A Legacy of Educational Support
By Della Archie, Handy Simmons Scholarship Chair
Under the leadership of President Deborah Taylor King, the Connectional Women’s Missionary Society (WMS) continues its legacy of financial support to the Young People’s and Children’s Division (YPD) through college scholarships.
The Handy Simmons Scholarship was established to honor the memory and dedicated service of Mary F. Handy, organizer of the Parent Mite Missionary Society in 1907, and Sandy G. Simmons, the first president of the Women’s Home and Foreign Missions, 1915-1927.
Each year, eligible young people pursuing a degree from a two or four-year college or university are invited to apply for this prestigious scholarship.
The twenty Episcopal District recipients of the 2025 Handy Simmons Scholarship were announced on Saturday, July 12, 2025, during the Connectional Young People’s and Children’s Division Leadership Training Institute (LTI) in Atlanta, Georgia. The recipients are pictured in this article.
Looking ahead, the 2026 Handy Simmons Scholarship application process is expected to tentatively open on January 15, 2026, with district scholarship recipients being notified by June 15, 2026. Official announcements and monetary awards will be presented during the Connectional Young People’s and Children’s Division LTI, scheduled for July 17-19, 2026.
The Women’s Missionary Society proudly celebrates these outstanding young scholars and their commitment to education, service, and leadership.
