October 7th

Student Bursary Essays

Life, Faith and University

Editor's note - the Student Bursary recipient's application essays will be the focus of the Menno Minutes for the next few weeks - read and see what Aiden Scherzinger, Kyle Wiebe and Kenai Warkentin have to say! 

Faith has always been an important part of my family and life, and since both of my parents as well as my two older siblings attended CMU, choosing it myself felt like a natural next step. I wanted to go somewhere that would challenge me academically while also helping me continue to grow in my faith. CMU seemed like a place where I could do both. I also liked that it has a close-knit community where people seem to genuinely care about each other, and are actively involved in each other's lives.

My home church, Springridge Mennonite Church, has had a big influence on me. I grew up there, and it has given me opportunities to learn, serve, and build relationships with people of all ages. Through the church and Mennonite Church Alberta, especially Camp Valaqua, I've seen how important it is to be part of a community that encourages and supports one another. Being a camp counselor over the last couple of summers has taught me a lot about leadership, patience, and what it means to put others first. Those experiences made me want to keep growing in my faith while I'm in university.

At Springridge, I've been involved in the tech team for several years, helping with sound and projection during services and special events. I've also been part of the youth group, done Scripture readings, and been in the church Christmas plays each year. Those opportunities have allowed me to participate in a meaningful way, and shown me that serving doesn't always have to be in a big or visible way, which is something that I’d like to bring to my church or community wherever I am.