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Full scholarships offered to all eight children of Friday family

BELMONT — The Friday family from Lincolnton is having the most amazing week of their lives thanks to "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." First the shocking surprise that they would receive a new home, then an all expenses-paid-vacation to Jamaica, and now news that Belmont Abbey College is offering all eight children full tuition scholarships to obtain their undergraduate degrees.

The annual tuition at the college is currently $27,000 per year.

Dr. William Thierfelder, president of Belmont Abbey College, estimates that the gift will total approximately $1 million.

"This is divine providence," Thierfelder said. "I see it as a work of mercy. We try to help all our students... This is really a remarkable circumstance."

Volunteers from Belmont Abbey College were on site all this week helping with the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" build in Lincolnton.

The Friday family was notified of the gift this week while on vacation via a taped message from Thierfelder, which also featured students from the college and was hosted by "Extreme Makeover" designer Paige Hemmis.

Belmont Abbey College has played a big role in helping the Friday family realize the dream of a new home come true. The college hosted the pre-surprise pep rally with the show's producers and the builder, Bellamy Homes, and is providing many volunteers. This is in line with the Benedictine spirit of hospitality that is ingrained in this four-year, liberal arts Catholic college.

The Benedictine monks at Belmont Abbey Monastery and the administration, faculty and students at the college also have a long-standing tradition of helping those in need, so, as the college's motto states, 'that in all things God may be glorified."

"Our Benedictine mission is to welcome each person as Christ. What better time than Christmas, where we welcome the Christ child into the world for us (Belmont Abbey College) to live our mission," Thierfelder said. "The offering of this gift is really just following our Benedictine tradition of helping those in need."

"Just to be involved is really wonderful," he added. "When you think you're incapable of doing something on your own, and you think, 'what difference could I make?' It goes to show you that when a lot of people get together with just their little bit, it's incredible!"

— SueAnn Howell, staff writer

Want more "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition?"

For more information about the Lincolnton family who will recieve this new house, click here.

For more about the builder and the Catholic foundation that led to this experience, click here.

Read about the pep rally at Belmont Abbey College here.