Ida Menzel Scholarship Fund

India

The Ida Menzel Scholarship Fund was established in 2004 – first as a part of the Lady Doak Endowment Fund and later, in December 2012, as a separate stand-alone permanent fund of Wider Church Ministries of the United Church of Christ.  The Fund was established though gifts from the family and friends of Ida Menzel, who with her husband Emil were educational missionaries in the Chhattisgarh district of India for 33 years.

Distributions from the Ida Menzel Scholarship Fund will provide a full tuition scholarship (including tuition, room, and board) for a deserving student with financial need as determined by Lady Doak College in Madurai, India.

Lady Doak College (LDC) was established in 1948 by Miss Katie Wilcox, a U.S. educational missionary.   It has grown from three thatched sheds to a lovely campus with more than 20 buildings.   LDC achieved autonomy in 1978 and was awarded the highest Five Star Status by the Indian National Accreditation Council.  It is an autonomous, progressive women’s college with an international outlook and provides a high quality, holistic education.  Enrollment is approximately 3,000 students (of whom 1,700 receive financial aid) from cities and villages across south India and beyond.  There are 140 faculty members, most of whom are women, many with PhDs and international connections.  LDC offers BA, BS, MA, and MS degrees as well undergraduate studies in science (zoology, botany, chemistry, mathematics, physics, bio-technology, computer applications, information technology), humanities (English, Tamil, history, economics, social sciences), commerce and business administration.  Thirteen post-graduate degrees also are offered.  For over 50 years thousands of Indian women have been educated to serve and lead their communities and nation in countless ways.  Lady Doak College states their purpose as:  “to impart a liberal Christian education to students of all creeds … to develop their intellectual powers, locate, identify, and cultivate their interests and talents, and train them to be responsible and useful citizens.”

Additional contributions may be made to the principal of the Ida Menzel Scholarship Fund by sending a check written to:

Wider Church Ministries/Global Ministries
PO BOX 71957
Cleveland, Ohio 44194

 Questions about the Ida Menzel Scholarship Fund may be directed to

 Office of Resource Development
Global Ministries
P.O. Box 1986
Indianapolis, IN 46206-1986
(317) 713-2555
gifts@dom.disciples.org