Virgil & Louise Claassen Endowment for International Student Scholarships

Virgil and Louise Claassen Endowment for International Student Scholarships

The Virgil and Louise Claassen Endowment for International Student Scholarships was founded in 2002 to support students a Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) as they prepare for ministry and leadership in the church.

In keeping with the intent of the fund, priority consideration may be given to applicants who meet one or more of the following criteria:

• International students

All qualified students are eligible to apply and will be considered. When applicants do not meet the preferred criteria, the scholarship may be awarded to other students who demonstrate financial need and alignment with the purposes of the fund.

As of June 30, 2025, the scholarship's market value was $276,522. The earnings are paid out annually to cover approximately 92% of tuition.

Support Virgil and Louise's scholarship

Click the big “Give Now!” button to give in U.S. dollars. If you’d like to give in Canadian dollars, click here.

If you prefer to donate by check, please make it payable to “AMBS,” note "Virgil and Louise Claassen Endowment for International Student Scholarships" in the memo line, and mail it to 3003 Benham Ave., Elkhart, IN 46517.

More about Virgil and Louise

This scholarship was established in 2002 by family and friends of the Claassens. Virgil spent 29 years serving as Director of Business & Finance at AMBS. Here he came into direct contact with International Students who were far from home. Together with Louise, they extended warm hospitality, recalling their own experiences as strangers in a foreign land; Louise as a young child leaving her home in Germany during the war, Virgil as a young adult leaving the Kansas farm to serve with MCC in Paraguay and both as a young couple serving in Crete and Jordan with MCC. This fund became a practical way to assist others.

We invite you to share this link with others who may wish to support this fund.