Highlights From Perkins Graduation 2025
Perkins School of Theology celebrated 93 graduates at 2025 Commencement with worship, awards, and recognition of academic achievements.
Family and friends filled the sanctuary of Highland Park United Methodist Church to honor the 2025 graduating class of Perkins School of Theology at A Celebration of Degrees and Academic Achievements on May 17.
Ninety-three students in the class of 2025 received their SMU degrees from Perkins, including 26 earning doctoral degrees and 67 receiving master’s degrees. (Ten of those students completed their studies in August but participated in the May ceremony.)
Degrees were conferred earlier in the day at the university-wide commencement at Moody Coliseum, and graduates received their master’s or doctoral hoods at the celebration service.
The sermon, “Can you see anything?,” was delivered by the Rev. Dr. Blair Thompson (M.Div. 2012; D.Min. 2019), chief learning and innovation officer at the Texas Methodist Foundation.
Choral music was provided by alumni of the Sacred Music Programs and the Seminary Singers under the leadership of Dr. Marcell Silva Steuernagel, associate professor of church music and director of the Sacred Music Programs.
A reception to honor graduates followed in the Great Hall of Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Hall immediately after the ceremony.
Awards
During the program, the Rev. Dr. Hugo Magallanes, then Leighton K. Farrell Endowed Dean, ad interim, presented the following awards for outstanding academic achievement:
The Dr. and Mrs. J. P. Bray Award in Hebrew, to the student who ranks highest in Hebrew scholarship, to Davis Anderson.
The Faculty Award in Greek, to the student who ranks highest in New Testament Greek scholarship, to Todd Stall.
The Charley T. and Jesse James Bible Awards, to students on the basis of academic achievement in biblical courses and overall scholastic performance, to Kenna Curry, Elizabeth Beshear and Josiah Brown.
The W. B. DeJernett Award in Homiletics, to the senior student with the highest academic average in homiletics courses, to Clayton Hall.
The Paul W. Quillian Award in Homiletics, to the student who has presented the best written sermon, to Andrew Phillips.
The William K. McElvaney Preaching Award, to the student who has presented the best written sermon on a public issue, which includes a social crisis, a controversial issue or a chronic social problem, to Laura Garcia.
The Robert Weatherford Prize for Internship Preaching, to theology students recognized for excellence in preaching during internship, chosen by the intern faculty of Perkins School of Theology and a representative from the preaching faculty, to Julie Bartle, Beth Bentley and Luke Thomson
The Hoyt Hickman Award for Outstanding Liturgical Scholarship and Practice, awarded by the Order of Saint Luke, to the graduating student who, in the judgment of the selection committee, has given evidence of a high quality of scholarship in the study of liturgy and is an effective leader of Christian worship, to Kwang Oh.
The Roger Deschner Prize in Sacred Music, established by friends and family in memory of Roger Deschner, to the M.S.M. student who has excelled in academic work, musical abilities and overall achievement in the Sacred Music Program, to Brook Clarke Gibson.
The Albert C. Outler Award in Theology, to the student who produced the most outstanding essays in theology during the academic year, to Amber Jamison.
The Phillip Schaff Prize in Church History, established by Klaus Penzel, to the student who has demonstrated excellence in the historical study of Christianity while participating in courses in church history, to John Bryant.
The B’nai B’rith Award in Social Ethics, given by the Harold M. Kaufman Memorial Foundation, to students on the basis of scholarly competence in the field of social ethics and personal commitment as shown in voluntary activity in support of worthy causes, to Michaela Calahan and David Henderson.
The Harry Hosier Spirit Award, established by Perkins alumnus the Rev. Dr. Henry Masters, to a graduating student who best exemplifies the spirit of Harry Hosier expressed in what is described as his “elocution of faith: I sing by faith, preach by faith, pray by faith and do everything by faith,” to Eno Afon.
The Dr. and Mrs. Glenn Flinn Senior Award, to the member of the graduating class who, in the judgment of the faculty, best exemplifies the aims of the school and the church for its ministry, to Julie Harding and Lily White.