Several prizes and honors are awarded by the University and the various undergraduate colleges each year for exceptional research and service by Santa Clara students. We would like to honor and acknowledge those religious studies majors and minors who have earned the high regard of the department and the University.
Prize Descriptions and Awardees
Awarded annually to the religious studies major and, from 2003-2007, the religious studies minor, whom the Faculty of the Religious Studies Department deem to have the most distinguished academic records in the study of religion.
Year | Name |
---|---|
2023 | Alejandro Eros |
2022 | Molly Flood |
2021 | Alina Pincombe, Olivia Hill |
2020 | Cameron Heon |
2019 | Claire Dixon, Nick Nagy |
2018 | Katherine Tarrant |
2017 | Julie Dinh |
2016 | Gus Hardy |
2015 | Jonathan Homrighausen |
2014 | Vaniah Holtz |
2013 | Celina Mogan |
2012 | Brittany Adams |
2011 | Ember Cooke, Anna Paustenbach |
2010 | Hannah Palm, Kevin Schmitt |
2009 | Ashley Loetscher |
2008 | Jessica Coblentz (major), Maggi Van Dorn (major), Caitlin Lorley (minor), Kyle Ozawn (minor), Stephanie Paulus (minor) |
2007 | Kim McGiven (major), Kyle Stephenson (minor) |
2006 | Beth Lauck (major), Brandon Au (minor), Nicholas Cantrick (minor), Ryan Fante (minor), Courtney Marunda (minor) |
2005 | Chris Wall (major), Jon Heit (major), and Louise Hills (minor) |
2004 | Erin Nuccio (major) and Stephen Chesterton (minor) |
2003 | Craig McLane (major) and Victoria Mayes (minor) |
2002 | Alicia Ross and Charlotte Vallaeys |
2001 | Elizabeth Trippe |
2000 | Maureen Romani and Matthew Smith |
1999 | Kathleen Barrera and Thomas Zebrowski |
1998 | Kim Miller |
1997 | Mary Elena Gonzalez |
This award is named in honor of Tennant Wright, S.J. It is awarded to the Religious Studies minor most proficient in the study of religion.
Year | Name |
---|---|
2023 | Mary Pat Peterson |
2022 | William Gagan |
2021 | Kristen Lee, Mary Maas, Lauren Schiek |
2020 | Francesca Navarro |
2019 | Kaitlin Wheeler |
2018 | Alana Beaton and Grant Pustelnik |
2017 | Meghan Carlsen |
2016 | Katherine Enos and Sophia Lyon |
2015 | Amia Nash |
2014 | Erin Callister, Edward Nugent |
2013 | Laura Snowden |
2012 | Tanya Schmidt |
2011 | Kiley Winsnes |
2010 | Benjamin Petrick |
2009 | Brandon Ashby |
Awarded annually to the student whom the faculty of the Religious Studies Department deems to have written the finest senior thesis. Named in honor of long-time theology professor who exemplified fine scholarship and deep concern for students' lives.
Year | Name |
---|---|
2023 | Alejandro Eros |
2022 | Ramon Duran |
2021 | Kelby Uebelhor |
2020 | Bjorn Thyrring |
2019 | Nick Nagy |
2018 | Katherine Meyer |
2017 | Julie Dinh and Paul Kenniston |
2016 | Bev Olivo |
2015 | Gina Pasquali: Applying Queen Insights into the Comparison of the Synophic Gospel and Matthew and Mark to the Gospel of John |
2014 | Katherine Burkhuch |
2013 | Tanushree Mondkar |
2012 | Paria Amini: The Green Movement and Exodus |
2011 | John Logan: Lonergan's Transcendental Method |
2010 | Anne Murphy-Hagan: Functionalism vs. Virtue: The Impact of Augustinian Marriage |
2009 | Kaitlin Thompson: The "Myth" of the Separation of Church and State or: How Some Baptists Stopped Worrying and No Longer Loved the Wall (Best Senior Paper), Heather Lynch (Best Senior Project), Ashley Loetscher: A Postcolonial Perspective of Revelation 12-14 (Honorable Mention) |
2008 | Christina Leone, Erotic Egalitarianism: Redeeming Paradise Through the Song of Songs |
2007 | Tessa Weston: Constructing a Unified Identity Out of Shared Oppression: How Dalit Theologians Interpret the New Testament in Response to the Postcolonial Environment in India, James Servino (Honorable Mention) |
2006 | Christine Bourey, Dialogues of Death: Considering the Transformation of Lepcha Religiosity |
2005 | Pearl Barros, Learning to Listen: An Analysis of Discrepancy Between "First World" and Two Thirds World Christian Feminist Biblical Studies |
2004 | Alejandra Lizardo, Adapting Mujerista Theology for Chicanas: Expanding Methodology |
2003 | Linda Stankovic, Post-Vatican II Parish Life in the United States |
2002 | Jessica Heller, An Ontology of Depression |
2001 | Patrick Schelble, Adoption Theology |
2000 | Meghan Curley, Traditional Symbols in Modern Culture |
1999 | Thomas Zebrowski II, A Thomistic Critique of C. S. Lewis' Defense of the Natural Law and Ryan O'Malley, Scientific Knowledge and Religious Experience |
1998 | Son Pham, Tillich's Being-Itself and Buddha-Nature and Kimberly Miller, Yearning for Being: Empowering Symbols in the Experience of Love |
1997 | Neal Arthur, A Theology of Life, Death and Resurrection |
This award is named in honor of Professor Catherine Bell. It is awarded to Junior Religious Studies Majors for outstanding academic achievement.
Year | Name |
---|---|
2023 | Daniel Martinez, Laura Clark |
2022 | Alejandro Eros |
2021 | Ramon Duran |
2020 | Olivia Hill and Alina Pincombe |
2019 | Cameron Heon and Bjorn Thyrring |
2018 | Nick Nagy |
2017 | Katherine Meyer and Katherine Tarrant |
2016 | Julie Dinh |
2015 | Gus Hardy |
2014 | Jonathan Homrighausen |
2013 | Vaniah Holtz |
2012 | Celina Mogan |
2011 | Brittany Adams |
2010 | Mark Vetto |
2009 | Hannah Palm, Kevin Schmitt, Deepti Shenoy |
Awarded annually to the student who has exhibited the greatest commitment to social justice. Inaugurated in 2003 to honor the retirement of a New Testament faculty member who exemplified the values of scholarship and service.
Year | Name |
---|---|
2023 | Emily Pachoud |
2022 | Vanessa Metti |
2021 | Gina Chavez, Abby Fafinski, Haley Howard, Tegan Smith |
2020 | Helen Kassa |
2019 | Ryan Sharek |
2018 | Grace Zimmerman |
2017 | Julie Dinh |
2016 | Jenna Lipman |
2015 | Ian Layton |
2014 | Joseph Alexander-Short, Celia Trujillo |
2012 | Andrew Hodun, Jahayra Molina, Tora Troop |
2011 | Mark Vetto |
2010 | Elizabeth Purner, Julie Arcaro |
2009 | Anne Rovzar |
2008 | Jessica Coblentz, Theodore Dykzeul and Kyle Ozawa |
2007 | Sarah Attwood and Megan Raimondi (Honorable Mention) |
2006 | Tessa Baker and Patrick Green |
2005 | Heidi Kallen |
2004 | Emily Sargent, Jacob David |
2003 | Erin Bishop, Kristin Love |
These awards are presented to majors and minors who have an outstanding academic record and/or have made significant contributions to the department, the college, and the University.
Year | Name(s) |
---|---|
2010 | John Mahoney (major) |
Laura Martin (major) | |
Elizabeth Purner (major) | |
Nicole Sanfilippo (major) | |
Maria Adelus (major) | |
Alexandra Angel (major) | |
Julie Arcaro (major) | |
Andrea Carrera (major) | |
Angela Cooke (major) | |
Ryan Cooke (major) | |
Ryan Dilag (major) | |
Alison Gansert (major) | |
Rebecca Hirsch (major) | |
Lucy Kelly (minor) | |
Claire O'Leary (minor) | |
Anne Sobczak (minor) | |
Maggie Spreitzer (minor) | |
Rachel Barmore (minor) | |
Sarah Esparza (minor) | |
Stephanie Ma (minor) | |
Bianca McNeil (minor) | |
Monique Teixeira (minor) |
Year | Name |
---|---|
2009 | Sarah Cox Arredondo (major) |
Genevieve Kaplan (major) | |
John Michael Reyes (major) | |
Jeremy Scott Saline (major) | |
Kaitlin Thompson (major) | |
Sofia Aboitiz (minor) | |
Julie Angelo (minor) | |
Mary Tessa Brown (minor) | |
Chad Dupic (minor) | |
Jill Fitzsimmons (minor) | |
Marie Gribble (minor) | |
Sasha Kanick (minor) | |
Noelle Lopez (minor) | |
Jeana Williams (minor) | |
Zachary Young (minor) |
Year | Name |
---|---|
2008 | Venessa DiCarlo (major) |
Elena Ebrahimian (major) | |
Janet Ferree (major) | |
Amanda Fowler (major) | |
Gabriel Godwin (major) | |
Nathaniel Hays (major) | |
Molly Leaverton (major) | |
Courtney Magner (major) | |
Jessica Meyer (major) | |
Caitlin Moran (major) | |
Aislinn Wyatt (major) | |
Caitlin Corley (minor) | |
Kyle Ozawa (minor) | |
Stephanie Paulus (minor) |
Awarded annually to the student who has studied with the greatest number of faculty members in the Santa Clara University Religious Studies Department.
Year | Name |
---|---|
2011 | Kevin Senefeld |
2010 | Mary Lou Terrazas |
2007 | Sarah Attwood and Angela Bustos |
2006 | Patrick Sauls |
2005 | Chris Wall |
2004 | Guillermo Carreon |
Awarded annually to the student who has studied the greatest range of traditions offered at the Santa Clara University Religious Studies Department.
Year | Name |
---|---|
2010 | Alison Gansert |
2007 | Tessa Weston and Lauren Clyne |
2006 | Stacey Rotta |
2005 | Jessica Rauff and Chris Wall |
2004 | Jason Crowley |
Awarded annually to the students who pursue graduate studies in religion after graduating from our program.
Year | Name |
---|---|
2013 | David Bibee |
2010 | Nicole Sanfilippo |
2006 | Patrick Sauls |
2005 | Jon Heit |
2004 | Alejandra Lizardo |
Awarded to seniors who, out of a deep sense of compassion, have opened themselves up to learning and receiving from others to whom they will offer a year or more of direct volunteer service.
Year | Name |
---|---|
2010 | Andrea Carrera, John Mahoney, Deepti Shenoy, Anne Sobczak, Alexandra Angel |
2006 | Richard Bersamina, Courtney Marunda, Jennifer Vollmann, Bryan Lorentz |
2005 | Chris Wall, Heidi Kallen, Ross Egge, and Anne Selak |
Awarded to the student who has made the greatest contribution to the life of the department through support of academic and extracurricular activities.
Year | Name |
---|---|
2012 | Zena Andreani |
2006 | Everett DePangher |
Awarded to the student who has given exceptional service and support to the department's flagship Local Religion Project.
Year | Name |
---|---|
2007 | Kara Miyasato |
Awarded to the student who has demonstrated outstanding academic promise and a commitment to the values of the profession.
Year | Name |
---|---|
2015 | Anthony Ferrari |
2014 | Seher Siddiqee |
2012 | Caroline Read |
- The Saint Clare Medal
- Tanya Schmidt, (2012)
- Noelle Lopez, minor (2009)
- Jessica Coblentz, major (2008)
- Anne Selak, major (2005)
- Valedictorian
- Brandon Ashby, minor (2009)
- Christopher Wall, major(2005)
- Rahima Saratore, minor
- (2004)
- The Nobili Medal
- Andrew Hodun, (2012)
- George Barnidge, minor (2001)
- The Richard J. Riordan Award (community service)
- Jahayra Molina, (2012)
- Zena Andreani, (2012)
- Anne Rovzar, major (2009)
- Tessa Baker, major (2006)
- Kristin Simms, major (2001)
- The Ryland Prize (excellence in oratory and debate)
- Khanh Bui, major (2001)
- The Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J. Award
- Anne Murphy-Hagan (2010)
Heidi Kallan, major (2005)
- The Markkula Prize
- Jon Heit, major (2005)
- The Anthropology Program Award
- Rita-Marie Brady, minor (June 2001)
- Discover Interns
The Discover Summer Ministry Internship program is designed to help students to explore the rewards and demands of working on behalf of communities of faith.
- Sarah Attwood
- Nicole Brand-Cousy
- Molly Leaverton
- 2006 - Jessica Meyer
- Megan Raimondi
- Sarah Attwood
- Donovan Fellows
The Donovan Fellowship provides students with a cash grant of up to $1,500 to encourage and support students who desire to deepen their understanding of social justice issues through a summer community-based learning experience.
- 2011 - Jahayra Molina
- 2006 - Theodore Dykzeul
- 2006 - Stephanie Edwards
- 2006 - Emory Lynch
- Arrupe Interns
The Arrupe Internship is designed for students who have participated in several Arrupe Partnerships community-based learning experiences and who desire a richer and deeper experience in the community than the typical eight week commitment will allow.
- 2011 - Caroline Read
- 2007 - Jessica Meyer