P. Harlan Wilson, son of Southwestern President and Mrs. Paul Wilson, was born in Boulder, Colorado. He attended Platte Valley Academy and Union College, both in Nebraska. He met Jean Heinbaugh, his wife, at Southwestern Junior College. Born in South Dakota, Jean attended Plainview Academy and later graduated from Campion Academy in 1948. After Harlan's graduation from Southwestern Junior College in 1949, he and Jean made plans to continue studying at Madison College and to marry in November. However, a college recruitment representative informed them that students were not permitted to marry during the school term. They moved their wedding date forward and were married in Ridgeview, South Dakota, in August 1949. The Wilsons had six children: Paul, Vernonne, Donna, Charles, Ted, and Linda. Three of the children graduated from Southwestern Adventist College.

Harlan graduated from Kansas City College of Osteopathy in 1963. He interned at Fort Worth Osteopathic Hospital before opening his practice in 1964 in Amarillo. He pioneered some of the early stop-smoking clinics there. Retiring from his practice of 30 years in 1994, he then served for seven years as medical director for the Crown of Texas Hospice. Jean worked by his side as his assistant and office manager. 

In 1995, Dr. Wilson received the Presidential Citation for Excellence from Southwestern. Then he was chosen as 1998 Medical Director of the Year by the Texas/New Mexico Hospice organization. He passed away in May 1998. Dr. Wilson was a member of Sigma Sigma Phi honorary fraternity, a life member of the America Osteopathic Association, and a member of Olsen Park Seventh-day Adventist Church, where he served as an elder and health and temperance leader. Since 1983 he served as a trustee of Southwestern, and he was a charter member of the University's Committee of 100.

Scholarship award requirements

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

Student Recipients 

2020-2021-Claudeny Monasse, Denicia Israel

2019-2020 -Isaac Lopez, Eva Wong

2018-2019 -Itzel Herrera, Leobaldo Torres

2017-2018 -Cecilia Cabrera

2016-2017 - Tifiny Briner, Branislav Muntag

2015 - 2016 - Romi Strand 

2014-2015 - Yaha Lynch 

2013-2014 - Daniel Spooner 

2012-2013 - Judith Escobar

2011-2012 - Daria Torres

2010-2011 - Zurisadai Benitez