Graduating seniors honored with special awards
“Lex shines when she preaches,” said Professor Lord, The Dorothy B. Vickery Professor Homiletics and Liturgical Studies, who served on the selection committee. “In storytelling, in the ways she lives with the texts, in her insistence on our changed lives—she preaches as one given over to God’s presence and power. Her preaching makes me want to shine, too.”
The Alice Phiri Award was established by the student body in 2018 to honor the memory of the wife of Malawian graduate Arnold Phiri (MATS’16). The students envisioned this award would recognize one who “goes above and beyond to help another person or persons … It is not for being a good volunteer or caring for others through one’s ministry, it is about going beyond the ordinary and touching on the extraordinary.” This year, the Student Life Committee unanimously selected two outstanding students: Usama Malik and Rachel Watson.
The faculty voted at its last meeting of academic year 2019-20 to make the following awards to students (graduating seniors noted in boldface):
The Donald Capps Award in Pastoral Care ¬ Carrie Winebrenner
The Ada and Adams Colhoun Award – Rachel Watson
The Rachel Henderlite Award – Chelsea May Law
The Hendrick-Smith Award for Evangelism and Missions – Kallie Pitcock
Sam B. Hicks Scholarships – AJ Roberts and Joel Timmons
The Max Sherman and Barbara Jordan Award – Sonja Miller
The Carl Kilborn Book Award – Susan Shaw-Meadow
The Charles L. King Preaching Award – Savannah Caccamo
The Ethel W. Lance Human and Civil Rights Award – Savannah Caccamo
The John B. Spragens Award – Sheth LaRue
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Professor and alumnus receive $185,000, combined, for social justice research
Dr. Gregory Cuéllar, associate professor of Old Testament, is the author of a successful grant application to The Wabash Center of Crawfordsville, Indiana. He and his working group—composed of tenured Latinx faculty in theological education—earned in May that their Race Critical Consciousness grant proposal, "Expanding the Latinx Vision of Borderlands at ATS Member Schools," earned $85,000 to fund their research. The impetus for the research arose from a concern that little is being offered at the Association of Theological Schools (ATS)-member schools to expand students’ vision of the U.S. southern borderlands. Says Cuéllar, "This pedagogical and epistemological gap can inadvertently perpetuate abiding racial prejudices against the many Latinx people who migrate through or who are settled in the U.S. borderlands."
Our Certificate in Ministry (CIM) and Certificate in Jewish Christian Relationship (CJCR) programs offer courses in the fall (September 8-November 13); registration runs July 27-August 1.
• (CIM) "Church History," with Professor David Johnson
• (CIM) "Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Polity," with Professor Paul Hooker
• (CJCR) "Jerusalem: The Holy City in History, Theology, and Conflict" with Professor Whit Bodman & Rabbi Neal Blumofe
Meet Our Seniors!
Lex is a member of First Presbyterian Church, Ann Arbor, Michigan, under care of Detroit Presbytery. She earned a BS in human development and family studies from Michigan State University. Before coming to seminary, she served a two-and-a-half year-long internship at First Presbyterian Church, Ann Arbor, working with high school and college students. Lex also led mission trips to Costa Rica, Jamaica, Belize, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Indiana. While in seminary, in addition to her church internship, she completed a CPE placement at Dell Seton Medical Center, Austin. She enjoys cuddling with her two cats, Luther and Beza. Lex has accepted a call to the Lilly Foundation residency program at Second Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Mike was born in Ohio, raised in California, and has lived in Texas the last thirteen years. He earned his BS degree from Grace College & Seminary. Before seminary Mike was a Stephen Minister and led a juvenile prison ministry. Mike served as youth director for Manchaca United Methodist Church as a component of the MAYM degree. Mike credits his youth pastor as having had a major influence on him; he likewise wants to help youth. Mike says, “Along with that, I also desire to help youth see that they are an integral part of the body of Christ—that they do not need to wait until they are older to start serving God.” He and his wife, Lisa, have a daughter and son.
Nick is a member of First Presbyterian Church, Greensboro, North Carolkina, under care of Salem Presbytery. He says he was Catholic until he met a “super Presby” (wife Savannah). He earned a BS degree from North Carolina State University majoring in parks, recreation, and tourism management. Before coming to seminary Nick was a youth director working with more than 250 youth. While in seminary he served an internship at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, Austin, and he completed a CPE placement at Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas, Austin. He also led the Seminary's Polity Bowl team. Nick has accepted a call as associate for youth and young adults at Eastminster Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina.
Savannah grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina, and is under care of Salem Presbytery. She earned a degree from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill with a major in religious studies and a minor in Spanish. As a Tarheel she was very active in the Presbyterian Campus Ministry. She loves to travel, meet new people, and explore new foods. She says, “I can converse extensively about both Harry Potter and Plato.” She spent a year in the Presbyterian Young Adult Volunteer program in Miami, Florida, working for South Florida Interfaith Worker Justice. Savannah has been called to the residency pastor program at Myers Park Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Jackie grew up in Levelland, Texas, and earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Texas Tech University and Walden University. Before coming to seminary she taught school. Jackie says, “As a child, my home church, Christ United Methodist Church, was one of the first United Methodist congregations in the nation to integrate. My earliest memories were of both black and white members working together to build God’s kingdom. My parents worked alongside others in the church when the odds—as well as many of the people in the town—were against them.” Jackie is pastor of Decker United Methodist Church in Austin. She is very active in the Rio Texas Annual Conference, serving as youth camp counselor, youth leader, Sunday School teacher, and on several conference committees and initiatives.
Chelsea May grew up in San Antonio and was a member in what was then known as John Calvin Presbyterian Church; she is under the care of Mission Presbytery. She earned a BA from Austin College where she received The Russell V. Rogers Sr. Memorial Scholarship Fund for an Outstanding Student Studying for the Ministry. During seminary she interned at Hyde Park Presbyterian Church, Austin. She has worked in youth ministry and at John Knox Ranch. Upon graduation Chelsea May will continue to do pulpit supply and is interested in serving as a PRN hospice chaplain. Her other interests include painting, ceramic art, and cats—and fellow MDiv graduate Sheth LaRue, whom she married at the Seminary on May 30.
Sonja earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and special education from Trinity University (San Antonio) and a master’s degree in educational leadership and administration from Texas Woman’s University. Before coming to seminary, she served as a school principal, life coach, and in non-profit management. For the past five years she has worked at Texas Freedom Network as Outreach and Faith Coordinator and currently works there as Outreach and Faith Director where she implements TFN’s work with clergy and faith communities, with a special focus on reproductive rights/justice and LGBTQ equality. Sonja is a ruling elder and member of Central Presbyterian Church, Austin.
Joseph is a member of the Reformed Church of Zambia and is a minister of word and sacrament of a Reformed Church of Zambia congregation in Chalumbe, Zambia. He earned a bachelor's degree in theology from ecumenical partner institution Justo Mwale University, and he came to Austin Seminary as a recipient of the New Covenant Presbytery International Fellowship. Joseph looks forward to continuing his multi-faceted ministries in Zambia along with his wife, Rebecca. They have one infant son.
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What's new at AustinSeminary.edu?
With the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic, we wanted to share resources with the broader church. Taking the title from a video from Pastoral Care Professor Phil Helsel, we added a page on our website in the Congregational Resources section called "Resources for Desert Times." You'll find professors' videos as well as some of the video messages President Ted Wardlaw has delivered during these uncertain times. It is continually being updated so take something, share something.
• You'll find it here!,
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