Stanley E. Olson Endowed Minority Scholarship

This scholarship had two different lives. For its first 10 years (from 1975 to 1985), it was known as simply the Stanley E. Olson Scholarship. It originated with a gift from St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Van Nuys where the Reverend Stanley Olson served as pastor before he became Bishop of the Pacific Southwest Synod of the Lutheran Church in America. The purpose of the early scholarship was to help students who were planning to go on to seminary studies following their graduation from CLC. Several outstanding students received these early awards.

As Bishop of the Pacific Southwest Synod, Dr. Olson was a member of the CLC Board of Regents. In 1985 a decision was made to encourage friends and colleagues of Bishop Olson to help the scholarship fund reach endowment level. At the same time, CLC Convocation members were concerned about having additional scholarship support for minority students. Therefore, with Bishop Olson’s wholehearted approval, the name of the scholarship was changed to the Stanley E. Olson Minority Scholarship.

The journey to reach the level of an endowed scholarship was a gradual one, helped immensely and somewhat serendipitously by a grant from the James Irvine Foundation for the purpose of increasing the diversity of CLU’s student body. Thus the intent of the grant and the goal of the scholarship went forward hand-in-glove.

The Stanley E. Olson Endowed Minority Scholarship was awarded for the first time in 1990. Both Bishop Olson and his wife Mary Lou were present for the happy occasion. In the years since it was first awarded, the scholarship has helped deserving minority students, thanks to the faithfulness and support of its donors.