Partnership with church provides scholarships to Anchorage students
Countless Alaska students will attend PLU with scholarships provided through a partnership with an Anchorage church.
Central Lutheran Church members Tom and Tyne
Haukebo had long supported PLU students from their
congregation with scholarships. When they died, they left
$300,000 to the church earmarked for students attending
PLU. The church turned over $200,000 of that to PLU to
create an endowed scholarship in the Haukebos’ name.
“It was going to be a large amount of money for our
endowment committee to manage,” said Ken Helm,
congregation president. “PLU has a great track record with
endowments.”
The church manages the rest and determines who receives the scholarships.
Helm’s three daughters have benefited from the Haukebos’ generosity. Karina graduated in 2001, Erika is a senior, and Britta a freshman. Four other students have scholarships through the church this year, and others will in the future. PLU also matches scholarships from churches up to $1,000 through its PLUMS program.
The Haukebos were strong believers in education. They had no children so they “adopted” Central students, said the Rev. Ron Martinson, former Central pastor who is now the bishop of the Alaska synod. Martinson is an advisory member of the Board of Regents whose two daughters graduated from PLU.
“They really wanted to help youth go to PLU.” Central also administrates the Hazel Anderson Scholarship, which goes annually to an Alaskan music student.
