Eastern Star Training Awards for Religious Leadership (ESTARL) were established by action taken at the General Grand Chapter Assembly held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, October 1952. Since then, the project has been written into the By-laws of the General Grand Chapter thus becoming a permanent project of the Order.
The Grand Chapter of Iowa sponsors this grant program in Iowa.. It is familiarly known as “ESTARL”, the first letter of each word of the formal title.
This grant program was established to encourage and assist those preparing for full time Christian service.
The ESTARL fund is funded each year by voluntary gifts and memorials given by chapters and individual members across the state and from the 2008 Projects. This year the "Fish" Pin and proceeds from sale of the 2008 Hallelujah March Music and the meeting CD will be used to help fund the ESTARL awards.
Grand Chapter of Iowa, Order of the Eastern Star ESTARL application
ESTARL: Eastern Star Training Award for Religious Leadership
LINK TO APPLICATION FORM (PDF FORMAT)
LINK TO PDF FORMAT OF REQUIREMENTS LISTED BELOW
REQUIRMENTS
1. Must have had at least three (3) years of post secondary education with satisfactory scholastic standing in an accredited institution.
2. The official application form and financial statement must be properly filled out and returned to the member of the Educational Board shown below, no later that April 15th of the year in which the award is applied for.
3. At least three character references with letters of recommendation are required. (Two from a minister or church leader and one from an Eastern Star or Masonic member.)
4. An official transcript of college credits must be submitted to the Board by the end of the current school year. However, the applicant may send a student copy with their completed application, but must inform the college to send an official copy before July 1 to the name listed below (President of the Educational Board)
5. The applicant must be a resident of Iowa. Attending school outside of the state does not negate residency. If the applicant was a resident of Iowa before attending school or her/his parents are Iowa residents, this constitutes residency.
6. The applicant need not be of Eastern Star or Masonic affiliation.
7. Application form should be typewritten or printed neatly.
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE APPLICANT:
1. Complete the application form in full.
2. Request your transcripts be mailed. These should be mailed as soon as possible after completion of the last semester or quarter of the academic year. We know that this will be after the April 15th deadline, but must be in by July 1st in order to be considered at our July meeting. This is most important.
3. Contact the parties listed as references asking that they send letters of recommendation as soon as convenient, but before the April 15th deadline. Please designate which one is an Eastern Star or Masonic member.
4. The application, transcripts, and any correspondence should be sent to:
Steven D. Palmquist, President
Eastern Star Educational Board
1731 2nd Avenue N.W.
Waverly, Iowa 50677-1910
(319) 504-0591
5. Since the grants will be sent directly to the applicant, it is of utmost importance that the Board knows your summer address and phone number, in the event you need to be contacted. Especially if it is different from the address listed on the application. This is to be put at the bottom of the application form. The current address is under the applicant’s name at the top.
Considerable expense has been incurred because of extra postage, phone calls, and sending and receiving FAX information before the deadline date. You can help eliminate this and it will be appreciated.
NOTE: The Order of the Eastern Star does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, or religious beliefs, in the administration of it’s scholarship program.
Awards are made only to students preparing for leadership in a field or fields of religious service, as that of a minister, missionary, director of church music, youth leadership, religious education and other types of full-time Christian service. The Educational Board of Iowa Grand Chapter meets in July to determine awards for the year. Your application and as much information relevant to it, must be received before the April 15th deadline date.
If you receive an award, you will be notified as soon as possible after our July meeting. Therefore, please send a summer address and telephone number if it differs from the address listed at the top of the application. The awards and checks will be mailed directly to you.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the board member listed above.