Cree Sandefur was born in West Texas, but his family soon moved to Keene, Texas, for Christian education. In Keene, Cree attended the Seventh-day elementary school and academy and then Southwestern Junior College. Then it was on to Union College. But because of the depression, he stayed only a year and returned to Keene to start his own broom-making business. After two years, he realized there was more to life than just making money, so he left the business to his parents and returned to Union College.

Mildred came to Union College from her home in Kansas, finished the Normal Course, taught school, and returned to finish college when Cree did. That is when their paths met—paths that led them through 41 years of service to the church from Texas, where Cree was ordained, to Washington, and from Maryland to Hawaii. Their assignments began with pastoring, then education and youth work, and on to conference and union conference administration.

When it was time to retire, it was back "home" to Keene, Texas, where Cree was invited to be a trustee of Southwestern Adventist University and other boards. Cree and Mildred often spoke of the wonderful opportunities they had had, the many interesting places they had been, and the wonderful people they had met during their years of service. At the beginning of it all was the opportunity they had been given for Christian education. They felt that a scholarship was a way that they could express gratitude and make Christian education possible for others.

Scholarship award requirements

This scholarship is awarded to students based on their academic achievement and financial need.

Students Recipients 

2020-2021-Eliel Rosabal Pena

2019-2020 -Yuiza Faith Miller Rivera

2018-2019 -Alexis Mirelis 

2017-2018 -Ruber Alvarez Matos 

2016-2017 - Adrian Perez Gomez

2015-2016 - Matthew Ballard, Abel Mims 

2014-2015 - Manuel Molina 

2013-2014 - Daniel Perez

2012-2013 - Francisco Ortiz 

2011-2012 - Tomas Bueno

2010-2011- Elizabeth Marin