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Youth

Northwestern College Receives $440,000 Grant from Lilly Endowment for Summer Institute for High School Students

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, has been awarded a significant grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to develop a summer institute for high school students, titled "Living Your Faith". This initiative is part of Lilly Endowment's High School Youth Theology Institutes program, which aims to encourage young people to explore their religious beliefs and concerns about contemporary challenges by studying theology and examining how faith calls them to lives of service. The institute, set to launch in 2017, will be a one-week summer program for rising high school juniors and seniors, featuring lectures, discussions, writing assignments, and small-group activities led by Northwestern's religion faculty and students.

Key Takeaways:

  • Northwestern College has received a $440,000 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to create "Living Your Faith", a summer institute for high school students.
  • The institute, part of Lilly Endowment's High School Youth Theology Institutes initiative, aims to encourage young people to explore their religious beliefs and concerns about contemporary challenges.
  • The program will include a one-week summer program for rising high school juniors and seniors, featuring lectures, discussions, writing assignments, and small-group activities led by Northwestern's religion faculty and students.
  • The grant will also support the hiring of a half-time director, professional development opportunities, stipends for instructors and mentors, advertising and administrative expenses, and housing, meals, and transportation subsidies for participants.
  • Northwestern College is one of 82 private four-year colleges and universities participating in the initiative, representing 29 states and the District of Columbia.
  • The schools participating in the initiative reflect a diverse range of Christian traditions, including Baptist, Brethren, Lutheran, Mennonite, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Reformed churches, as well as Catholic, non-denominational, Pentecostal, and historic African-American Christian communities.
  • Lilly Endowment's grants for the High School Youth Theology Institutes are part of the Endowment's commitment to identify and develop theologically minded youth who will become leaders in church and society.
  • An additional grant to the Forum for Theological Exploration will establish a program to foster mutual learning and support among leaders of the high school youth theology institutes.

Statistics:

  • The grant amount of $440,000 will be used to support the development and implementation of the "Living Your Faith" program at Northwestern College.
  • The program is designed to serve 100 high school students from the class of 2020 in the summer of 2017.
  • 82 private four-year colleges and universities are participating in Lilly Endowment's High School Youth Theology Institutes initiative.
  • These schools represent 29 states and the District of Columbia.
  • The participating schools reflect a diverse range of Christian traditions, with 12 different denominations or affiliations represented.

Sources:

  • Northwestern College press release, December 17 (no date provided)
  • Lilly Endowment Inc. website, High School Youth Theology Institutes initiative (no date provided)
  • Lilly Endowment Inc. website, About Lilly Endowment (1937)
  • Lilly Endowment Inc. website, Religion grant-making (no date provided)

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