Fellowships & Awards
The Jack Boozer Fund and the Hermann and Janet Noether Fund
The late Jack Boozer was a distinguished member of the Emory Department of Religion. In addition to being an award-winning teacher of Christian theology and ethics, Professor Boozer was active in racially integrating the University, in establishing the Jay and Leslie Cohen Chair of Judaic Studies, in founding University Worship, in organizing the program in ethics in the School of Medicine, in the arts on campus, and protecting the rights of minorities in our community.
Upon Professor Boozer's retirement in 1987, the Jack Boozer Fund was established to support students pursuing study and/or involvement in the area of religious ethics and community service.
Theta Alpha Kappa
The society encourages research, good teaching, publication, and an intellectual and social exchange among students, teachers and writers of the discipline. The Journal of Theta Alpha Kappa invites students to submit papers for publication.
Other Awards
William A. Beardslee Prize
The William A. Beardslee Prize in Religious Literature, given annually, which honors the contributions of William A. Beardslee, Professor Emeritus of New Testament, is for the best paper submitted about religion in a course offered by the College.
2025-2026 Winners
1st Place:
Student: Cece York
Course number: REL 300
Instructor: Wei Wu
Semester: Fall 2025
Paper Title: “African American Syncretism: How Blended Religions Change the Definition Game”
Student: llah Ross
Course number: REL 341
Instructor: Don Seeman
Semester: Spring 2025
Paper Title: “Maimonides and Decentralizing the Self from Narratives of Suffering”
Paul B. Courtright Prize
The Paul B. Courtright Prize is awarded annually for overall excellence among majors in the Department.
Recipients:Nico Morris-Fry - 2026
Yijin Li-2025
Chase G. Wolfsohn-2024
Hammer [Hunter] Fitzhugh Collins-2024
Olivia Katherine Metzger-2023
Barrett Alexander Beesley- 2022
Angelica R. Abraham-2021
Emma Averill Hanlon - 2020
John Fenton Prizes
The John Fenton Prizes in the Comparative Study of Religion, given annually, this fund will support two prizes, at a graduate and undergraduate level, in the comparative study of religions. The prizes will be awarded to those students whose work represents the best in the comparative study of religions: rigor, textual or ethnographic depth, and innovation in comparative work.
Undergraduate Recipients:
Eunjae Thompson-2026
Paige Scanlon-2025
Shreyas Rajagopal-2024
Barrett Alexander Beesley- 2022
Nathaniel Jonah Goldblum- 2021
Sally Jenks – First Price- 2020
Caroline Elise Wilkinson - Honorable Mention- 2020
Graduate Recipients:
Prathiksha Srinivasa-2026
Mujahid Osman-2025
Riza Yildirim-2024
Nelly Wamaitha Wambui- 2023
Hyemin Joanne Na- 2022
Joi R. Orr - 2021
Timothy Mark Rainey II- 2021
Siti Sarah Muwahidah- 2020
Eugene Bianchi Prize
The Eugene Bianchi Prize in Religion is awarded each year to an undergraduate Religion major who demonstrates outstanding service to the community in a way that integrates his or her studies in religion with a commitment to engaged scholarship. Nominations will be submitted by the Religion faculty.
Recipients:
Samuel Salameh-2026
Shixue (Sherlyn) Shao-2025
Marwah [Mari] B. Ismail-2024
Ella Caitlyn Morgen- 2023
Jalista A. Velasco- 2022
Zion R. Kidd- 2021
Ava Lauren Shaevel- 2020
