This scholarship fund was established in 2016 by Rev. Charles and Mrs. Linda Degner in connection with an estate gift from Robert A. Schaefer.
Robert Schaefer (1928-2016, pictured) was a 43-year employee of Paragon Electric in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. In the Christian preamble to his will, he wrote: I want you to realize how God allowed me to accumulate financial resources beyond anything I could have imagined possible. . . . I ask you to remember a simple truth of God’s Word that has become very special to me: “You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:17-18).
“My uncle was exceptionally generous!” said Linda Degner. “He also had a great love for doing the Lord’s work, even though he was not in the public ministry. We know he would be very happy to see how we’ve used his gift to support future ministers of the gospel.”
Income from this fund is distributed in $500 grants to MLC students who demonstrate financial need. Preference is given to students from St. John-Two Rivers WI, Manitowoc LHS, and the Northern Wisconsin District of WELS.
