Of this year's 12 Lex Mathews Scholarship winners, three are from All Saints' Episcopal Church in Hamlet. Hamlet is located in Richmond County, one of the more economically depressed areas in North Carolina. Pictured left to right: B.J. Lowry, president of All Saints' ECW; Kim Sharpe, scholarship recipient; Gina McDonald, scholarship recipient; the Rev. Marty Stebbins, Cluster Missioner. Not shown, Kathy Inman, scholarship recipient. [Learn a little more about these women >>]
- Merrilee Bridgeman of Holy Comforter-Charlotte
$500: Queens University for teacher certification
- Betty Finoh of St. Titus'-Durham
$2,000: NC Central University for degree in social work
- Johneva Lea Green of St. Michael and All Angels-Charlotte
$1,500: UNC Charlotte for degree in business administration
- Katherine Hinson of St. Andrew's-Charlotte
$2,000: Empire School of Beauty for cosmetology teaching certification
- Sharon Horn of St. Mary's School-Raleigh
$1,500: Excelsior College of Albany, NY for online R.N. degree
- Kathy Inman of All Saints'-Hamlet
$1,500: final semester at Richmond Community College for Early Childhood Teacher Associate degree, then to UNC-Pembroke for degree in elementary education
- Regina McDonald of All Saints'-Hamlet
$500: Richmond Community College for associate degree in human services/ social work
- Jamie Nichols of St. Peter's-Charlotte
$500: UNC Charlotte for degree in social work
- Kim Sharpe of All Saints'-Hamlet
$1,500: UNC Pembroke for degree in elementary education
- Debbie Staley of St. Luke's-Salisbury
$1,400: Salem College for degree in music
- Janet Sutton of All Saints-Concord
$600: Cabarrus College of Health Sciences for associate degree in nursing
- Teresa Watkins of Chapel of Christ the King-Charlotte
$500: UNC Charlotte for degree in elementary education
The Diocesan ECW administers and helps finance the Lex Mathews Scholarship program. The program began as a way to honor the ministry and memory of the Rev. Lex Mathews, who before his death in 1985 served as Director of Christian Social Ministries for the Diocese of North Carolina. It is for women of the diocese, age 23 and older, seeking either specialized training in vocational or technical skills, a degree or certification below the masters or doctorate level, or continuing education courses for upgrading job skills.
The scholarships are geared to Episcopalians or someone sponsored by an Episcopalian. They are awarded annually in the spring, and are an effort to help women, many of whom are solely responsible for their families, to achieve self-sufficiency by getting the education necessary to enter or reenter the workforce. In addition to Episcopal Church Women, family and friends of Rev. Mathews are the primary contributors to the fund. The pot of money available for scholarships each year comes from interest earned by the fund, and typically comes to $12,000 to $15,000. Generally, scholarship amounts run between $500 and $2,000 for one academic year.
The Lex Mathews Scholarship Committee, chaired by ECW Vice-President Velma Bradshaw, sorts through the 20 to 30 or so requests each year and makes decisions based on demonstrated need, the quality of the application and the amount of money available to grant. The ECW President, in consultation with the chairperson, appoints members of the committee. This year's committee was comprised of: Anne Phillips-Rocky Mount Convocation; Carolyn Owens-Raleigh Convocation; Shirley Sadler-Winston Salem Convocation; Nancy Wood-Durham Convocation; Marcia Kephart-Charlotte Convocation; and Jenny Haase-Raleigh Convocation.
More information about the Lex Mathews Scholarships, including scholarship applications, can be found on this website. Questions may also be directed to Velma Bradshaw. She can be reached at or (252) 823-4266 or 905 St. Andrew Street, Tarboro, NC 27886.
