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 |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Laura Clark |
| 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 |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Marie Jordaan |
| 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 |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Blaise Burbank |
| 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 |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Grace Urbinato |
| 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 |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Daniel Martinez |
| 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 |