Congratulations to AU's 2020 Religion Graduates

The Religion Department is proud and delighted to congratulate our four majors and twenty-nine minors graduating at the end of this school year. We are sorry we will not be all together in person to mark your achievement and to wish you every success.

 
Majors: Adam Bendel, Shannon Galleher, Mark Gorsuch, Connor McKinney

Minors (Religion and Ethics):  Dana Awlia, Christie Benton, Frances Boggs, Sarah Butti, Ty Coile, Paige Frankovich, Kyle Gibson, Christine Goldsmith, Samantha Hagans, Julia Hines, Marissa Humphries, Amanda Janecek, Caleb Johnson, Joshua Johnston, Jakson Kennedy, Lexus Lang, Alli Lange, Savannah Lewis, Kelly Luck, Jacob Nestle, Priscilla Nordman, John Oney, Zach Read, Shelby Reutter, Nathan Roblin, Allison Skerkavich, Madeline Sluss, Shelby Starnes, Morgan Tinnirello

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Under more normal circumstances, we would recognise our graduating seniors at our annual Last Lecture in April. While that was not possible, we still have the blog and social media. So please meet the graduating religion majors of 2020 in their own words (and share this link widely):

Mark Gorsuch - "I learned a great deal about the Atonement, Church History, and gained a deeper appreciation for the Old Testament. I was also able to go on two amazing trips with the religion department to Italy (where I saw the Pope twice!) and Israel where I walked in the footsteps of Christ. While writing my thesis ("Neither Meek Nor Mild: A Feminist Theological Perspective on The Blessed Virgin Mary") I learned a great deal about the greatest of saints, Mary the Mother of God. 

I plan to go on to get a master’s in clinical mental health counseling at Ashland Theological Seminary.

Mark in Jerusalem with AU

Adam Bendel -  "My time in the AU Religion department has taught me the necessary skills to formulate my own theology yet be open to numerous different thoughts and beliefs. After I graduate from AU, I will be moving on to Ashland Theological Seminary.  I hope to one day be ordained in the Brethren church." 

A special congratulations to Adam who has made the most of the Coronavirus shut down by marrying Sarah Butti (Religion minor, 2020) on Freer Field. Cameron Johnson (Religion major, 2012) conducted the ceremony at a safe distance with a few family and friends in attendance.

Adam and Sarah Butti on their wedding day, April 25, 2020

Shannon Galleher - "The most important thing that I learned from my time as a religion major at Ashland University is that you can never learn too much about God! I will be moving on to a position as a Social Media Coordinator at Fabriweld Corporation. While I may not be pursuing a career directly related to this major, I will use it everyday as I do youth ministry alongside my husband, Taylor, at Ashland Grace Church."

Shannon reaffirming her baptismal covenant in the Jordan River in 2017 with the Reverend Doctors Sue Dickson and Dan Hawk.

Connor McKinney - "As a religion major, I discovered my passion for sharing my gifts and knowledge of Christ and God to as many people as I can. I plan on using what I have learned to find employment in the field of patient advocacy.  I want to do this so that I can use the compassion and message of Christ that I have learned from my studies to spread the word of Christ. Also, connecting to my degree, I plan on coaching or working part-time at a church. My goal in all of this is to incorporate my faith in my work in any way that I can."

Congratulations to Connor and graduating religion minor Amanda Janecek on their recent engagement.

Connor and Amanda