2026–27 Katie Geneva Cannon Scholars announced

The Katie Geneva Cannon Scholarship honors the legacy of one of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s most influential leaders while investing in a new generation of women pursuing ministry, leadership and service. 

Administered through Presbyterian Life & Witness, the scholarship honors the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Katie Geneva Cannon, a pioneer and legend in the PC(USA). Cannon was the first African American woman ordained in the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. in 1974, and in 1983, became the first African American to earn a Ph.D. from Union Theological Seminary in New York. The scholarship supports Presbyterian women of color, clergywomen, college women and other women through leadership development, spiritual formation and mission opportunities in the denomination.

For the 2026–27 academic year, the scholarship has selected two recipients: seminarian Moria McClain of Charlotte, North Carolina, and undergraduate student Miriam Bentley of Huntsville, Alabama.

Image

Under the updated structure, one seminarian and one undergraduate student are selected each year, with recipients serving as Katie Cannon Scholars for one year. The seminarian receives a $3,500 award, while the undergraduate receives $3,000. Scholars may also receive up to $1,500 for an approved ministry-related or career-related continuing education opportunity, such as a conference, symposium or internship. They are encouraged to participate in denominational leadership opportunities, including General Assembly, the Commission on the Status of Women and Presbyterian Women events.

McClain, a member of Sharon Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, North Carolina and a former honors and International Baccalaureate English teacher at Myers Park High School, began studies at Princeton Theological Seminary this fall. She plans to pursue a dual Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Christian Education and Formation degree. 

“I want to attend Princeton Theological Seminary to become an ordained Presbyterian pastor,” McClain wrote in her application. “I want to study the Scriptures in the original languages and be trained to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ with fidelity and integrity.” 

McClain described a winding path to ministry. Before discerning her call, she explored law school and even pursued opportunities with the FBI. After five years of teaching, she realized something was missing. “I have found only recently, in the last three months or so, that reading, studying and discussing the Word of God satisfies my soul,” she wrote. “I can sit up all night reading and studying the Scriptures.” 

McClain’s mother is a Presbyterian pastor and encouraged McClain to apply because of the legacy and influence Cannon had on clergywomen like herself. “I heard my mom speak of Dr. Cannon when my mom was in seminary,” McClain wrote. “I would like to be an example and help the many voiceless other women as Dr. Cannon has done.” 

Image

Miriam Bentley, the undergraduate recipient of the 2026–27 Katie Geneva Cannon Scholarship, is also a preacher’s kid. Her father is the Rev. Gregory Bentley, who was a Moderator of the 224th General Assembly in 2020. Miriam is a junior at Morgan State University in Baltimore, where she is double majoring in English, with a creative writing concentration, and musical theater. She is a member of the Clara I. Adam's honors college and serves as a peer mentor through this program. She has been a member of the Morgan state choir since her freshmen year as well as the “Singers” travel choir. Through this opportunity she has traveled abroad to Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Africa.A member of Fellowship Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama where her father serves as pastor, she hopes to become a screenwriter. 

“My concentration in English is creative writing, and we have this program at my school called SWAN, which is screenwriting and animation,” Bentley said. Bentley doesn’t just write stories and scripts but also brings them to life and into song. She recently performed in an original Motown-inspired production featuring social commentary that won Best in Show at the Atlanta Black Theatre Festival, with possible future performances in Philadelphia and Washington.

Her scholarship application showed an interest in community outreach through the arts.

“One initiative I hope to offer is free music lessons for children through my home church at Fellowship Presbyterian Church,” Bentley said. “Piano classes as an after-school program that children could just come and learn for free.” 

Whether she’s in her church in Huntsville or at a Montreat Youth Conference, she values the welcoming spirit she finds in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). “I feel like we’re very inclusive in a lot of different ways,” Bentley said. “If I brought someone that wasn’t Presbyterian to my church, they wouldn’t feel out of place.” 

As Katie Cannon Scholars, McClain and Bentley will carry forward Cannon’s legacy of leadership, scholarship and service, joining a tradition rooted in expanding opportunities for women and strengthening the witness of the church.