“On behalf of President Israel and the entire university, I would like to sincerely thank the Mullikin family for this very generous and faith-filled donation to the prosperity of Lambuth University’s ministerial education,” said Professor Dan Ashton, Provost of Lambuth University.

 

The purpose of the gift to the university is to establish the Mullikin Ministerial Foundation Scholarship Fund. Bernie Mullikin, a charter member of St. Stephens United Methodist Church in Memphis, originally established this fund in 1990 in honor of his wife as the Marie Mullikin Ministerial Foundation.

 

As Mr. and Mrs. Mullikin supported their son, Dr. Paul H. Mullikin, in obtaining his education as a United Methodist minister, they recognized the financial burden placed upon the clergy.

 

Therefore, in order to assist others to fulfill their calling, this endowed scholarship will be used to provide financial assistance to students who are pursuing an education leading to a vocation as an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church. The money will be used for educational expenses.

 

“This scholarship fund originally portrayed the love and dedication my father had for my mother,” said Dr. Paul H. Mullikin. “Now we want to continue the scholarship fund to show our love and dedication we have for him. We want to honor my father’s generosity through this.”

 

Bernie Mullikin passed away in February of 2009. He set up the Mullikin Ministerial Foundation Scholarship Fund so that it would go to Lambuth University if St. Stephens United Methodist Church chose to no longer handle it.

 

“The Mullikin Ministerial Foundation Scholarship Fund will be awarded to a Lambuth student or students who demonstrate financial need related to the pursuit of ministerial education,” Ashton said.

 

“I can only imagine the number of dreams you [the Mullikins] are fulfilling of those students who are ever so fortunate to receive this scholarship to provide for their Lambuth ministerial education.”

 

The recipient or recipients of the scholarship must be an official candidate for the ordained ministry in the United Methodist Church and must be able to demonstrate satisfactory progress in academic efforts leading to ordination.

 

“The scholarship fund will continue to live and succeed for many years to come at our beloved institution,” Ashton said.