A. Ross Brent Scholarship Application Criteria
Scholarships are awarded to graduating high school seniors and full-time college students who are members of Shiloh Baptist Church, 515 W. 4th Street, Plainfield, NJ 07060. High School applications are due March 31, 2026. College applications are due May 31, 2026. All high school scholarship recipients will be announced at Baccalaureate Sunday, June 28, 2026.
To be eligible for the A. Ross Brent Scholarship, students are required to meet the following criteria:
Member of Shiloh Baptist Church.
Have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale. This must be verified with an official high school or college transcript.
Be graduating from high school or a current full-time student at college/trade school (between the ages of 18 and 25).
Be accepted to and/or enrolled in an accredited college/university, vocational or career training school program. Please provide an acceptance letter and/or proof of enrollment. While you may be selected for the A. Ross Brent Scholarship, scholarship funds will NOT be released until proof of enrollment is received.
Attend church regularly and be actively involved in a ministry.
Be involved in extracurricular/community activities or an after-school work program.
Submission of an essay. More details below.
Interviews are required for all high school and new college/trade student applicants. Students who complete the application, meet all the listed criteria, and follow the application process and submission guidelines as listed will be interviewed and considered for the A. Ross Brent Scholarship. Interviews for high school students will be held at the end of April. Interviews for new college/trade students will be held at the beginning of June.
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Student Information
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First Name
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How many years have you been a member of Shiloh Baptist Church?
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Ministry involvement at Shiloh Baptist Church?
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What was the most impactful sermon you listened to at Shiloh Baptist Church this year? What were the main points? Out-of-State College Students, while you were away at school, where did you attend weekly worship service?
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High School Students ONLY
Which colleges have you been accepted to?
50 word limit
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What college/career/trade school do you plan to attend in the Fall of 2026?
50 word limit
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Planned course of study/vocation:
50 word limit
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Are there any extenuating circumstances that you would like the scholarship review committee to know while considering this application?
College Students ONLY
Course of study/vocation:
50 word limit
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High School Seniors Essay Title: “A Sermon That Helped Me Grow and Show Up”
Format: Typewritten, 12-point Times New Roman, double-spaced Length: 350 to 500 words.
Choose one sermon preached at Shiloh Baptist Church in 2025 or 2026 that stayed with you. In your essay, explain what the message meant to you, how it shaped your choices this year, and how it challenged you to care about what is right, not just what is easy.
What to include in your essay: 1. In your own words, share the main lesson you took from the sermon. 2. Describe one specific way the sermon influenced your life. Examples include attitude, relationships, decision-making, integrity, school habits, and perseverance. 3. Share one real moment when you applied it, such as a decision, conversation, boundary, or new habit. 4. Justice element (required): Name one issue of fairness, dignity, or doing what is right that matters to you at school or in your community. Explain one small but real action you have taken or will take to be part of the solution. Examples include speaking up, including others, mentoring, volunteering, advocacy, changing how you treat people, reporting wrongdoing, or serving a need. 5. End with one goal for your first year after graduation that connects to the sermon’s message and your justice action.
Sermon Reference (required): Your essay must connect to one Shiloh sermon preached in 2025 or 2026. Include at least one of the following in your essay: 1. a short quote from the sermon (1 to 2 sentences), or 2. the sermon title, or 3 the main Scripture text (example: Psalm 23:1 to 6).
Full-Time College Students Essay Title: “Faith That Shows Up: Values, Character, and Justice in Real Life”
Format: Typewritten, 12-point Times New Roman, double-spaced Length: No less than 500 words.
Choose one sermon preached at Shiloh Baptist Church in 2025 or 2026 that influenced your mindset, values, or decisions. In your essay, explain how your faith guides the way you live, how you show up for others, and how you respond when you see need, harm, or unfairness.
What to include in your essay: 1. In your own words, share the main lesson you took from the sermon. 2. Describe two areas of your life where this message shows up. Choose two from school, work, family, friendships or relationships, church or ministry, and community involvement. 3. Give at least one specific example of what you did differently because of the sermon. 4. Describe one challenge you are facing right now and explain how the sermon helps guide your response. 5. Justice element (required): Identify one justice issue you are paying attention to on campus, in your community, or in society. Explain why it matters to you and describe one concrete action you are taking or will take this semester that reflects your faith. Examples include service, mentoring, tutoring, organizing, advocacy, mutual aid, restorative practices, ethical leadership, or community-based work. 6. Close with one practical next step you will take in the next 30 days to keep growing in faith, leadership, and justice.
Sermon Reference (required): Your essay must connect to one Shiloh sermon preached in 2025 or 2026. Include at least one of the following in your essay: 1. a short quote from the sermon (1 to 2 sentences), or 2. the sermon title, or 3 the main Scripture text (example: Psalm 23:1 to 6).
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Download unofficial transcript
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High School: Download college acceptance letter(s)
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