Honors Day 2008

Following a tradition begun in the Spring of 2002, REL's annual Honors Day luncheon was held at noon, on Manly Hall's 2nd floor balcony, on Friday, April 18, 2008 (immediately following the College of Arts & Sciences' Honors Convocation for undergraduate students). And, once again, all majors and minors in the Department of Religious Studies--whether graduating or not--received an invitation to attend the event. About fifty students, parents, faculty, and staff came out for some good food and drink, some awards, and a few expected, but still fun, surprises.

Harrison Graydon (left) and Jaci Gresham, both Silverstein Fellows and Scholars, had the honor of putting up this year's banners, which hang for the entire month of April. The banners provide the names of the nearly 100 students who have benefited from the Department's Silverstein Scholarship.

At 10 a.m. the College of Arts & Sciences held its convocation for undergraduate honors students in the Moody Music Building's beautiful, 1,000 seat concert hall, complete with pipe organ. (If we're not mistaken, an REL major is sitting on the stage...)

This year, Prof. Ted Trost --REL's Undergraduate Advisor--represented the Department at the College's event. Pictured here, he introduces and congratulates (see rollover) graduating senior and REL/Anthropology double major, Dan Mullins (2007-8 President of the REL student association). Dan had the pleasant surprise of receiving the Outstanding Achievement in the Academic Study of Religion award for 2007-8.

For the first time in recent memory, an REL major was among the small number of Collegel-level award recipients invited to join the Department Chairs and other presenters on stage. Pictured at center is Jaci Gresham, who this year received a Leadership Board award for outstanding Sophomores. (Rollover the image to see Jaci receiving her award.)

After the close of the College's convocation, guests make their way back to historic Manly Hall for REL's reception, when we celebrate some of our students' accomplishments. Pictured above, Geoff Davidson breaks out of the box by starting with dessert.

Harrison Graydon (right), an REL/English double major who also works in our main office, is joined by his parents.

Although somewhat upstaged by the photographic charm of his flamboyant classmates, Sean Beadore remained undaunted and managed to acquire a small but tactical piece of the spotlight.

Honorees John Lyles (far right) and Ben Simmons (background) along with their parents (Mr. and Mrs. Simmons to the left and Mr. Lyles center) speaking with Prof. Ramey (the bearded professorial-looking one).

Prof. Marouan (left) officiated at this year's ceremony, taking over from Prof. Murphy, who had played this role since 2003. Her co-host for the afternoon's events was none other than the international sensation, Angel Narvaez-Lugo, also a student in the Department.

Prof. Trost (far right), who also holds an appointment in New College, speaks with award winner Susan Gorin (seated at right) and her parents.

This year the Department had a Power Point slide show, made by Dan Mullins and Jaci Gresham, that was shown in one of our multi-media rooms, featuring photos of life around Manly Hall's second floor. Click here to see it.

Prof. Murphy (right), one of our specialists in theory, speaking with Keke Pounds, the President of the local chapter of our undergraduate honors society. We're not sure if Keke will be back in Fall, since Yale Divinity School is beckoning to her, like the tempting song of sweet Sirens.

Jaci Gresham's parents (right) and grandparents (left) were once again among those who did us the honor of attending. Here, everyone (including Prof. Trost, at back, left) is settling in for a good view--the ceremony's beginning.

Overture, curtains, lights...

Before the award winners were called forward, Angel introduced the faculty and staff, three of whom are pictured above (left to middle): Profs. Jacobs, Ramey, and Murphy. Angel's subtle way of endearing himself to those currently grading his assignments was matched only by his fearlessness when describing the flimsy competencies of those whom (he thinks!) hold no sway over his undergraduate fate.

Prof. McCutcheon (right), kicked off the awards with a special gift to Dan Mullins (whose body posture, above, suggests some wariness at what the gift might be), in recognition of the detailed and intensive planning and report writing that he has done this year to whip the student association into shape. (See the rollover for Dan's big pen and paper--please use them in a well ventilated area...)

Keke Pounds was next on the hot seat; for her work to help reinvent Theta Alpha Kappa, the honors society for undergraduate REL students, she received a gift that will surely help her grapple better with all those choices that life keeps throwing at her. (Click the rollover to have a few of your own questions answered.)

Ben Simmons and Geoff Davidson (see rollover) were first up, accepting their envelope from Prof. Marouan, which detailed the level of prize they were receiving (based on their GPA, the Department awarded $1,000, $500, and $250 prizes to its students this year), and a copy of a book by this year's Aronov Lecturer. Angel then them gave each of them random food product as a parting gift. A new addition this year was the request that students also say a few words about their interests in the academic study of religion.

Harrison Graydon and Jaci Gresham (see rollover) were also honored: he with an envelope, book, and a bottle of hot sauce; she with an envelope, a book, and "Slap Ya Mama" Cajun spice seasoning. Hmmm Hmmm! (As Angel strategically added, the Department does not advocate slapping "ya mama.")

Dan went away with a tub of Crisco to add to his big pad o'paper, and John Lyles, right, seems to be hiding his parting gift--for fear someone will swipe it?

Susan Gorin, left, and Keke Pounds, right, rounded out the group of honorees. Susan is participating in a semester abroad this Fall, going to school in China as part of a program led by Prof. Tony Clark, of History. Keke (who, as the randomly selected last recipient, sadly got an ipod Shuffle instead of a vital food item), is doing some international traveling of her own, being one of four students going to Thessaloniki, Greece, with Prof. McCutcheon, for two weeks in May 2008.

The calm after the ceremonial storm: Prof. McCutcheon, the chair of the Department (right) speaks with Dan's father, Prof. Larry Mullins, former Dean of Liberal Arts and now once again a Professor of Sociology, at Auburn University.

Prof. Jacobs, on sabbatical this semester, made it to town for the festivities, pictured here with Susan Gorin's parents.

Geoff Davidson, whose future career hopes also include attending Divinity School, with his parents and Keke Pounds.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the slide show just kept going and going... Here, Dan and Ginny Heard escape the balcony for a few moments.

See you next year...

Once again, our Honors Day reception was put in place by Ms. Betty Dickey, our Department's knowledgeable, capable, and always pleasant Administrative Secretary--in fact, she was our photographer as well. Thanks to her we located a new caterer and the food arrived on time this year!

The 2007-8 academic year marks Betty's 20th year at the University of Alabama; our Honors Day 2008 luncheon was a wonderful opportunity to thank her publicly for the important and hopefully never overlooked role that she plays in the operation of the Department as well as the careers of its faculty and the lives of our students.