Laura W. Edwards Memorial Endowed Academic Grant
The Laura W. Edwards Memorial Endowed Academic Grant was established in 2023 to foster the courage, character and spiritual attributes which Laura championed in her students and exemplified in her own life through a deep and abiding faith in her Lord Jesus.
Laura spent nearly 15 years teaching Lower School students at Norfolk Christian, serving most of those years as a gifted resource teacher, where she inspired children to know Jesus deeply and honor God with their minds, gifts, and talents. During her time at NCS, all three of Laura’s own children graduated from the school: Allison (‘14), Kyle (‘18) & Nathan (‘21).
In December 2019, Laura received the shocking diagnosis of stage four cancer. For three years, she fought faithfully, persistently and courageously, enduring multiple surgeries, hospitalizations and numerous rounds of chemo and radiation. Her faith and testimony only increased during that difficult time, as she actively sought opportunities to encourage others, despite her own physical suffering. Through Laura’s joyful spirit and relentless commitment to the gospel, many came to know the love, mercy and kindness of Jesus.
On December 29, 2022, Laura Ruth Wells Edwards met her Savior face to face and surely heard Him say “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Her legacy lives on through her cherished children and grandchildren, and the hundreds of students whom she inspired to work as if working for the Lord.
In December of 2023, friends of the Edwards family established the Laura W. Edwards Memorial Endowed Academic Grant to benefit Norfolk Christian Lower School students and faculty who embody Laura’s passion to pursue Christ with excellence, grit and creative thinking. The grant emphasizes Laura’s passionate instruction in the areas of advanced academics and gifted resources. Ultimately, family and friends desire that this ongoing annual grant brings glory to the Lord and Savior to whom Laura entrusted her life.
Thank you for honoring Laura’s memory and carrying on her legacy of equipping Norfolk Christian students to engage the world as Christ’s Ambassadors.
Application Guidelines and Process
The grant(s) will be awarded annually to one or more applicants in correspondence to the dollar amount of requests made in relation to the amount of grant money available for that given year.
Grant requests are to be made in writing or email to be evaluated by a committee of NCS staff and faculty, led by the Director of Lower Schools.
The following criteria will guide the decision process in selecting awardees:
* The funds requested are for the cost of physical resources, services or fees associated with an academic learning or exploration experience or project.
* The amount requested is not already included in the school’s operating budget.
* Priority will be given to requests from advanced academic classes, teams or groups.
* Priority will be given to requests that creatively and effectively enrich and correspond to the academic subject matter being taught in the classroom/group/club.