Paul Scholars
Concordia’s Work Education Program
The Paul Scholars program at Concordia University, Nebraska equips Christian leaders within a distinctly Lutheran academic scholarship community through Christ-centered service, hands-on work experiences and engaging learning.
What is a Paul Scholar?
Concordia’s Paul Scholars are Christ-centered leaders from day one, driven to make a difference in their vocations, mentor others and reflect God's light in every calling. The program helps you build core competencies and vocational skills that strengthen both your character and professional contribution. Through the program’s four-year, full-tuition scholarship, your tuition is covered through a combination of work placement and scholarship support awarded through the program.
As a Paul Scholar, you will:
- Receive mentoring and leadership development as you grow into a Christ-centered servant leader.
- Gain hands-on work experience through on-campus work placements in your first two years and advanced on-campus or community work placements in your final two years.
- Participate in mentored part-time work each semester, averaging 15 hours per week, throughout your four years at Concordia.
- Join a supportive scholar community of peers, professionals and mentors who help you build confidence and connections.
- Earn a four-year full tuition scholarship through a combination of work placement and scholarship support.
- Access exclusive events and experiences designed for Paul Scholars.
Apply to the Paul Scholars Community
All admitted first-year students enrolling in a four-year program at Concordia are invited to apply. Once you’ve been admitted to Concordia, complete the online application linked below. You must also complete the FAFSA to be considered.
Your application must include:
- The completed application form.
- A video (2 minutes or less) explaining why you’re applying.
- Two letters of recommendation: one from a teacher and one from a non-family member (see the FAQ below for suggested topics).
PLEASE NOTE: Paul Scholars may receive only one tuition scholarship and are not eligible for athletic or performance scholarships. U.S. citizenship is required; international students (F-1 visa holders) are not eligible due to U.S. work restrictions. Financial need is not required, but will be considered.
“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and is grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.”
(1 Corinthians 15:10)
The Paul Scholars Experience
Core Competencies
These core competencies represent a developmental roadmap for Paul Scholars. They’re embedded throughout the Scholar experience and prepare Scholars for decades of Christian leadership beyond graduation.
- Personal Growth & Learning: Accurately assessing strengths and growth areas, seeking and using feedback effectively, taking initiative to develop professionally
- Communication: Communicating clearly in written, oral and non-verbal forms, adapting approach to different people and situations, advocating respectfully
- Critical Thinking & Creativity: Using logic and reasoning to solve problems, gathering and analyzing information, proposing creative solutions
- Empathy & Compassion: Seeking to understand different perspectives, listening deeply, advocating for unmet needs, treating all with dignity
- Professionalism: Being present, prepared and dependable, meeting or exceeding expectations, demonstrating attention to detail and pursuit of excellence
- Teamwork: Collaborating effectively, managing conflict constructively, demonstrating dependability, supporting team members
- Resiliency: Welcoming challenges, adapting to new circumstances, establishing healthy responses to adversity, viewing difficulty as opportunity
- Technology Use: Taking initiative to learn workplace technologies, using technology effectively, adapting quickly to new tools
- Christian Witness: Treating all as valued in God’s love, embracing work as calling, demonstrating conviction for what is right, living faithfully in workplace context
Courses
As a Paul Scholar, you’ll earn a Vocational Leadership minor, an 18-credit hour program woven throughout your four years at Concordia. For official course descriptions, including credit hours and prerequisites, please consult the Course Catalog.
VCLD 101 Becoming a Vocational Leader
In this introductory course, first-year students connect essential habits of an effective Team Member with work, service, and learning. We will define support teams, expectations, and strategies to help each other thrive in school and work as men and women of Christ. First year students begin applying key course principles with their campus work mentor as part of our Work Learning Lab central to the program.
VCLD 102 A Biblical View of Work, Vocation, and Faith
Building upon the foundations of VCLD 101, students explore the intersection of work, vocation, service, and faith through a Biblical lens. Addressing the modern division between sacred and secular, students learn to become agents of positive change and faith in various aspects of life. The Work Learning Lab continues to provide a practical context for applying course principles within the campus workplace.
VCLD 201 Vocational Followership 1
Students further refine their understanding of serving God’s purposes in various contexts, both within the church and the broader world. Students continue building on work and vocational talents within a Team Member mindset. Emphasizing collaborative teamwork, students begin to support their peers within the leadership and vocational program and are mentored by their upper peers in this course. Students may assist in selecting the next cohort. Classroom learning is applied to work and other experiences.
VCLD 202 Vocational Followership 2
Continuing their vocational journey, students develop personalized pathways for serving within their chosen professions. Guided by current and historical examples in this field, students refine their vocational styles and explore leadership roles within the program. Students partner with Senior Scholar mentors to manage events, promote the program, and prepare for off-campus work placement the following year. The Work Learning Lab remains an integral component, facilitating real-world application of course principles.
VCLD 301 Vocational Leadership 1
This course transitions students from being a Team Member to growth as a leader within their vocation and profession. Each student is assessed and provided feedback as an emerging leader to define personal and team goals for work, service, and learning. Students explore organizational behavior and strategies for effective collaboration within diverse workplaces. Students collect and analyze workplace data to document personal and team growth in the program. As third year students, they also mentor freshmen students through their first year, helping them apply classroom learning to their Work Learning Lab experience.
VCLD 401 Vocational Leadership 2
Serving as the capstone experience of the Vocational Leadership minor, this course highlights a senior project where students analyze key leadership trends in their field. Students develop strategies to shape their workplace using their unique talents and Christian faith. Through off-site work experiences and mentorship, students refine their leadership skills and explore post-graduation vocational and career pathways. Seniors also mentor second year students in all aspects of event planning and hosting, culminating in a capstone presentation at the Spring Celebration Dinner with community partners and students from all cohorts.
Paul Scholars Placement Partners
The Paul Scholars Work Education Program at Concordia University, Nebraska offers a unique opportunity for local employers to partner in developing the next generation of Christian leaders while gaining immediate benefits to your business or nonprofit through access to talented, motivated Scholar workers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements to be a Paul Scholar?
To be considered for the Paul Scholar program, you must
- be actively involved in activities related to school, church, work and volunteering,
- provide examples of supporting and helping to lead several of these activities,
- demonstrate experience balancing work (or similar) with school and personal responsibilities,
- show how Christian faith and a service mindset are lived out in your everyday life,
- model a strong work ethic/results focus
- and maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA.
PLEASE NOTE: Paul Scholars may receive only one tuition scholarship and are not eligible for athletic or performance scholarships. US citizenship is required; international students (F-1 visa holders) are not eligible due to U.S. work restrictions. Financial need is not required, but will be considered.
What are the benefits of being a Paul Scholar?
As a Paul Scholar, you’ll gain hands-on experience as a Christ-centered leader in the workplace while earning a four-year full tuition Scholarship. Your classroom learning is integrated with the development of leadership competencies and vocational skills, fostering a holistic approach to your higher education.
You’ll also have access to a Scholar community of peers, mentors, employer partners and Concordia faculty and staff who will help you navigate your academics and work experience and prepare you for your vocations after college.
Will I still be able to have a full college experience while working and taking classes?
Yes! Most college students work a part-time job to earn money. As a Paul Scholar, your work experience is built into your academic experience. You’ll still have time to participate in on-campus activities, hang out with friends and have a normal college experience.
Will I need my own transportation?
During your first two years, you will work in a placement on Concordia’s campus. In years three and four, your advanced placement may be on-campus or in the community, depending on your growth goals and available opportunities. Some Scholars have a car while others bring a bicycle or arrange for transportation as needed. We’ll always collaborate with you to ensure you’re set up for success.
How are work placements assigned?
We want you to grow in a placement that supports your development as a Christ-centered leader. During your third and fourth years, the director will collaborate with you and potential work mentors to find an advanced placement that supports your growth goals and is a good fit. The director considers input from all involved to make the best possible match. Some placements may align with a Scholar’s major, but it is not guaranteed.
What is included in the scholarship?
The four-year full tuition scholarship covers your major and minor academic coursework up to 18 credits per semester. All institutional aid, along with federal and state grants, will be applied to the cost of tuition. The remaining tuition balance is covered through the Paul Scholars Program scholarship over four years. Students may use all other outside scholarships and grants as part of a plan to cover additional college expenses like room/board, books, fees etc. For specific questions on this, please contact paul.berggren@cune.edu.
What majors are eligible for Paul Scholars?
Most academic majors are eligible for the Paul Scholars program, though some degree requirements can make participation challenging or unworkable. Students pursuing athletics or performing arts are not eligible due to time and scholarship requirements that prevent them from meeting the program’s work placement requirements. To determine your eligibility for the program, please contact the program director to discuss your application.
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