Irene M. Blakely Directed Scholarship Fund

The Irene M. Blakely Directed Scholarship Fund was established in May, 2008, by the estate of Irene Blakely. Irene was born in Milwaukee, Wis., and was orphaned early in her life. She was raised by her aunt and uncle outside Janesville, Wis. She worked for the president of the United Lutheran Church of America Synod from 1929 until the late 1940s, when she began working for an assistant to the bishop of the Twin Cities area. She held that position through the merging of the ULCA into the Lutheran Church of America in 1961 before retiring in 1972. She was an active member in her congregation, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Minneapolis, and recognized Luther Seminary as an important training ground for future church leaders. This scholarship was established to express her thanksgiving to God and to help prepare Luther Seminary students to strengthen and extend the ministries of Jesus Christ in the church and the world. This fund provides important financial support for deserving students enrolled in any degree program.