On Friday, May 10 the University of the South in its 167th year held a Convocation for the Conferring of Degrees from the School of Theology. The seminary graduated 27 students receiving varying diplomas and degrees from Vice-Chancellor Dr. Robert Pearigen.
View the recording here
Honorary Degrees
The Rt. Rev. Frank Logue, the 11th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia, delivered a powerful sermon to graduating seminarians and received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree. The Rt. Rev. Daniel Paul Richards, the ninth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina, and the Rt. Rev. Peter Eaton, the fourth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida, also received honorary Doctor of Divinity degrees.
2024 Graduates of the School of Theology
Diploma of Anglican Studies
Michael Crandall, Diocese of Hawaii
Doctor of Ministry
Ethan P.J. Ferguson
William Joshua Hays
Jason Daniel Lewis
Regan M. Schutz
Master in Sacred Theology
Casey Cole Higginbotham
Kelton Louis Riley
Larry Christopher Williams
Master of Arts
George Omondi Amimo
Wendy Prothro Howard
Madeleine Elizabeth Parks
Samuel Jeyakumar Ponniah
Master of Divinity
Eric Brandon Bash, Diocese of South Carolina
AJ Boots, Diocese of New Hampshire
Myra Ryneheart Corcorran, Diocese of Olympia
Michael Erwin Farnell, Diocese of Texas
Anatol Allison Ringel Ferguson, Diocese of the Bahamas & the Turks & Caicos Islands
Samantha Leigh Haisten, Diocese of East Tennessee
Katherine Louise Mansfield, Diocese of West Missouri
Charles Gerald Martin, Diocese of Colorado
Shelly Christina Martin, Diocese of Georgia
Christopher P. McAbee, Diocese of Atlanta
Sean Joseph Jackson McEwen, Diocese of East Tennessee
Alane Elspeth Hart Osborne, Diocese of Southern Ohio
Kristen Elizabeth Paul, Diocese of Maryland
Audra Alisa Ryes, Diocese of Louisiana
William Glen Simerly, Diocese of East Tennessee
Presentation of Senior Prizes and Awards
The School of Theology holds several events leading up to commencement, including the semester’s final Principal Eucharist and community lunch during which senior prizes and awards are presented. This year the dean of the School of Theology, the Very Rev. Dr. James F. Turrell, recognized outstanding achievements and service by graduating seniors and presented senior prizes and awards. Dean Turrell began by recognizing many of the people who have served the School in various ways during this past year.
- Student Body President—Charles Martin
- Senior Class Representative—William Simerly
- Student Trustee to the University Board of Trustees—Kristen Paul
Turrell additionally recognized Sacristans who have a central role, often unheralded, in the worship life of the seminary community. Members of the senior class who served as sacristans this academic year are:
- Eric Bash, Head Sacristan
- Mike Farnell
- Katherine Mansfield
- Myra Ryneheart Corcorran
Awards previously presented to Seniors
Woods Leadership Award: The Woods Leadership Award is presented to a member of the Middler Class who has most successfully taken the initiative in assuming a leadership role in the class. Alane Hart Osborne was recognized with the Woods Leadership Award in the fall of 2023
Freeman Award for Merit: The Freeman Award for Merit was established by the Rev. Reed H. Freeman and his wife Nancy. It is awarded to a rising Middler who has demonstrated outstanding academic performance and promise in the junior year. Senior Charles Martin was recognized with the Woods Leadership Award in the fall of 2023, notably the first student to be awarded both prizes in the same year.
William A. Griffin Scholar for study in the Holy Land: The William A. Griffin Scholarships are given each year to enable students to study in the Holy Land. The fund was established to celebrate the ministry of William A. Griffin, former Professor of Old Testament at The School of Theology from 1959-1988, and was endowed by Professor Griffin’s wife, Anne Griffin, and her daughter, Shore Griffin, and other donors.
- Myra Corcorran
- Anatol Ferguson
- Charles Martin
- Kris Paul
- Sam Haisten
2024 Senior Prizes and Awards
- The School of Theology Prize in Theology and Ethics—Samuel Ponniah
- The School of Theology Prize in Practical Theology—Myra Ryneheart Corcorran
- The Annual Episcopal Preaching Foundation Award: The Annual Episcopal Preaching Foundation Award is bestowed upon the individual who, in the estimation of the dean and faculty, has demonstrated excellence in preaching. This award is sponsored annually by the Episcopal Preaching Foundation and was awarded this year to Anatol Allison Ringel Ferguson
- The Bishop Alard Prize for Excellence in Liturgical Reading in Spanish—Alane Hart Osborne
- The School of Theology Prize in Historical Studies—Charles Martin
Thank you to those who joined the School of Theology community in celebrating and saying farewell to our graduates, many of whom have been active members of the seminary and larger plateau community for the last three years.
