Fellowships and Scholarships
The H. Henry Meeter Center offers short term research fellowships in the field of Reformation studies, particularly focused on Calvin and Calvinism, and annual awards for high school seniors in our essay competition.
About the Fellowship
Faculty of colleges, universities, or seminaries (other than Calvin) as well as independent scholars are invited to apply for appointment as a Meeter Center Faculty Fellow for study at the H. Henry Meeter Center. This appointment carries an honorarium of $2,000-$4,000 and use of the Meeter Center facilities. The appointee is expected to be in residency for a period of at least 4-6 weeks. Applicants should have completed their Ph.D. prior to tenure of the fellowship. If applicants receive a fellowship, they must come to the Meeter Center between July of the year in which the fellowship was awarded and the following June. On-campus housing is only available in June and July.
Quick Look
- Deadline: January 1
- For: Some College, University and Seminary faculty and independent scholars with Ph.D.
- Honorarium: $2000-$4000
- Length of Residency: 4-6 weeks
Fellowship Application Process
Fellowship applications should be submitted to the director of the Meeter Center no later than January 1. The applications will be acted upon by either the Governing Board or its Executive Committee. Notification of the award will be mailed shortly thereafter.
This application must be supported by a two- or three-page, double-spaced proposal, specifying which particular Meeter Center resources are to be used. The application must also include a complete curriculum vitae and a letter of academic reference from a faculty member or a letter of reference from a senior scholar in the field of the applicant’s interest.
Successful fellows are expected to acknowledge the assistance provided by the Meeter Center in any published work resulting from their period of research in the Center and are encouraged to present a paper on their research at the Sixteenth Century Studies Conference for a session sponsored by the Meeter Center. Faculty Research Fellows will be asked to give an oral presentation on the results of their research toward the end of their stay in the Meeter Center.
Applications should be mailed to:
H. Henry Meeter Center for Calvin Studies
Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary
Attention: Dr. Karin Maag
1855 Knollcrest Circle SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4402
Alternatively, application materials and letters of recommendation (sent directly from the recommender) may be sent as email attachments to kmaag@calvin.edu.
About the Fellowship
Students of colleges, universities, or seminaries (other than Calvin) may apply for an appointment as a Meeter Center Student Research Fellow. The appointment carries an honorarium of $1250 for a period of no less than four weeks. The honorarium is intended to be used towards expenses incurred for the fellowship (travel, accommodations, food, photocopies, books, etc.). If applicants receive a fellowship, they must come to the Meeter Center between July of the year in which the fellowship was received and the following June. On-campus housing is only available in June and July.
A Meeter Center Research Fellow normally undertakes a specific research program which implements the resources of the Meeter Center. Successful fellows are expected to acknowledge the assistance provided by the Meeter Center in any published work resulting from their period of research and to give an oral presentation on the results of that research toward the end of their stay in the Meeter Center.
Quick Look
- Deadline: January 1
- For: Non-Calvin students of colleges, universities and seminaries
- Honorarium: $1250
- Length of Residency: At least four weeks
Fellowship Requirements
Applications must be received by the Meeter Center no later than January 1. They will be acted upon by the governing board or its executive committee. Notification of the award will be mailed shortly thereafter.
This application must be supported by a two- or three-page, double-spaced proposal, specifying which particular Meeter Center resources are to be used. The application must also include a complete curriculum vitae and a letter of academic reference from a faculty member or a letter of reference from a senior scholar in the field of the applicant’s interest.
Applications should be mailed to:
H. Henry Meeter Center for Calvin Studies
Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary
Attention: Dr. Karin Maag
1855 Knollcrest Circle SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4402
Alternatively, application materials and letters of recommendation (sent directly from the recommender) may be sent as email attachments to kmaag@calvin.edu.
Topic for 2024
Introduce a friend to John Calvin
Read Part One (chapter 1 to 4) of Dr. Yudha Thianto’s recent book, An Explorer’s Guide to John Calvin (IVP Academic, 2022). Use what you have learned to write a letter to a friend (real or imaginary) to introduce John Calvin to your friend: what do you want your friend to know about Calvin’s life and impact and enduring significance? Your paper must show close reading of Dr. Thianto’s book, including page references to specific information or quotations from the book, and must make the case why Calvin was such an influential figure in the history of the church, and how his ideas can still provide answers to contemporary issues in our own world.
Awards are given annually for research papers on a topic dealing with John Calvin or Calvinism. Awards are payable to student tuition accounts at the following institutions: Calvin University, Dordt University, The King's University (Canada), Redeemer University College (Canada), Kuyper College and Trinity Christian College.
Quick Look
- Deadline: February 1
- For: High school seniors going to Calvin University, Dordt University, The King's University (Canada), Redeemer University College (Canada), Kuyper College and Trinity Christian College in Fall 2024
- Prizes: $3500 First Prize, $2000 Second Prize
The book is available both in print and in digital formats.
- Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Explorers-Guide-John-Calvin-Guides-ebook/dp/B09GPG67RT
- In Print: https://www.amazon.com/Explorers-Guide-John-Calvin/dp/1514001268/
- Consider also requesting this book through your local library.
Research Paper Format Guidelines
Papers should be 8 to 12 pages long, typed double-spaced, and include page references to specific information or for direct quotations from Dr. Thianto's book.
Pages must be numbered. Papers must include a cover sheet with the following information:
- Name
- Address
- Telephone number
- E-mail address
- High school and name of principal
- High school address
- Church and name of pastor
- Church address
- How you learned about the scholarship
No name or other identifying information should appear on any page except the cover sheet. The Meeter Center will assign each entry a code number and write it on the pages of the paper. This assures impartial judging of the papers by the Calvinism Committee and allows for accurate identification.
The Calvinism Committee will judge the papers by the following criteria:
- Thoroughness of reading and articulating the main ideas of Dr. Thianto’s work in the student’s own words
- Coherence and persuasiveness of the argument
- Quality of writing.
- Relatedness to contemporary situation.
Papers must be attached to an email to sam.ha@calvin.edu by February 1, 2024. The Calvinism Committee will select winners by the end of March from applicants who will attend college or university in the fall of 2024. All participants will be notified of their status by mail.
If you have any questions regarding the Hugh and Eve Meeter Calvinism Awards for High School Seniors, please feel free to contact us.
About the Fellowship
The family of Emo F. J. Van Halsema has funded a fellowship at the Meeter Center for Calvin Studies for pastors in the Reformed tradition. Candidates must hold an appropriate graduate degree and submit a proposal that justifies their plans for research in the Center.
Successful fellows are expected to acknowledge the assistance provided by the Meeter Center in any published work resulting from their period of research and will also be asked to give an oral presentation on the results of that research toward the end of their stay in the Meeter Center. This four-week (or twenty working days) research fellowship is awarded to one person each year. The honorarium is a minimum of $1,250. If applicants receive a fellowship, they must come to the Meeter Center between July of the year in which the fellowship was awarded and the following June. On-campus housing is only available in June and July.
Quick Look
- Deadline: January 1
- For: Pastors with appropriate graduate degrees
- Honorarium: At least $1250
- Length of Residency: Four weeks
Fellowship Requirements
Fellowship applications should be submitted to the director of the Meeter Center no later than January 1. They will be acted upon by the governing board or its executive committee. These applications need to be supported by a curriculum vitae, and a two- or three-page (double-spaced) research proposal, and a letter of reference.
Applications should be mailed to:
H. Henry Meeter Center for Calvin Studies
Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary
Attention: Dr. Karin Maag
1855 Knollcrest Circle SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4402
Alternatively, applications and letters of recommendation (sent directly from the recommender) may be sent as email attachments to kmaag@calvin.edu.
About the Fellowship
Faculty of colleges, universities, or seminaries (other than Calvin), independent scholars and doctoral students are invited to apply for appointment as a Meeter Family Research Fellow for study at the H. Henry Meeter Center. This appointment carries an honorarium of $3,500 and use of the Meeter Center facilities. The appointee is expected to be in residency for a period of 4-6 weeks. Applicants should have completed their Ph.D. prior to tenure of the fellowship. If applicants receive a fellowship, they must come to the Meeter Center between July of the year in which the fellowship was awarded and the following June. On-campus housing is only available in June and July.
Quick Look
- Deadline: January 1
- For: College, University, Seminary faculty, as well as independent scholars.
- Honorarium: $3500
- Length of Residency: 4-6 weeks
Fellowship Application Process
Fellowship applications should be submitted to the director of the Meeter Center no later than January 1. The applications will be acted upon by either the Governing Board or its Executive Committee. Notification of the award will be mailed shortly thereafter.
This application must be supported by a two- or three-page, double-spaced proposal, specifying what particular Meeter Center resources are to be used. The application must also include a complete curriculum vitae and a letter of academic reference from a faculty member or a letter of reference from a senior scholar in the field of the applicant’s interest. Preference will be given to projects that connect Reformation-era topics to relevant issues in contemporary church and society.
Successful fellows are expected to acknowledge the assistance provided by the Meeter Center in any published work resulting from their period of research in the Center and are encouraged to present a paper on their research at the Sixteenth Century Studies Conference for a session sponsored by the Meeter Center. Meeter Family Research Fellows will be asked to give an oral presentation on the results of their research toward the end of their stay in the Meeter Center.
Applications should be mailed to:
H. Henry Meeter Center for Calvin Studies
Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary
Attention: Dr. Karin Maag
1855 Knollcrest Circle SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4402
Alternatively, application materials and letters of recommendation (sent directly from the recommender) may be sent as email attachments to kmaag@calvin.edu.