Northwestern College to launch Bridge Scholars program

Northwestern College is launching a new program, Bridge Scholars, that offers scholarships and campus learning and leadership opportunities for students from historically underrepresented populations.

The Bridge Scholars program is under the direction of Rahn Franklin, Northwestern’s director of multicultural student development. Franklin hopes to have a Bridge Scholars cohort of about 10 students in each class year at Northwestern for an eventual total of around 40 Bridge Scholars on campus.

“Our classrooms and campus life will be further enriched as students from diverse backgrounds join us in pursuing God’s redeeming work in the world,” says Franklin. “The Bridge Scholars program encourages multicultural students on our campus to thrive academically and socially and to develop as leaders. As they thrive, the whole institution does.”

Under Franklin’s oversight, Bridge Scholars will meet for courses, discussion, mentoring and experiential learning all aimed at developing the ability of each to be a campus leader and advocate for an inclusive campus and curriculum. Bridge Scholars will be “ambassadors of reconciliation,” says Franklin, helping Northwestern to exhibit the values expressed in the college’s Vision for Diversity.

“The Vision for Diversity establishes that reconciliation between people, particularly between people separated by racial prejudice, is not simply a good social goal, it’s part of what it means to follow Jesus in this world,” says Julie Vermeer Elliott, Northwestern’s vice president for student life.

“We see the Bridge Scholars program as one small way in which we will attract more diverse persons to our campus and equip them to become transformative leaders in college and, ultimately, throughout their lives.”

Students accepted into the Bridge Scholars program will receive a $2,500 scholarship, renewable for four years for students who meet GPA and program participation requirements. Students may apply to the Bridge Scholars program by Feb. 1. Eligibility requirements and application instructions are available at nwciowa.edu/bridge-scholars.