Scholarship
SHERI BURNETT * CHAIRPERSON
The Margarett A Smith Reed Scholarship
Bishop Charles Rodgers and his wife, Gloria, made many personal sacrifices as they championed his first pastorate assignment at Covington Church of God in Christ.
While spreading the gospel and raising a family, they took on additional assignments to help the students of the ministry to be able to further their education goals. However, this couple never neglected to ensure their children were taken care of.
Bishop Rodgers, an advocate for education, decided to step out on faith and invest in the lives of other children. April 1974, he decided to start a scholarship fund by contributing the first $1500 and he asked the membership to donate $100 per working adult member. The Charles Rodgers Scholarship Fund was birthed. This scholarship program was established to give scholarships to young people of our ministry, who are committed to serving the ministry of the Covington COGIC (Great Expectations Ministry COGIC) and who excel academically. Specific amounts of scholarship awards vary from year to year and are dependent on the amount of funds available.
There were four graduates in the class of 1974. However, the very first scholarships were awarded to two (2) of those four students who were graduating from high school and furthering their education either in a college or vocational school. The recipients were Jerry Boyce (vocational) and Dorothy Hill (college). The other two, Carvin Wright and Patricia Young, received honorariums. In 1975, policies and procedures were put in place regarding the scholarship recipient.
The Scholarship Fund was renamed in 1986 in memory of Missionary Joyce Ann Terry Wynn, another advocate for education. Missionary Wynn demonstrated love and loyalty to the youth of our ministry as well as those in the community.
The year 2002 impacted our ministry in that our sweet first lady, Margarett Ann Smith Reed transitioned. Several ministry graduates and educators thought it would be great to honor her, being an educator for more than 35 years, in renaming the Scholarship Fund. Thus, the Margarett A Reed Scholarship Fund remains as a great instrument in helping to fund the education of our children.
This scholarship fund has assisted hundreds of young people since its inception in 1974, with donations from the following, but not limited to, the late Mother Lee Ella Grimes, the late Evangelist Asaline Rodgers Bowman, Prophetess Eleanor Terry, Dr. Loraine Jones, the late Missionary Mary L Taylor, Elder Ralph Rodgers, the late Dr. Jesse Cannon, Tipton County Bank, Smith’s Jewelers, Cherry’s Department Store, Klippers & Kurls (Esther Topps-Hall) and countless other donors.
The scholarship foundation continues to demonstrate the church’s commitment to our young people in their endeavors toward attaining higher education. To this end, the Scholarship Fund uses available funds to make awards to students who are members of the church and are pursuing their first undergraduate degree. Applicants will have the responsibility of adhering to the guidelines/policy set forth by the Scholarship Committee to meet eligibility.
Interested in Applying for the scholarship, please complete the form below in order to receive the documents needed for applicants.