MDS Volunteer Award Supports Service-Oriented Students

Students at Grebel who are attending the University of Waterloo or Wilfrid Laurier University and have volunteered with Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS), are now provided the opportunity to earn a substantial scholarship toward one term’s tuition. 

The MDS Service Scholarship Award was graciously established by Mennonite Disaster Service, with hopes that it will promote student service and volunteering. “MDS has its roots in the longstanding Anabaptist and Mennonite value of service to our fellow humans. Providing a scholarship to students gives them an opportunity to experience one form of service while also receiving some financial support for post-secondary education,” said Ross Penner, Executive Director of Mennonite Disaster Service Canada.

“Participating in Grebel’s MDS program gave me an opportunity to step outside my comfort zone and experience the hospitality and kindness of strangers,” shared Serina Ykema King, a Civil Engineering student at Grebel and an active volunteer with MDS. She added, “I think many people do MDS to help others, but you actually get as much as you give.”  

The annual winter Reading Week trip to serve with MDS has traditionally been a highlight of the year, as students made meaningful connections with communities across North America and developed lasting friendships with other volunteers. Ross noted, “We believe a service opportunity like this plants seeds that will bear fruit for years to come."

For more information on the scholarship and how to apply, visit our Financial Aid page.