The College of Arts and Sciences awards various scholarships to both incoming students and those who are already attending the University of Oregon, including donor-supported scholarships and fellowships; inclusion scholarships to support students coming to the UO from underrepresented communities; and financial support to assist students in completing an unpaid internship, research opportunity, or service-learning experience.
University-wide scholarships are also offered centrally through the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships. Scholarships are available to incoming students and to those who are already attending the UO and are based on merit, need, or a combination of both.
Jack T. Sanders Memorial Award
This award for excellence in undergraduate research and writing in the field of Religious Studies was established in the memory of Jack T. Sanders through the generous donations of his beloved wife, Susan Elizabeth Plass, and many others. For more on Jack Sanders, his life, and his contributions to the Department of Religious Studies, please see below.
The Sanders award is given to the best paper in religious studies written by an undergraduate during the academic year (any paper completed from the end of the spring term to the end of the next winter term). The paper must be written for an upper-level (300 or above) course in religious studies or a closely related subject area.
Papers must be nominated by a UO faculty member. Faculty members may identify and nominate papers, but students who would like to be considered for the award are also strongly encouraged to contact faculty members to discuss a nomination. Prior to submitting the paper for consideration, students are welcome to make revisions if they so choose. Faculty should send nominations, with the student paper attached, to Professor Rick Colby.
Deadline for receipt of nominations: April 15
After receiving the nominated papers, faculty in the Department of Religious Studies will select a winner before the end of the spring term. Award winners will receive a $500 prize.
About Jack Sanders
Jack Thomas Sanders (1935-2016) taught in the Department of Religious Studies at the UO from 1969 until his retirement in 2002. During that time, Sanders frequently served as department head, successfully advocating for the continuation of religious studies in the face of persistent budget cuts. Sanders was the author of numerous scholarly articles and books. Most of his published work deals with one of two subjects: the way in which religious ideas flowed and adapted from one culture to another, and the origins of Jewish-Christian conflicts. After retiring and moving to Pendleton, Ore., Sanders became interested in local history. Sanders had a formative impact on the Department of Religious Studies, and his influence continues to be felt today.
Key works by Jack Sanders:
- The New Testament Christological Hymns: Their Historical Religious Background (1971).
- Ethics in the New Testament: Change and Development (1975).
- Ben Sira and Demotic Wisdom. Chico, CA: Scholars Press (1983).
- The Jews in Luke-Acts. Philadelphia, PA: Fortress Press (1987).
- Schismatics, Sectarians, Dissidents, Deviants:The First One Hundred Years of Jewish-Christian Relations (1993).
- Charisma, Coverts, and Competitors: Societal and Sociological Factors in the Success of Early Christianity (2000).
- Samuel Rothchild: A Jewish Pioneer in Eastern Oregon in the Days of the Old West (2011).
- War on All Fronts: Oregonians Remember the Second World War (with the Umatilla County Historical Society, 2015).
Previous Winners
2024
Alex Leinwand, "Meister Eckhart, Teresa of Avila, and Union with God"
2023
Ines Beltranena, “Quarks and Honeybees”
Daphnie Metcalf, “Gideon and Micah”
2022
Benjamin Loy, “And he was one who believed the Truth with us: The Incorporation of Sufi Figures in an 11th Century Nusayri Source”
2021
Dominic Tomcal, “The First Shall be Last: The Disruption of Primogeniture in Genesis”
2020
Maria Spores, “Perspectives on Serpent Handling and the Law”
2019
Carson Hauth, “The Sanaa Palimpsest as an Intentional Political Edition”
Miriam Thielman, “Sex, Power, and Morality in Sodom and Gomorrah and the Concubine of Gibeah”
2018
Julie Langenberg, “Purest of Pure: The Qumran Community’s Elevated Value of Purity”
2017
Daniel Sanders, “Teresa of Avila: Mysticism Through the Eyes of William James and Evelyn Underhill”
2016
Will Dickerson (UO ’17), “Meeting in the Field of Non-Duality: A Comparative Approach to Rumi and Ryokan”
Michelle Maujean (UO ’16), “Buddhism, Psychotherapy, and the Case of Naomi Goldberg”
McNair Scholars Program
The McNair Scholars Program (TRiO) prepares qualified juniors and seniors for graduate study leading to PhD degrees. UO McNair Scholars receive comprehensive support to earn undergraduate degrees, complete research projects in their fields of study, and apply to graduate schools. The program’s limited size provides a close-knit community while helping students gain a broad understanding of research and university culture.