George and Mary's story began more than a hundred years ago deep in Louisiana. Searching for work, George went to Texas to work as a farmhand. The family members were Seventh-day Adventists, and George soon joined their faith. He returned to Louisiana, where he initiated the colporteur work in that state, selling books farm to farm.

One day he came to Mary's farm. The eldest of several children orphaned at a very young age, Mary was determined to keep the family together. As a teenage girl, she managed the farm. George was impressed with this young woman's sheer determination and hard work. In the tradition of that time, he showed his interest by asking to correspond with her. She consented, and in the late 1880s they were married.

George continued to colporteur. He would travel to a district with several men, set up camp, visit all the farms in the area, and then he would then move to the next camp. Mary, who wanted to be with George, moved from camp to camp, cooking for the men.

In 1897, the Winns moved to Texas seeking Christian education for their six children. They farmed, and during cotton season, the entire family traveled from field to field picking cotton and sleeping in tents. They added two more children to their family, and through incredibly hard work and determination, all eight attended school. The children never forgot those old days in Keene and the work of their parents.

In 1970, daughter Ella Winn Hart created this scholarship in honor of her parents who had worked so hard and given so much because they believed in Christian education.

Scholarship award requirements

This scholarship is awarded to students at the discretion of Southwestern Adventist University.

Students Recipients 

2020-2021-Taylor Pool

2018-2019 -Elizabeth Santos

2016-2017 -Myrhawell Inocencio