Stories

On May 21, 2025, the Religious Studies Department hosted its 32nd Annual Religious Studies Reception. Professor Gaurika Mehta opened the reception with the invocation. Professor Haruka Umetsu Cho served as the emcee of the event. The night included 11 new inductees to the honor society, Theta Alpha Kappa. Several students also received awards. The Catherine Bell award, given to a junior major for exceptional academic achievement and promise, went to Aarush Malik. The Joseph Grassi Social Justice Award, given to the student who has exhibited the greatest commitment to social justice in their time at SCU, went to Denae Rivera. The Theodore Mackin, S.J. Award, given to the students who the Religious Studies department faculty deem to have written the finest Senior paper, went to Grace Urbinato and Samuel Cao. The Paul Crowley, S.J. Award is a new award named in honor of a beloved former colleague, Religious Studies department chair and longtime professor of theology. This award goes to the student who has made outstanding contributions to the Department of Religious Studies, mirroring his decades of contributions to the department. The first recipient of this award was Hydeia Wysinger. The Tennant C. Wright, S.J. Award is awarded to the senior Religious Studies minor most proficient in the study of religion. The recipients of this award were Lauren Sundin and Libby Slater. Finally, the Religious Studies Prize for the Academically Outstanding RS Major is awarded annually to the student whom the Department faculty deems to have the most distinguished academic record in the study of religion as a major. This award went to Joseph Barton and Isabella Klesney. The event concluded with Professor Philip Boo Riley as the featured faculty speaker.