Academic and Service Awards
The Founder's Medal for first honors in the Divinity School's Class of 2025 for the master of divinity:
Thornton Taylor Muncher
The Academic Achievement Award for achieving a high standard of scholarship while fulfilling the requirements for the master of theological studies:
Stephanie Carter
The United Methodist Student Association Award for exemplifying the Wesleyan ideals of Christian servant leadership:
Thornton Taylor Muncher
The W. Kendrick Grobel Award in Biblical studies:
Stephanie Carter
The Umphrey Lee Dean's Award for exemplifying the mission and vision of the Divinity School:
Lindsey Sampson Kelley
The William A. Newcomb Prize for receiving honors on one's master of divinity degree project:
Florence Renee Oakes, Jeremy Brooks McKinnon
The Saint James Academy Award for composing the outstanding sermon:
David Alonso
The Frederick Buechner Prizes for the outstanding thesis and doctor of ministry project:
Kimberly Williams Dillard, Carolyn Jean Talmadge
The J.D. Owen Prize for accomplishments in New Testament studies:
Jiihn Ahn
The Luke-Acts Prize:
Jiihn Ahn
The John Olin Knott Award for scholarly and creative writing:
Foster Yarbrough Blowers, Ryan Allen Harris, Madelynn Claire Roche
The Elliott F. Shepard Prize for accomplishments in church history:
Sonora Roberta Grimsted
The Wilbur F. Tillett Prize for accomplishments in the study of ethics:
Tammy Lewis Wilborn
The Nella May Overby Memorial Award for honors in field education:
Malcolm Travis Brown
The Liston O. Mills Award for academic distinction in pastoral theology and the study of religion, psychology, and culture:
Florence Renee Oakes, Tammy Lewis Wilborn
The Florence Conwell Prize in preaching:
Jeanine Courtney Miller
The Disciples Divinity House Scholar Award:
Jeanine Courtney Miller
The Robert Lewis Butler Award for service and ministry in the African American Church:
Jeanine Courtney Miller
The Doctorate of Ministry Award for distinction in integrative care practices:
William Lawrence Applebee II
The Bettye R. Ford Graduate Student Service Award for significant contributions to Vanderbilt University's Graduate Department of Religion:
Erica Joy Johnson
The Student Government Association Service Awards presented to a student and to a member of the administration, faculty, and staff for significant contributions to the Divinity School community:
Student: Tammy Lewis Wilborn
Faculty: Yara González-Justiniano, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor of Religion, Psychology, and Culture)
Certificates
The Carpenter Program in Religion, Gender, and Sexuality:
Lindsey Sampson Kelley, Susan Mayo, Jeremy Brooks McKinnon
Religion and the Arts in Contemporary Culture:
Sonora Roberta Grimsted, Florence Renee Oakes
The Kelly Miller Smith Institute in Black Church Studies:
Jeanine Courtney Miller
The Graduate Certificate in Jewish Studies:
Thornton Taylor Muncher
Learn more about Vanderbilt Divinity School awards here.