Scholarships at Mentor UMC come with a long history of faith-driven leaders and Christ-centered ideas. Every year, High School and Higher Education students are invited to apply for scholarships to assist them in their journey. The form for 2026 is now available and can be filled out here or below. If you have any questions or issues please call and leave a message at (440) 255-3496 or e-mail questions to Scholarship@mentorumc.org
REQUIREMENTS:
The scholarship is open to any student who has been a member of Mentor United Methodist Church for at least one year. The student must be a high school senior, a student enrolled in an accredited vocational school, university or college undergraduate program, or a student enrolled in seminary.
Selection of recipients is made without regard to gender or race. Students may receive up to four scholarship awards depending on availability of funds. The scholarship committee bases its decisions on GPA, leadership ability, extracurricular involvement (including work), church and community service activities, essay, and recommendation. The committee assumes that all post secondary students need financial assistance. If there is an unusual financial need, please attach a letter explaining the situation.
Scholarships & Their History
The June Pfeiffer Scholarship
June Pfeiffer was a very active member of Mentor United Methodist Church. She was an original member of the 9:30 AM Sunday School Class which met for many years. She often led the class Bible Study. June spent many hours working in the Church Office assisting the secretarial staff, in the Christian Education Office lending a hand to the Christian Education Director, and was very involved in the educational ministries of the church. She supported the United Methodist Women in their many activities. She did extraordinary needlepoint and supported the UMW Gingerbread House Craft Fair with the donations of many beautiful handmade items.
On July 21, 1988, Mrs. Pfeiffer established a large irrevocable Charitable Remainder Unit Trust which names Mentor UMC as the beneficiary. The charitable trust mandate was the education of church members. She contributed her many gifts and talents to the service of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God, and she leaves for the people of God a legacy of discipleship to be modeled by all.
The A. Hugh Brown Scholarship
A. Hugh Brown was a longtime resident of Mentor and Sarasota, Florida. He was a member of Mentor United Methodist Church, a trustee for Lake Hospital Systems, was a Shriner and a member of Charles M. Setzer Free and Accepted Masons Lodge 693. He was a U.S. Army Air Force veteran and a VFW member. Mr. Brown served on the Mentor Board of Education for 20 years. He was a former president of Mentor High School PTA and served as chairman for the MHS PTA Circus for 10 years. He was a past president of TOP 25 Parents Club. The Mentor Cardinal Stadium was dedicated in Mr. Brown’s honor. He earned the honor of Outstanding Citizen of the Year in 1975. He was a member of Mentor Rotary, Mentor Chamber of Commerce, Elks Lodge and chairman of School Neighborhood Action Community Committee. He retired from General Electric in 1990 after 41 years of service.
The Ed & Dorothy Carter Scholarship
This scholarship was given by Gene McNabb in memory of his Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Ed. They were very special to him and an important influence in his life. Gene was born December 22, 1924 and died April 5, 2007. He was a graduate of Monroe High School. Gene served as a First Lieutenant in the 447th Bomber Group during WWII. He earned a business degree from Miami University. Gene was an active member of the United Way and served on may committees at MUMC.
The Reverend Dorothy Penny-Larter Scholarship
Dot Penny-Larter was born in Bradford, England in 1958. She graduated from Tong High School in Bradford and attended school at Bulmershe College in Reading, England. After coming to Ohio, she earned her Master of Arts in Biblical studies in 1998, and her Master of Divinity degree in 2003, both at Ashland University. She served Millersburg UMC from 1998 to 2001, Gnadenhutten UMC from 2001 to 2005 and Mentor UMC from 2005 to 2010. She taught several Disciple classes at Mentor UMC. The Reverend Dorothy Penny-Larter Scholarship was established by individual memorial donations in her memory.
The Rev. Ronald and Marna Eppler Scholarship
Ronald and Marna Eppler met at Baldwin Wallace College in 1954 and were married at the First United Methodist Church, New Philadelphia in 1956. Marna earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Education, and Ron went on to earn his Master of Divinity Degree at Boston University Seminary. Ron served as a pastor at several churches in the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church, served as a Minister of Music, and became Mansfield District Superintendent in 1987. In retirement, he served the Mentor United Methodist Church as Visitation Pastor and was given the honorary title of Pastor Emeritus in 2002. Marna taught history, served as secretary of the Painesville United Methodist Church for most of the 1970’s and then returned to teaching and tutoring children.
The Rev. Ronald and Marna Eppler Scholarship was established through the donations of many individuals.
The Barbara S. Davis Education Scholarship
Barbara Davis (b. February 1929, d. June 2015) was a lifelong resident of Mentor and member of Mentor United Methodist Church. She was a graduate of Mentor High School, earned her Bachelor’s Degree at Kent State University, and Master’s degree in Education at Lake Erie College. An active member of Mentor United Methodist Church, she served as a trustee and on many committees. An accomplished author, she wrote many articles relating to education as sell as two books, Who Says You Can’t Change the World? and Roses to Retail: Growing up with Mentor. She was honored to be listed in a Directory of Distinguished Americans, Who’s Who in the World, and Who’s Who in America. Her many distinctions include induction into the Mentor High School Alumni Hall of Fame in 2002 and recognition as the Phi Delta Kappa Educator of the Year in 1997. She earned federal acknowledgement by President George H. W. Bush in 1990 as Principal of a Blue Ribbon Elementary School, Center Street Elementary School, where she also attend as a child. She was presented with the Excellence in Teaching Award from the Mentor Board of Education as was named a Martha Holden Jennings Scholar.
The Mentor United Methodist Church Scholarship
The Mentor United Methodist Scholarship is awarded through the generosity of individual contributions to the Gifts, Endowments and Memorials (GEM) Committee of Mentor United Methodist Church. The Endowment Fund was created on May 20, 1991 to ensure the future of the church. Scholarship is one of several endowments.
The Eleanor D. and Herbert W. Weil Scholarship
Eleanor “Davie” Weil (b. 1924, d. 2017) attended the Massachusetts Collage of Art and was Art Director at Meister Publications in Willoughby. She was also a painter and several members of the Mentor UMC have her work in their homes. She held leadership positions in Mentor Women’s Club and other civic organizations that raised scholarship money. At Mentor UMC she sang in the Chancel Choir and volunteered in many other areas. Herbert W. Weil (b. 1925, d. 1982) held music degrees from Queens College, NY and was the chief arranger and tenor saxophone player in the 179th General Hospital Band during WWII. He taught music for over 30 years in Kirtland, Cleveland Heights, and Brecksville, and he was also the choir director at Old South Church in Kirtland. Davie and Herb passed their love of the arts on to their sons, a musician and a writer and English professor.
The Rebecca Horvath Scholarship
Rebecca A. Horvath (b. 1978, d. 1997) was an Architect Major at Ohio State University in Columbus. She attended Garfield Elementary School, Mentor Memorial Junior High, and graduated from Mentor High School in 1996. She was a member of the tennis team, worked in the Unit Office all three of her high school years, and was Editor of the 1996 Mentor High School Yearbook to which she also contributed photographs. Rebecca was an active member of Mentor United Methodist Church. She volunteered in the Sunday School and with the Vacation Bible School program. She contributed many volunteer hours here at church and in school. She was a very loving and caring young lady.
This scholarship is gifted in her memory and honor.
