Scholarships for Undergraduates

The department offers two undergraduate scholarships.

The Lambda Chi Alpha Loy H. Witherspoon Scholarship is named for the founding chair of the department, first hired in 1964. He died in 2017. You can learn more about Dr. Witherspoon here. This scholarship provides $3,000 each academic year, sometimes split among multiple recipients and sometimes awarded in full to multiple recipients.

The Underwood Scholarship is named for Joan Underwood, the widow of Richard A. Underwood. Richard A. Underwood was hired in 1975 to teach religion and modern culture and to serve as department chair. He retired in 1992. His widow, Joan Underwood, funds the scholarship. This scholarship provides around $500 per semester each year, with multiple recipients in some years.

Recipients for both awards are chosen by the faculty annually. Recipients have demonstrated by their academic performance a serious commitment to the field of religious studies.

Congratulations to Our Previous Winners!

Lambda Chi Alpha’s Loy H. Witherspoon Scholarship in Religious Studies

Richard A. Underwood Scholarship in Religious Studies