The Kenneth W. Steider Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund

The Kenneth Steider Memorial Scholarship has been created to recognize the many years Kenneth served in education, healthcare and teaching English as a Second Language while living in Taiwan and the important role Goshen College played in Kenneth’s life.  He graduated from Goshen College in 1951 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.  His passion was to educate and he served as an educator and librarian throughout his life.

In 1966 the Board of Christian Service of the General Conference Mennonite Church called him concerning a position in Taiwan for a teacher librarian.   It seemed a good opportunity to him at age 40.   He was single, wanted to travel and found special enjoyment in teaching students of all ages and backgrounds.

He accepted the call and spent 27 years in Taiwan teaching and serving as a medical secretary for foreign missionary doctors and liaison to the administrator at the Mennonite Christian Hospital in Taiwan.  He started the Hospital’s medical library.  During his free time he held adult English classes for many professional people.  He said “I went to teach and was taught.  I went to serve and was served.  I gave up home and family and gained 100 fold.”  He formed a special bond with Chinese friends and his beloved land of Taiwan.

His experiences were many and varied:  tea in the palace with Madame Chiang Kai-shek, shaking hands with the first native born Taiwanese president, a silent lunch with 90 Buddhist nuns and delicious ice cream at the local McDonalds.

As a family we hope this scholarship will give students the opportunity to understand and appreciate other cultures.   Kenneth used the Bible and other devotional studies and songs as he taught and this became a strong influence and witness for Christ.    His peace witness lives on in many of his adult students who are now business owners and government officials in the countries where they live.

Kenneth was also a poet and expressed below how complete change can happen when we open ourselves to education that leads to new experiences:

THE RETURN

Out of the harbor                                            Back to the harbor

Beneath the Golden Gate . .                            Beneath the Golden Gate. .

With roots in the Midwest                               A stranger in that same land

Still intact;                                                       With heart in Taiwan

Completely American.                                     FOREVER!