Student wins best undergraduate essay from the Midwest American Academy of Religion

Religion senior, Stephanie Rickel, attended the Midwest American Academy of Religion (MAAR) annual meeting in Rock Island, Ill. April 1-3. 

Stephanie presented her paper "Liturgy, Time, and Secularism's Imitation"as part of a session devoted to undergraduate research for which she won the conference award for best undergraduate essay. 

The American Academy of Religion is the most important professional organization for the study Religion in the United States. There are regional meetings that take place throughout the year in addition to the big, nation-wide annual meeting in the Fall. "Winning this award [best undergraduate essay] is a testament to Stephanie's skill as a young theologian, careful thinker, and sophisticated writer," said Dr. Craig Hovey, her thesis advisor. "Stephanie has worked hard for over a year on a set of theological topics that led her to interact with the work of some of the most important living Christian theologians. She is particularly gifted at explaining difficult ideas and showing why they matter."

Stephanie’s paper was a condensed version of her religion major thesis of the same title. To read her prize winning thesis click here