New permanent scholarship endowment resources for the divinity school include:

Anonymous Friends of the Divinity School have given almost $400,000 to establish The Robert E. Cushman Memorial Scholarship Fund to honor the memory of the late professor of theology and dean whose leadership inspired academic excellence and faithful ministry.

A gift of $100,000 from Martha D’59 and Rodney D’60, D’64 Brown of Winston-Salem, N.C., has established the Brown and Riggins Family Scholarship Fund for students with prior business experience who seek to connect business and ministry through strong parish leadership, workplace chaplaincy, or other careers in order to bring theological and ethical perspectives to workplace relationships, and conversely bring a realistic business perspective to theological reflection.

Gift commitments of $100,000 from Mount Vernon Mills of Mauldin, S.C., and $25,000 from Moon Kwan Ja and George Irion of Greensboro, N.C., have initiated The Kimberly St. George Irion Memorial Scholarship Fund. The fund celebrates the life of the Irions’ daughter and gives priority to students with exceptional promise for ordained ministry demonstrating “high levels of understanding, skill in counseling, and compassion for ministry with persons with mental disorders and their families.”

Louise D’83 and Paul Hall of Durham, N.C., have given $50,000 to endow the Vanessa Louise Hall Memorial Scholarship Fund in loving memory of their daughter, with appreciation for the ministry of Duke Divinity graduates and others with their family, and to encourage excellence in Christian ministry.

“Scholarship endowment resources are of vital importance for the divinity school,” said Dean L. Gregory Jones. “It is especially heartening to have a scholarship to honor the late Dean Robert E. Cushman who cared for the last building expansion and taught generations of pastors and professors.”

Commitments of $35,000 each from Marion and Wensel Grabarek of Durham, N.C., and Janice and Earle Moore of Chase City, Va., will name the Resurrection window and the Palm Sunday window, respectively, in the chancel apse of the Goodson Chapel. The stained glass windows are being designed and constructed in Statesville, N.C., by artist Les Wicker.

“We are profoundly grateful to all these graduates and friends for their support of the divinity school,” said Jones.