During Cole Shiflet’s senior year at Samford University, he had a lot on his plate. He was wrapping up his studies in mass communications, writing as a correspondent for The Alabama Baptist and serving in a variety of other ministry roles.
But one thing that eased his load was the Dr. Bobby S. “Bob” Terry Scholarship, which is given each year to journalism and mass communications students at Samford.
Terry is editor emeritus of TAB.
Shiflet said, “The scholarship helped to alleviate anxiety about my financial situation and allowed me to focus on my schoolwork and ministry commitments during my senior year at Samford.”
It also kept him from carrying that financial burden with him into his studies at Beeson Divinity School, where he’s working on his master of divinity. He’s interested in using his communication studies in pastoral ministry and considering cross-cultural ministry work through overseas missions.
The Terry scholarship has been given to 10 other students since its inception in 2018. The Association of State Baptist Publications established it in honor of Terry, who retired that year after 50 years in state Baptist paper work (Kentucy and Missouri prior to Alabama).
The scholarship was endowed by the TAB board of directors.
Theological education
Another scholarship named in honor of a TAB editor — Jennifer Davis Rash — was awarded for the first time in fall 2022.
The scholarship is for Beeson Divinity School and was established and endowed by the TAB board in 2020 to help underrepresented minorities who are members of Southern Baptist churches to further their theological education.
Rash earned her master of theological studies degree from Beeson in 2007 and has been with TAB since 1996 (editor since 2019).
‘Important investment’
Gary Fenton — who serves as senior advancement director for both Beeson and Samford and also serves on TAB’s board — said both scholarships are deeply meaningful.
“Dr. Terry has served his entire career as a Christian journalist for the Baptist community,” he said. “Through this scholarship … we are helping the next generation of journalists to be trained at Samford.”
He said that’s an important investment in the next generation so “the truth of our Christian faith and our Baptist denomination are accessible and understandable for everyone.”
The Rash scholarship is vital too, Fenton said.
“Jennifer Rash’s scholarship not only honors an outstanding Christian lady, it also will help students preparing for ministry to receive graduate training at Beeson,” he said. “With the rising cost of graduate programs, it is imperative that we provide scholarships for those training to serve in international missions, in denominational positions and in local churches so they will not be encumbered with student debt. Without scholarships, many students would not be able to attend Beeson.”
A scholarship also exists in Fenton’s name at Beeson — the Gary and Alta Faye Fenton Scholarship, established to honor the Fentons’ 25 years of ministry at Dawson Memorial Baptist Church in Homewood, where he served as pastor.
To give to the Terry scholarship, visit www.givecampus.com/campaigns/5106/donations/new?designation=bobbysterryscholarship&.
For the Rash scholarship or the Fenton scholarship, visit www.givecampus.com/campaigns/5153/donations/new and select the scholarship from the drop-down menu.
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