Sparta United Methodist Church
71 Sparta Ave
Sparta, NJ 07871
973-729-7773
office admin@spartaumc.org
Celebrating Diversity Scholarship
Scholarship Overview
The Celebrating Diversity Scholarship is awarded by Sparta United Methodist Church to reinforce the value of inclusion and diversity in enriching the community.
Qualifications: Students in Sussex County who will be full-time students in a 4-year college, 2-year college, or Trade School in the fall of 2026.
Awards
Three (3) non-renewable scholarships will be awarded:
- 1st Place: $3,000
- 2nd Place: $2,000
- 3rd Place: $1,000
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit all required information listed below which includes an essay as well as a short response question.
- Contact Information: Name, Address, Phone, Email.
- Academic Information: High School Graduation Year, Current School, GPA, Full-Time School Attending in Fall 2026, Level of Study, Intended Major/Field of Study.
- Short Response: Please choose one to write about (in 100 words or less):
- Your future goals,
- Your intended use of the scholarship,
- Activities that make you well-rounded, or
- Your plan for changing the world.
- Essay: A 500-word essay based on the required reading: Memoirs of a Peppermint Mermaid by Michael Adam.
- Prompt: Identify one of Leo’s (the central character) relationships that creates emotional struggles for him. Discuss Leo’s realizations about this relationship and whether he demonstrates growth and maturity. Support your claims with evidence from the text. (A strong concluding sentence is encouraged.)
- Signature
Submission Details
Application is due BY April 1, 2026.
- E-mail: Please prepare your complete application as a single document (Word document only) and email to officeadmin@spartaumc.org.
-OR- - Drop Off: Deliver a physical copy to: Sparta United Methodist Church, 71 Sparta Ave, Sparta, NJ 07871