Spring 2008 Religious Studies Awards

OUTSTANDING MAJORS

Erika Levin (Jewish Studies Certificate) Erika is an Honors student working in the areas of gender, feminism and Jewish Studies. What brought Erika to the attention of our committee was the way she has combined intellectual acuity and academic excellence with aesthetics, creativity and performance in service of her passionate concern for the “other”. This past summer Erika was chosen to participate as an intern in the Women’s Studies Research Center at Brandeis University, and after a coming summer in Yeshiva in Israel, Erika plans to continue the research she began here in her undergraduate career examining the conflicting roles of Jewish women in a traditional patriarchal religious system and a society based on principles of equality. She hopes to apply for a Fulbright scholarship to conduct interviews within the Jewish community in Argentina.

Rudolph Reyes II Rudy earned an AA from Mesa Community College where he focused on coursework in philosophy, religion and history. Once at ASU he developed those interests into a concerted program of study in the Department. In 2007 Rudy was selected to participate in the Diversity and Explorations program at Harvard Divinity School based on his academic achievements and interest in social justice and diversity. This experience opened the door for Rudy to apply and just recently receive acceptance into the HDS graduate program.

OUTSTANDING INTERDISCIPLINARY MAJORS

Nathan Schick Nathan began his undergraduate program in Religious Studies with a BA in Political Science. While at ASU he was awarded a research fellowship in CSRC where he worked with Professor Roger Adelson in the Department of History. In addition to his BA in Religious Studies, Nathan has earned certificates in both Arabic Studies and Islamic Studies, which along with his excellent academic record, his background in Poli sci and his experience in the study of religion in conflict has earned him this recognition as an outstanding example of interdisciplinary study in the humanities.

Steve Cottam (intersection of religion and society in Near and Middle East); BA in Religious Studies, BA in History, Certificates in Jewish Studies, Islamic Studies and Russian and Eastern European Studies, Flinn Scholar, National Merit Scholar, CSRC Undergrad fellow 2005-2006, ASU Critical Languages Institute Scholarship 2005, 2006, Melikian Foundation Armenian Language Fellowship 2005, 2006, NSEP Undergrad scholar 2006-2007, Dean’s Circle Scholarship – Religious Studies 2007, Study Abroad: Hungary-Romania Summer session 2004 (Flinn), Armenia (2005, 2006 ASU Critical Languages), El Salvador (2008, Newman Center Social Justice Dialogue).

OUTSTANDING CONCURRENT MAJORS

Toni Ratajczak Toni began her academic career in the community college network with those varied intrests that are the hallmark of a religious studies career: politics, religion, psychology, philosophy. She earned an AA from MCC in 2006, but here at ASU she found her voice and pursued her developing passion for modern North African history, Islam an dfamily law. Toni’s decision to add a concurrent major in History and to complete an Islamic Studies certificate reflect her ability to focus and maximize her time in the undergraduate program. She studied abroad in Jordan last summer on scholarship and plans to spend this summer in Morocco to conduct preliminary research on the reform of family law and to strengthen her language skills. When she returns she will begin graduate study with the Department of Near Eastern Studies at the University of Arizona. Toni’s success is measured not only in academic achievement but in maturity, personal development and persistence.

Richard “Tobie” Milford Tobie is an Honors student and National Merit Scholar, finishing his BA in religious studies while pursuing a joint Masters/BS in biology and science. He was a research fellow in the CSRC where his intrests in religion, and science and technology crystallized into work on religious responses to transhumanism. Tobie has had two of his essays published in The Triple Helix. Tobie’s scholarly record at ASU demonstrates a creative bridging between the humanities and science. But, in addition to this Tobie has extended his interests into practical service. He is involved in cross-discipinary dialogue and as a community activist has sought to create dialogue among people of different beliefs. He exemplifies the key traits of scholarship, leadership, creativity and service that have earned him this award for outstanding concurrent major.

OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY/PUBLIC SERVICE

Michelle Puchon Michelle has been selected for this award because of the way she has single-mindedly combined her undergraduate studies, work experience, and volunteer activities for the benefit of others. Her undergraduate studies reveal her range of interests in community service. Her courses include emphases in Social Justice, Society and Identities, and Contemporary Social Issues. Her work experience has been closely related these academic interests (Juvenile Just-Us Program Specialist July 2007 to present; Behavioral Health Specialist May 2006 o present with The New Foundation, Scottsdale Arizona). Her volunteer activities also focus on public service (Women beyond Borders, Arizona Lost Boys Center, ASU’s Intergroup Relations Center and its “Difficult Dialogues” program). Michelle has been accepted at several major Masters of Social Work programs and has chosen to attend Columbia.

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Spring 2007 Religious Studies Awards and Opportunities

• Outstanding Major: Alexander Ginsburg. 
• Outstanding Concurrent Major: Martin Martos III
• Outstanding community/public service: Aaron Begay
• Outstanding Interdisciplinary Major: Trevor Link
• Outstanding Academic Achievement: Seth Larson
• Undergraduate Norton Grant for Women's Studies in Religion: Erika Levin
• Graduate Norton Grant for Women's Studies in Religion: Elizabeth Ursic
• Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistants: Seth Clippard and Mugdha Yeolekar
• Outstanding Graduate Student: Inayah Romaniyah
• Lily Safra Internship Program at the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute (summer 2007): Erika Levin
• CLAS Student Ambassador: Yousra Madfai

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Spring 2006 Religious Studies Awards