Entering Disciples Scholars announced
Five individuals have been named as entering Disciples Divinity House Scholars for the 2026-27 academic year. Welcome Lauren Blakemore, Allie Lundblad, YeChan Park, Amelia Richter, and Paulo Yánez! The fall quarter begins September 28.
Lauren Blakemore (MA) studies “the theme of identity within religion and how language, culture, history, and society can influence its manifestations.” She is a summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Kenyon College (2026), where she majored in History and Arabic. Her home church is Sturgeon Christian Church, near Columbia, Missouri.
Allie Lundblad (PhD) recently concluded a decade of ministry at the Christian Church of Arlington Heights. An MDiv alumna, she studies Pastoral Theology, Personality, and Culture at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary. DDH’s award, in combination with full tuition from Garrett, will allow her to pursue her studies full-time.
YeChan Park (MDiv) brings a business degree from Purdue University-Northwest, master’s studies at Trinity Evangelical Seminary, and five years in campus ministry with Inter-Varsity, where he developed the innovative Global Bridge Project. He came to know the Disciples through Bethel Christian Church in Indianapolis.
Amelia Richter (MDiv) is a 2021 cum laude graduate of Kansas State University (BS, Biology). This summer she is learning about disaster relief in the Philippines through Week of Compassion. She is a member of First Christian Church, Manhattan, Kansas.
Paulo Yánez (MDiv) received Bachelor’s (English, 2022) and Master’s (2025) degrees cum laude from the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador. He is a member of Advent St. Nicholas church in Quito, an ecumenical congregation.