take advantage of the scholarships, please let me know by email what InterVarsity Press title each of you would like to receive from the offers listed above(Finding Calcutta, Operation World, Teaching in Distant Classrooms).
I’m really looking forward to getting to know you, your husband, and other Emerging Scholars on a deeper level than can be provided through on-line communications/connections. In particular, I’m excited about the opportunity to prayerfully consider, hear, and learn more about how ESN may better serve you (and others) who wrestle with how the call to follow Christ on campus (in higher education) plays out. To God be the glory!
Note: Later in June I’ll receive word on more of ESN’s schedule of Urbana activities and will post here.
Really pumped to finally meet you and ESN folks from outside OSU! ESN has been really important to us as we’ve gone though grad school and has been an important sources of fellowship and wisdom during this time.