Giving to Rosemead
Alumni Community
Sheldon Zenger Endowed Memorial Scholarship Fund
Eligibility and Application
Recipients of the Sheldon Zenger Scholarship at Rosemead School of Psychology must be full-time doctoral students in clinical psychology with at least second year standing.
Administration of the Fund
Biola University manages the investment of the Zenger Memorial Scholarship Fund. Scholarships are awarded annually by Biola's Director of Financial Services and the Admissions and Academic Qualifications Committee of Rosemead School of Psychology.
History
Sheldon Ray Zenger was born on March 6, 1958, in Fairfield, California. He died on January 11, 1984, in Topeka Kansas, not quite 26 years of age. Although he was born in California, Sheldon lived most of his lifetime in Kansas, where his parents, Weldon and Sharon Zenger are college professors.
Sheldon was an extremely serious, sensitive, and hard-working young person with high expectations for himself and others. He was a model son and student, graduating from Hays High School in December, 1975, with a 3.96 grade point average. Football was Sheldon's favorite sport, and he played throughout his junior and senior high school years. Sheldon graduated from Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, in 1980, with a B.S. degree in agricultural economics and a year later received a M.S. degree in the same field. During his senior year of college he had an article published in a major professional newspaper, and his Master's thesis was published in one of the professional journals in his field of study.
After receiving his master's degree in 1981, Sheldon took a position with the United States Department of Agriculture in the regional office at Topeka. He worked there until his death. During that time he was making plans to return to school for a doctoral degree in natural resource management so that he could live out his commitment to preserve the resources God has placed on this earth.
Sheldon's faith was a central focus in his life. He accepted the Lord as his Savior. Throughout his life on earth, he was concerned about helping others live committed Christian lives.
Creation of the Fund
Drs. Weldon and Sharon Zenger, parents, and Shannon and Sheahon, sister and brother, established the Sheldon Zenger Memorial Scholarship fund in honor of Sheldon. His last wishes were for his family to keep the faith and that he would have an impact for Christ, even in death. Therefore, Sheldon's estate plus memorial funds have been established in his name for scholarships which will help upper-level students in Christian colleges and universities majoring in pastoral ministries, missions, Christian education, Christian school education, or clinical psychology.
Even through Sheldon had been out of college and on the job for only two years, he treated his money with the same careful stewardship he did all aspects of his life. By establishing scholarships to help those preparing for Christian ministries, Sheldon's family is carrying out his wishes for an ongoing Christian witness.
The fund at Biola University's Rosemead School of Psychology was begun in 1984 with an initial gift of $5,000. Interest accrued each year is designated for a scholarship in Sheldon's name. Additional contributions may be made to the fund at any time.
Recipients of this scholarship are encouraged to contribute to the fund once they have graduated and are able to perpetuate its influence.