It is our honor and privilege to announce the Ku-Kuhn PTM Alumni Scholarship in memory of our mothers, Evelyn Chen Ku and Rae Elisabeth Kuhn, to be awarded to PTM alumni in pursuit of further education. Our mothers were dedicated teachers and faithful Christian women with loving, caring and generous hearts. They were dearly loved by their families and colleagues and made a difference in the lives of so many children from the late 1940s through the 1980s.

Evelyn graduated from Barnard College and Columbia University and taught in the Brooklyn PS system in the 1940s and 50s. She was a leader of the Chinese Christian Youth Conference of the East. After having children, she returned to teaching in the Chicago area. She sang in the church choir and also taught Vacation Bible School. One of her favorite bible verses spoke of the reassurance of peace:

“Don’t worry about anything, instead pray about everything; tell God of your needs and don’t forget to thank Him for His answers. If you do this you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.” – Phillipians 4:6-7

Rae Elisabeth Kuhn (1932-1992)

Rae graduated from Lake Erie College and taught English, journalism and drama in the Detroit area. In addition, she was an advisor for her school’s award-winning literary magazine and newspaper. She was an elder of her church. Rae was joy-filled, positive, loving and kind. The hallmarks of her teaching were her patience with special students who needed one-on-one attention, and that she lived by her Golden Rule of teaching: that there is good in every student and it is a teacher’s job to bring it out.

Through Preston Taylor Ministries, we have met so many amazing children and youth overcoming challenges daily, joyful and determined in pursuit of their God inspired dreams. We have witnessed PTM walking alongside them in their individual journeys, journeys that extend beyond high school graduation. They may find a job, seek certification in a special field, attend community college or a 4-year college. They may need time to thrive and mature in the school of life before their God inspired dreams become clear. Often, we have to be reminded that things happen in God’s time, not necessarily ours. It is with this perspective that we offer the most fitting tribute to our moms’ legacies – to help support PTM alumni with the next steps in their life long pursuit of education, and to continue the mission of PTM.

We couldn’t be happier to announce Dylan Johnson as the first recipient of the Ku-Kuhn PTM Alumni Scholarship. Dylan demonstrates a level of maturity well beyond his years – in how he approaches life, how he chooses to learn from the highs and the lows and move forward, how he seeks opportunity and advocacy, and on top of all that, he has a tremendous heart. Dylan will start his sophomore year at Elon University in the fall.