Alabama
‘The church has lost a giant’
Jack Zorn, the influential founder of Lads to Leaders, a…
Faulkner announces Jack Zorn Scholarship for undergraduate Bible majors
The scholarship, named in honor of the late founder of Lads to Leaders who died in August, will include full tuition.
Faulkner University, which is associated with Churches of Christ, announced a Bible scholarship in honor of the late Jack Zorn, the alumnus and Lads to Leaders founder who died in August at 86.
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The Jack Zorn Scholarship will be available to a limited number of undergraduate Bible majors attending the Montgomery, Ala., university beginning with the fall 2022 semester and will offer recipients — who will be known as Zorn Scholars — full tuition for up to five years.
Zorn Scholars must live on campus, participate in ministry events and take a minimum of two Bible courses per semester.
Todd Brenneman, dean of the College of Biblical Studies and the Graduate School of Theology, said in a press release that the scholarship will make ministerial education more affordable and accessible.
“Our hope is that this endeavor will encourage more students to consider pursuing education in the Bible and will help parents see the value of Christian education,” he said. “Honoring Dr. Zorn this way highlights how we share the same vision as he had of raising up the next generation of godly leaders.”
While the Zorn family was unaware of the Zorn Scholarship prior to its announcement, Rhonda Fernandez, one of Zorn’s three daughters, expressed her delight at the news.
“To honor Daddy and Lads to Leaders in this way is beyond touching,” she told The Christian Chronicle. “I can’t help but remember Dad saying that he showed up at Faulkner — it was Alabama Christian at the time — ill-prepared academically with $10 and big dreams. He had a passion for hard work and a gazelle focus to become educated so he could preach the Gospel. The impact that this will have spreading the Gospel will be inspiring to see.”
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The family has deep connections to Faulkner. Not only did Zorn attend, but so did his wife — the late Frances Zorn, who died in 2017 at age 80 — and all three daughters, at one point or another. Zorn was also a member of Faulkner’s board of trustees and was named Alumnus of the Year for 2021.
“I can’t wait to meet the first Zorn Scholars,” Fernandez added. “All the Christian universities need more Bible majors — that’s for sure — so this is just a very very special, very exciting thing.”
For more information about the scholarship, visit Faulkner’s website.
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