Professor Arnold Koelpin initiated this fund in 2007, purposing to pass on the heritage of Christian studies in the Reformation, Lutheran confessional writings, and New Testament epistles to Martin Luther College students preparing for ministerial service. Professor Koelpin served the church as instructor at Michigan Lutheran Seminary and Northwestern College; pastor at St. James-Cambridge, Wisconsin; and professor in the religion-history division of (Dr.) Martin Luther College (1962-2001). He represented his country as a Fulbright Scholar in Germany and, upon retirement at age 70, was appointed mayor of the city of New Ulm. He continued preaching, lecturing, and teaching in synod districts and abroad, and writing Christian books and articles for publication until the time of his death in 2017. He and his wife, Ruth, have three sons and a daughter who serve in the holy ministry
Recipients of the merit-based scholarship (full payment of one semester’s tuition) and the need-based grant-in-aid are preseminary students who have demonstrated 1) an affinity to historical studies, with particular interest in the heritage of the biblical and Lutheran confession; 2) honorable character and reputation; 3) participation in college and/or community activities; and, above all, 4) the temperament, aptitude, and willingness to serve in the Christian ministry to congregations at home and in new areas of the worldwide Christian mission.
