Congratulations to our 2024 – 2025 graduating majors, certificates, and PhD minors! We are so proud of you and all you have accomplished and look forward to seeing what you do in the future! Please stay in touch and keep Religious Studies updated about what’s going on in your lives and “Life After RS.” If you’d like to update your contact info for the monthly newsletter, please fill out this form.
The Religious Studies Program would also like to recognize Axell Boomer, Lauren Cortwright, and Drilon Etemi on receiving distinguished awards this year.
Axell Boomer is one of four graduating students in the College of Letters & Sciences to receive the prestigious Dean’s Preize. Read more about the Dean’s Prize and Axell’s work here. Earlier this year, Axell received the very competitive Beinecke Award for future graduate study.
The David Hildner Award celebrates majors who have achieved excellence in their Religious Studies work and who have committed to bring what they have learned in the major to serve others with dedication and enthusiasm. The award is named in honor of emeritus professor David Hildner (shown with Lauren in the photograph). This year’s award goes to Lauren Cortright for exemplary work in religious studies, including her research on the Iron man Mdot tattoo and her continued work in the medical profession.
The Quitman E. Phillips Award celebrates recognizes majors who have consistently surpassed faculty expectations in achievement of the learning goals of the Religious Studies Program and produced superb capstone projects. The award is named in honor of emeritus professor Quitman (Gene) Phillips. This year’s award recognizes Drilon Etemi (shown with Professor Susan Ridgely, who taught this year’s RS 600) for his tremendous work in religious studies throughout his major, including his original analysis of Aztec human sacrifice in religion 600.