Ken and Pearl Van Dellen American Indian/Ethnic Minority Scholarship

Harko Fryling was born in Munnekezijl, Friesland, Netherlands, on October 2, 1869. He immigrated to Grand Rapids, MI, with his parents as a pre-teen in 1880. Harko graduated from Calvin College and had recently received his diploma from Calvin Theological Seminary when he married Katie Hoogeboom on July 6, 1896. Katie is a sister of Ken’s paternal grandmother. Tragically Katie’s brother and a sister had died of TB before her wedding, and she was symptomatic herself. In October, the couple left to establish a new mission field among the Navajos and Zunis, hoping that the drier climate might improve Katie’s health. Unfortunately, she went to be with Jesus on February 15, 1897. In the following years, two more of Katie’s sisters died from TB, leaving only Ken’s grandmother as the sole survivor. This scholarship was established in memory of Katie Fryling. Just after Ken’s fourth birthday, his grandparents and parents took him on a trip to Rehoboth to visit the place where Katie had spent her last months. He still has vivid memories of that trip, 83 years ago, including details of Rehoboth, the drive-up Pikes Peak, and crossing the Royal Gorge bridge.

Basic criteria:

• entering freshman, sophomore, junior or senior year
• graduate of Rehoboth Christian High School; if no students meet these criteria in a given year, other ethnic minority students from any school may be considered
• financial need is considered

Renewal criteria: This scholarship is automatically renewable if the student continues to make satisfactory academic progress. Renewal is subject to funding availability.