Order of Exercises

PROCESSIONAL*

“Crown Imperial” William Walton
“Praise the Lord” Traditional Cameroon

INVOCATION* Hilary McKane, PhD. Bible and Cultures
Director Graduate Academic Services

WELCOME Robert Paul Seesengood Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
Teaching Professor of Bible and Cultures

ANTHEM “Love Has Broken Down the Wall” Words & Music: Mark Miller

CONFERRING OF PRIZES Theological School Faculty

HYMN “We Abide” Words: Laurie Zelman
T’00 Music: Mark Miller

GRADUATE DIVISION OF RELIGION Juan Martinez Benavides, Administrative Officer
STUDENT ASSOCIATION AWARDS Bryant Burkhart, Financial Officer

CONFERRING OF RESEARCH AWARDS Meredith E. Hoxie Schol, PhD.
Director of Doctoral Studies
Associate Teaching Professor
Of Religious Education and Leadership

BENEDICTION* Edwin David Aponte, PhD
Dean of the Theological School
Professor of Religion & Culture

RECESSIONAL* “Voluntary of Celebration!” arr. Mark. Miller

Award recipients are asked to remain in the chapel following the service for pictures
*Please stand if you are able

FACULTY PRESENTERS

J. Terry Todd Associate Professor of American Religious Studies
Melanie Johnson-DeBaufre Henry Ansen Buttz Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity
Francisco Pelaez-Diaz Assistant Teaching Professor in Latinx Studies and Ministries
Meredith E. Hoxie Schol Associate Teaching Professor of Religious Education and Leadership Kevin D. Newburg Associate Teaching Professor in the History of Christianity and
Methodist Studies

THEOLOGICAL SCHOOL AWARDS
Achievement

Rev. Dr. Joyce Bailey Award for All Around Excellence
Established in honor of Rev. Dr. Joyce Bailey, the first Caribbean and Black scholar in Christian Education at the Theological School. Awarded to an international or U.S. student of color who excels in both academics and community life, and who demonstrates commitment and growth in the social justice values of the Theological School.

Mead Hall Study Circle Award
Originated in 1926. For the woman student who achieves an excellent academic record in her first year of study.

Patricia Wickham Prize in Feminist Scholarship
Endowed in 1992 by family and friends in memory of Patricia Wickham T’89. Awarded for overall academic excellence and creativity in feminist/womanist scholarship to a woman student who has completed two-thirds of the MDiv or three-quarters of an MA curriculum.

Leadership

AfriSCaD Alumni Award
Established in 2023. Awarded to an African Theological School student who has shown outstanding communal engagement both at campus and in the community at large.

Bernhard Anderson Award for Excellence in Leadership
Endowed in 2009 by the Theological School Class of 1959 to honor the inspired leadership and teaching of the late professor of biblical theology Bernhard W. Anderson, Dean of the Theological School from 1954 to 1963.

The Frederick Buechner Writing Competition
Established in 2026. Rev. Frederick Buechner (1926-2022) was a writer, preacher, theologian, and minister. The
author of thirty-nine books, his publishing career spanned more than six decades, and covered a number of genres: novels, essays, sermons, poetry, and memoir. Buechner was awarded eight honorary degrees from such institutions as Yale University and the Virginia Theological Seminary. He was the recipient of the O. Henry Award, the Rosenthal Award, and the Christianity and Literature Belles Lettres Prize, and was recognised by the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters.The Buechner Prize in Writing is bestowed by a gift from the Frederick Buechner Society and awarded via a juried review of student submissions. The award consists of a cash prize and consideration for publication in the 2026-27 Buechner Review.

Robert Duncan, Sr. Award
Established in 2011 by Rev. Dr. Robert Duncan Jr., T’83,‘99, to honor his father, Rev. Dr. Robert Duncan Sr. T’59,‘71,‘01. Awarded annually to a United Methodist student pursuing their MDiv who shows exceptional promise for pastoral ministry.
Henry L. Lambdin Award for Excellence in Pastoral Leadership
Endowed in 1989 by friends and colleagues to honor former faculty member Henry Lambdin T’14,’35. Awarded for excellence in pastoral leadership.

The Rev. Dr. Clayton Z. Miller T’59,’75 Award
Endowed in 2013 by the Rev. Dr. Clayton Z. Miller T’59,’75. Awarded to a Theological School student who has excelled in supervised ministry and shows great promise for congregational clergy leadership.

Alton Raynor Award
Established in 1998. Awarded to a second-year student who shows great promise for success in town and country ministry.

Jasper and Ann Steele Award
Endowed by Jasper and Ann Steele in 1994. For a student who demonstrates great potential for ministry in a multicultural community.

Biblical Studies
J. Newton Davies Greek New Testament Award
Established in honor of the late professor of New Testament J. Newton Davies. Presented to a first-year student with great promise for New Testament studies.

John Paterson Old Testament Studies Award
Endowed by family and friends in memory of John Paterson, professor of Hebrew and Old Testament from 1931 to 1957. Awarded to the first-year student of greatest promise in Old Testament studies.

Lawrence E. Toombs Award in Old Testament History
For a student who has excelled in this area.

Clarence Tucker Craig Award in Biblical Studies
Established by the Class of 1955 to honor the former dean and awarded to the graduating M. Div. candidate who has excelled in this field

George R. Warren Memorial Award
Endowed in 1985 by family in memory of George R. Warren T’28. Awarded for outstanding New Testament scholarship.

F.J. Yetter Award
Awarded to a seminary student who has excelled in the study of the Old Testament.

Church History

Robert Jehu Bull Award
Endowed in 1996 by Dr. Henry O. Thompson T’58, G’64, a dedicated alumni leader, and other alumni and friends of Drew, in honor of Dr. Robert J. Bull, professor of church history and archaeology emeritus, who brought church history to life for more than three decades of students by leading the excavation at Caesarea Maritima. Awarded annually to the graduating student with a strong record in church history.

Theology
Annin Memorial Award in Theology
Endowed in 2005 by Anne V. Annin T’00, in memory of William E. and David E. Annin. Awarded to graduating students in the MDiv program who have displayed both interest and excellence in theology.

Preaching, Worship, and the Arts
Lester Berenbroick Award in Church Music
Established in 2005 by Leary Anna Murphy in honor of Lester Berenbroick’s contributions, over many years, to the teaching of church music at Drew. Awarded to a student who has completed the second year of theological education.

George R. Crooks Award
Established in 1914. For excellence in hymn and Scripture reading.

Dorr Diefendorf Award
Established in 1956 by Robert R. Diefendorft, and endowed by family and friends in honor of Dorr Diefendorf, Theological School graduate and professor of practical theology and applied Christianity. Awarded for excellence in homiletics.

Alfred B. Haas Award
Established in 2006 by the Theological School Class of 1957, and endowed in 2008, to honor the inspired teaching of Alfred B. Haas T’36, G’ 46, associate professor of practical theology from 1944 to 1968. Awarded to students in the MDiv program who have made significant contributions to the worship life of the Theological School and pursued coursework in the area of liturgics.

Rev. William L.D. Lyght T’33 Award
Endowed in 2014 by Bishop Ernest S. Lyght T’68 in loving memory of his late father, Rev. William L.D. Lyght T’33. Awarded to an African American or international student from the Methodist tradition for excellence in preaching.

The Order of St. Luke-Hoyt Hickman Award
Awarded for excellence in liturgical studies.

Fellowship Seminarian Award
Presented annually by the Fellowship to a student who displays outstanding leadership in music and/or worship arts.

John Heston Willey Award
Originated in 1920. Presented to the student who excels in pulpit oratory and manner

Dean Anne B. Yardley Award for Hospitality through the Arts.
Established by the Class of 2011 to celebrate Dr. Yardley’s leadership, her dedication to the arts, and her commitment to fostering hospitality in the Drew community. Awarded to a Theological School student in any degree program who enriches and enhances the Theological School community by building hospitality through artistic expression.

Doctoral Research

Robert J. Duncan Jr. Award
Endowed in 2006 by the Reverend Dr. Robert J. Duncan Sr. T’59,’71,’01 and Dorothy Duncan, to honor their son, the Reverend

Dr. Robert J. Duncan Jr. T’83,’99, the first graduate of Drew Theological School’s Global/Online Doctor of Ministry program. Awarded to a student in the Doctor of Ministry whose project thesis is singularly distinguished by creativity and innovative use of technology.

Reverend Robert W. Edgar for Social Justice
Established by Robert W. Edgar T’68 as an expression of his affection for Drew University and his deep concern for social justice. Awarded to students pursuing a PhD degree in the Graduate Division of Religion whose work connects the academy with the religious, cultural and socio-political realities and challenges of the larger world, and whose dissertation is distinguished by outstanding transdisciplinary scholarship related to social justice issues.

Daniel P. Kidder Award
Awarded for the best academic work in practical theology.

Helen LePage and William Hale Chamberlain Award
Established by Joan Chamberlain Engelsman G’77 and endowed in 2001 in memory of her husband, Ralph G. Engelsman. Awarded annually for the PhD dissertation that is singularly distinguished by creative thought and excellent prose style.

Rabbi Dr. Sheldon J. Weltman Award for Excellence in Biblical Studies.

Endowed in 1992 by the estate of Rabbi Weltman G’80,’90. Awarded for the best thesis or dissertation in biblical studies.

Doctoral Achievement

Maxine Clarke Beach Leadership Prize for Outstanding Academic Achievement in Coursework
Awarded for academic excellence in coursework by a PhD student.

Maxine Clarke Beach Leadership Prize for Outstanding Academic Achievement in Comprehensive Exams
Awarded to a PhD student who has completed the comprehensive exams with exceptional academic distinction.

Maxine Clarke Beach Leadership Prize for Outstanding Student-Teacher
Awarded to a PhD student who has demonstrated exceptional ability, dedication, and promise as a teacher through their outstanding service as a student teacher.