On May 12, 2026, Trinity College held the Faculty of Divinity Convocation 2026 and conferred Degrees in Divinity, Honorary DegreesÌęČčČÔ»ć Honorary Fellowship, presented Prizes to Divinity students, and unveiled the Bishops Board.
Above photos: Highlights from Divinity Convocation 2026. Additional .
Faculty of Divinity Convocation 2026
Following the reading of the Prayers of Convocation by the Humphrys Chaplain, The Rev. Paige Souter, Provost Nicholas Terpstra welcomed graduates and their families, honorees, distinguished guests, students, faculty and staff to the ceremony. The Rev. Dr. Darren Dias (Executive Director, Toronto School of Theology) and Professor Susan McCahan (Vice-Provost, Digital Strategies and Vice-Provost, Teaching and Learning, University of Toronto) conveyed greetings to the graduating class.
The Dean of Divinity, The Rev. Canon Professor Christopher Brittain then addressed Convocation and presented the prize winners to Provost Terpstra. Registrar Nelson De Melo presented the candidates for degrees to Chancellor Brian Lawson: Master of Divinity (MDiv), presented by Dr. Walter Deller; Master of Theological Studies (MTS), presented by Dr. Geoffrey Ready; Mater of Arts in Theological Studies, presented by Professor Marsha Hewitt; Doctor of Ministry, presented by Professor Marsha Hewitt; and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Theological Studies, presented by Dr. Abrahim Khan.
Following the presentation of degrees to Divinity graduates, the Chancellor conferred an honorary fellowship upon The Rev. Canon Dr. W. David Neelands, who was presented by Dean Christopher Brittain and gowned by the Rev. Dr. Darren Dias. The Rev. Canon Neelands then addressed Convocation. The Chancellor conferred honorary degrees upon The Right Reverend Sally Johnson French and The Right Reverend Victoria Matthews. Bishop Victoria Matthews was presented by Archbishop Anne Germond and hooded by Michael Royce. Bishop Sally Johnson French was presented by Bishop Kevin Robertson and hooded by Canon Mary Conliffe. Bishop French and Bishop Matthews jointly addressed Convocation.
Following the Convocation proceedings, Trinity College unveiled the Bishops Board, which honours the women bishops who are graduates of the Faculty of Divinity at Trinity College. It celebrates their faithful leadership, theological scholarship, and enduring contributions to the church and wider community. Bishop Sally Johnson French, who was presented by Canon Mary Conliffe, is the third Bishop whose name has been inscribed on the Bishops Board.
Chancellor Lawson then closed Convocation.
Citations were read in Latin by the Public Orator, Professor Jesse Billett. The prelude and recessional were performed by Arthur Jones (trumpet) and Tom Bell, Director of Music, Trinity College.
On behalf of the College, congratulations to Trinityâs Faculty of Divinity Class of 2026, prize winners and this yearâs honorees!Â
FACULTY OF DIVINITY CLASS OF 2026
Click on the Graduate’s Name to View their Bio (as provided by graduates).
MASTER OF DIVINITY
Thomas Victor Chaput
Thomas Victor Chaput
BFA; BFA (Art History); BEd (Distinction); MEd (Ed Admin); MEd (Sociology of Ed); MEd (CTL â Arts Ed), University of Manitoba
Fr. Deacon Thomas Chaput is a member of the clergy in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC), serving at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of All Saints as well as St. Dimitrios Greek Orthodox Church in Winnipeg, MB.
He has completed degrees related to his career as an educator in Winnipeg: from the University of Manitoba, a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Art History), Bachelor of Education (Distinction), Master of Education (Educational Administration), Master of Education (Sociology of Education), and Master of Education (Curriculum, Teaching and Learning in Arts Education); and a Doctorate in Education from Western University.
Fr. Deacon Thomas is a former educator in the Winnipeg School Division and is married to Dobrodiyka Nadia Krawchenko-Chaput. They have twin daughters attending university in Ontario.
Helen Hyo Kyung Choi
Helen Hyo Kyung Choi
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Helen (Hyo-Kyung) Choi is a first-generation Korean Canadian and a graduating Master of Divinity (Honours) student at Trinity College, University of Toronto. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and postgraduate certificates in Public Relations, Fundraising Management, and Volunteer Management.
Prior to her theological studies, she worked in philanthropy and community development, raising over $15 million in support of marginalized communities. During her formation, Helen completed Clinical Pastoral Education at Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto Grace Health Centre (The Salvation Army), and Johns Hopkins Medicine.
She also served as a field education intern at St. Matthew the ApostleâOriole Anglican Church, where she developed a âNeurosafe Churchâ initiative focused on inclusion and neurodiversity. Helen is completing a Master of Psychospiritual Studies at St. Michaelâs College. She lives in Toronto with her family.
Thesis: Courage, Love, and Truth: Anglican Discipleship, Ecclesial Formation, and Korean Han
Supervisor: Dr. David Neelands, Trinity College
Thomas Jeffrey Ferris
Thomas Jeffrey Ferris
BA, Laurentian University; BTh, Thornloe
Thomas Ferris is an ordained deacon in the Anglican Church of Canada, serving in the Diocese of Algoma. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Laurentian University and a Bachelor of Theology from Thornloe University, both in Sudbury.
Thomas and his wife, Amanda, have one daughter, Amelie. Thomas looks forward to continuing his ministry vocation wherever he is called to serve.
Grace Barbara Rockett
Grace Barbara Rockett
Born and raised in Toronto, Grace began her academic journey in the arts, completing an undergraduate degree in Musical Theatre before discerning a call to ministry. She now graduates with a Master of Divinity and has completed a unit of Clinical Psychospiritual Education at St. Josephâs Hamilton Hospital.
This May, she will be ordained a deacon and hopes to continue serving within the Toronto Diocese, which she is grateful to call home. Grace gives heartfelt thanks to her loving parents, Linda and Graham, for encouraging her to pursue every dream, and to her fiancé, Liam, for the late-night theological reflections and 2 a.m. conversations that carried her through many essays.
Evangelos Marinos Tzoganakis
Evangelos Marinos Tzoganakis
BA (Arts & Business â Rhetoric, Media & Professional Communication), University of Waterloo; MTh (Applied Theology â Christian Ethics), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Evangelos Marinos Tzoganakis is graduating with a Master of Divinity from Trinity College at the University of Toronto. He previously earned a Bachelor of Arts in Arts and Business (Rhetoric, Media and Professional Communication) from the University of Waterloo in 2020. He also earned a Master of Theology in Applied Theology (Christian Ethics) from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in 2024.
As part of his studies there, he was selected to study in IaÈi, Romania, through the Erasmus programme. His thesis examined capital punishment through the lens of Christian ethics. His academic interests have centred especially on Christian ethics, liturgical theology, and spiritual theology. More recently, he has undertaken research and translation work focused on Vladimir Ghikaâs thought and writings.
Alongside his studies, he has served the Greek Orthodox Church through chanting and has worked in student support at the University of Waterloo. He hopes to continue serving through further research, teaching, and ministry and, by Godâs grace, should his path lead there, through ordained ministry.
Rebecca Vendetti
Rebecca Vendetti
BA Laurentian University; MA University of Ottawa; PhD McMaster University
Rebecca Vendetti is a Licensed Lay Missioner at the parish of St. Jamesâ, Dundas. She has an MA from the University of Ottawa and a PhD from McMaster University.
She has a passion for child, youth, and family ministry, and for creative expressions of church. She is currently a school chaplain at St. Mildredâs-Lightbourn School and a content creator at outuponthewaters.com, where she writes about creative prayer practices and produces resources for childrenâs church, youth groups, and families.
She and her husband, Jacob, have three boys: Jonah, Elijah, and Zechariah.
MASTER OF THEOLOGICAL STUDIES
Anita Djurkovic
Anita Djurkovic
Anita Djurkovic attends St. George’s Anglican Church in St. Catharines, Ontario, where she has been an active participant in its many outreach ministries. She has served the church as a sub-deacon, led contemplative prayer groups, both in person and online, and was the former Chair of the Social Justice Committee.
Anita is an interfaith minister and holds certifications in Pastoral Care, Trauma-Informed Coaching, and Spiritual Formation, and has worked as a holistic healing practitioner for nearly 30 years. She and her husband, Alex, have a daughter and four beautiful grandchildren.
Going forward, Anita plans to expand her work in the community by collaborating with local spiritual centres as a group facilitator and is discerning a call to further her education.
Colin Dutton
Colin Dutton
BA (Double Major â Philosophy & Religion), Kingâs University College at Western University
Colin Dutton is an Orthodox catechumen at St. Mariaâs Parish in Hamilton, Ontario. He has completed a Bachelor of Arts degree at Kingâs College, London, Ontario, with an Honours double major in Philosophy and Religion.
Colin hopes to be accepted into a Masterâs in Psychospiritual Care, where he plans to go on to work as a psychospiritual practitioner in a hospital setting.
Richard Thomas Mason
Richard Thomas Mason
BA History and English, University of Toronto
Richard Mason has been a member of Holy Myrrhbearers Orthodox Mission since 2024. If all goes well, he will be entering the ThM (Master of Theology) program this upcoming September and hopes to continue his theological studies into the future.
Thesis: The Dual-Unity of Human Nature: The Doctrine of Salvation in Sergei Bulgakovâs Christology and Theological Anthropology.
Supervisor: Dr. Daniel Opperwall, Trinity College
MASTER OF ARTS
Emmanuelle Christie
Emmanuelle Christie
MTS, Trinity College; BA (Hons, English Literature), Trent University
Emmanuelle Christie is a writer and educator from Toronto. They completed a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Trent University, followed by a Master of Theological Studies from Trinity College.
Their poetry is forthcoming in several publications and volumes, and they co-founded an education initiative on liberation theology through the Democratic Socialists of Canada. They are the Communications Coordinator for Saint John the Divine Convent and Guest House.
Masterâs Research Paper: Unburying the Jewish g/God: A Critique of Theological Method Through Comparative Mysticism(s)
Supervisor: Professor Marsha Hewitt, Trinity College
DOCTOR OF MINISTRY
Hernan Vinicio Astudillo Banegas
Hernan Vinicio Astudillo Banegas
BA (Philosophy, Anthropology & Theology), Seminario San LeĂłn Magno; MTS, Trinity College
Hernan Astudillo is the parish priest at San Lorenzo Anglican Church in the Diocese of Toronto. Originally from Cuenca, Ecuador, he came to Canada as a political refugee in 1992 and was ordained in 1999 in the Anglican Diocese of Toronto.
Since his ordination, he started building a Spanish-speaking Latin American congregation at San Lorenzo Church, located at 2981 Dufferin St., in a church building that was originally intended to be sold. He completed a Master of Theological Studies in 2015 at the University of Toronto and Trinity College. In 2020, he was nominated with the title of Canon at St. James Cathedral, and in 2026 he completed his thesis studies for a DMin degree at the University of Toronto.
Hernan is the founder of several initiatives: the San Lorenzo Latin American Community Centre, a not-for-profit Spanish-speaking community centre for Latin American people in diaspora; CHHA 1610 AM, the first CRTC-licensed Spanish-language community radio station in Canada; and the Caravan of Hope Global Aid, an international humanitarian aid organization.
Throughout the years, he has been supported by his partner, Linda, his daughter, Manuela, and two grandchildren, Dominic and Belen.
Thesis: To What Extent is the Community of San Lorenzo Church in Toronto a Contextual Experience of Liberation Theology.
Supervisor: Supervisor: Professor Christopher Brittain, Trinity College
ŽĄ”țł§°ŐžéŽĄ°ä°Ő:ÌęThis thesis analyses how Liberation theology became contextualized in San Lorenzo Anglican Church in the Diocese of Toronto. This process developed in the wake of geopolitical processes of diaspora, among people from Central and South America who migrated to Toronto. The study is focused on ethnographic research among members of this community. It draws from semi-structured interviews with 15 members of San Lorenzo church, each having differing pastoral experiences, some of whom had past experiences with Community Ecclesial of Bases (CEBs/ Christian Bases Communities) and liberation theology in their countries of origin prior to arriving in Toronto, and others of whom had traditional pastoral experiences in their countries of origin. The analysis demonstrates how liberation theology was adopted from the Latin American continent, and how various processes of enculturation are ongoing in the community
Craig Peter Lemming
Craig Peter Lemming
BMus, New England Conservatory of Music; MMus, Indiana University Bloomington; MDiv, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities
Born and raised in Harare, Zimbabwe, Craig Peter Lemming was ordained to the Sacred Order of Priests in The Episcopal Church in 2017 and has served as Associate Rector of Saint John the Evangelist Episcopal Church in Saint Paul, Minnesota since 2018.
Craig earned a Bachelor of Music degree from New England Conservatory, a Master of Music degree from Indiana University, and a Master of Divinity degree from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities.
Craig has served on the Board of Directors of the Episcopal House of Prayer, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and on the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesotaâs Racial Justice and Healing Commission.
Thesis: Antiracist, Decolonial, Spiritual Practices that Create Kinship Across Lines of Difference
Supervisor: Supervisor: Professor Christopher Brittain, Trinity College
ABSTRACT: In the aftermath of George Floydâs murder in Minneapolis in 2020, predominantly White Christian communities, such as those within The Episcopal Church USA, have sought faithful responses to the wounds caused by racism and coloniality. Simultaneously, young adults on the margins of institutional religionâlike the cohorts of Circle of the Beloved in North Minneapolis involved in social justice initiatives across lines of gender, race, and classâhave benefitted from practices that engaged them in spiritual grounding, community building, and healing. This research explores how a racially homogenous Episcopal congregation and justice-seeking young adults developed decolonial, antiracist spiritual practices to promote reconciliation and healing across lines of difference in post-George Floyd MinneapolisâSt. Paul.
Using a form of qualitative Action Research, this project examines two local case studies: Saint John the Evangelist Episcopal Church, a historically White parish in St. Paul founded in 1881, and Circle of the Beloved, a young adult intentional community in North Minneapolis founded in 2016. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with thirty-five participantsâSt. Johnâs parishioners and Circle alumniâwhose spiritual practices reflect ongoing engagement with racial justice, healing, and decolonial transformation. A diverse focus group of three clergy and three lay community organizers assisted in coding and analyzing anonymized interview data.
Theologically, the study employs the Anglican triad of Scripture, Reason, and Tradition as an interpretive framework, while also integrating perspectives from Howard Thurman, Pauli Murray, and Gloria AnzaldĂșa to guide the reflexive and contextual theological analysis. Through these various methods, the project seeks to identify spiritual disciplines that foster decolonial consciousness, antiracist praxis, and restorative kinship for individuals and communities.
This dissertation contributes a model of decolonial, antiracist practical theology within Anglicanism. By centering on the lived experiences of young adults and church members in MinneapolisâSt. Paul, this research aims to offer adaptable practices for other Christian communities seeking to heal from the spiritual and social wounds of racist coloniality. Ultimately, it aspires to equip churches and intentional communities to partner with the Holy Spirit in co-creating beloved communities marked by justice, reconciliation, and holistic healing.
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
Joshua Lloyd William Heath
Joshua Lloyd William Heath
MDiv, McMaster University; BSc, McMaster University
Joshua Heathâs doctoral journey has been an adventure that began in downtown Toronto and ended in Thunder Bay, where he currently lives with his wife, Natasha. He is grateful for the support of family and friends. He is honoured to work with Matawa Health Co-operative in Thunder Bay and Matawa First Nations.
Josh has completed a Master of Divinity at McMaster Divinity College and a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at McMaster University.
Thesis: Decolonial Cruciformity: A Political Theology for Transformative Non-Indigenous Evangelical Engagement in the Context of Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Relations in Canada
Supervisor: Professor Christopher Brittain, Trinity College
ABSTRACT: This thesis asks how non-Indigenous evangelicals can chart a path for political engagement in the context of Indigenous and non-Indigenous relations in Canada that avoids the failures of the past and present, that can respond to Indigenous peoples appropriately, and that fosters creative action in a way that is faithful to the call of Christ in the present context. To answer this question, the thesis focuses on how non-Indigenous evangelicals can be transformed to become the kinds of people and communities that can participate well with Indigenous peoples in the transformation of Indigenous and non-Indigenous relations in Canada. Utilizing a contextual theological method and engaging with settler colonial studies, decolonization studies, Indigenous resurgence scholars, and Indigenous theologians in conversation with Michael Gormanâs participatory approach to Christian faith and discipleship, the thesis develops a theology of cruciformity set in the context of Godâs mission to restore shalom in the Canadian context. The thesis argues that this political theology, which it calls decolonial cruciformity, encompasses transformation in four dimensionsâa holistic, relational approach, commitment to justice with Indigenous peoples, an integrated, decolonial ethic, and resolve to see radical social and political changeâand provides a pathway for non-Indigenous evangelical political engagement in the context of Indigenous and non-Indigenous relations that is continuous with important trajectories in evangelicalism, is more deeply accountable to Indigenous peoples, and has the potential to foster creative participation in the (re)creation of shalom-oriented, respectful relations.
Dylan Q. Ziegler
Dylan Q. Ziegler
BA (Religion & Philosophy), Waynesburg University; MDiv, Asbury Theological Seminary
Dylan Ziegler is originally from the small hometown of Knox, Pennsylvania. He has completed a Bachelor of Arts degree at Waynesburg University, also in Pennsylvania, before moving to Wilmore, Kentucky to complete his Master of Divinity at Asbury Theological Seminary.
He and his wife, Aimee, moved to Toronto five years ago and have since been blessed with a young daughter, Quinn. He is currently serving in full-time ministry at St. Paulâs Bloor Street in downtown Toronto and is eager to continue working out his dual calling to both the academy and the church in whatever capacity God calls.
Thesis: Resilient Faith: A Kierkegaardian Reading of Wittgensteinâs Philosophy of Religious Convictions
Supervisor: Dr. Abrahim Khan, Trinity College
ABSTRACT: This thesis challenges the false dilemma between rationalism and fideism, rooted in a foundationalist epistemology, which misconstrues religious convictions along the lines of empirical beliefs. This project proposes a Kierkegaardian-Wittgensteinian alternative which casts religious commitments as existentially significant pictures of the self, world, and God that simultaneously possess both objective and subjective dimensions and resist reduction to either.
This study employs a Kierkegaardian hermeneutic focused on the writings attributed to Johannes Climacus as an interpretive key to understanding exegetical questions in Wittgensteinâs thought across three distinct periods. Contrary to popular belief, Kierkegaard was a central religious influence on Wittgensteinâs thought, leading to a shared therapeutic conception of their respective philosophical projects. First, Kierkegaardâs tensive dialectical methods are utilized in reading Wittgensteinâs Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus contrary to both ineffabilist and resolute readings. Instead, it is framed as an âantinomicâ text that deliberately stages unresolved tensions to catalyze an existential response in readers. Second, it analyzes Wittgensteinâs later reflections on religion as regulatory pictures in terms of Climacusâ concept of âexistence-communications,â arguing that the resultant perspective avoids the narrow reductionism of either cognitivism or non-cognitivism. Finally, it enlists Wittgensteinâs critical final reflections in On Certainty to contend that these religious pictures often take the form of arational hinge commitments which place their epistemic status on par with other unproblematically rational beliefs. The project concludes by applying this Kierkegaardian-Wittgensteinian understanding of religious faith to contemporary discussions of âdeep disagreementsâ, framing such rationally irresolvable conflicts as instances of clashes between world-pictures and proposing an exercise of empathetic imagination as an available mechanism for achieving resolution via non-rational persuasion.
The project concludes that the perspective shared by Kierkegaard and Wittgenstein presents a dialectical understanding of the subjective and objective dimensions of faith commitments and is resilient to reduction to either rationalism or fideism.
HONORARY FELLOWSHIP
The Reverend Canon Dr. W. David Neelands
Honorary Fellow (honoris causa) The Reverend Canon Dr. David Neelands (see bio) is Dean Emeritus of Divinity at Trinity College and has long been a distinguished member of the College. He completed his joint Honours BA in Philosophy and English in 1965, and his Master in Philosophy in 1966, both at Trinity, and began working as a full-time lecturer with the Collegeâs Philosophy Department. After studying at Oxford, he returned to the College to serve as Registrar, Dean of Men. He subsequently served as Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs at U of T, before becoming the Director of the Toronto School of Theology in 1999. In 2002, Dr. Neelands was appointed Dean of Divinity, a role in which he served until his retirement in 2017. In addition to his distinguished academic service to the College and University of Toronto, David has made important contributions to scholarship on Richard Hooker, and his teaching has blessed the lives of countless students. David has been a substantial and committed leader at Trinity for over six decades and represents the best of the ideals the College seeks to embody.
HONORARY DEGREES: DOCTOR OF DIVINITY
The Right Reverend Sally Johnson French
The Right Reverend Sally Johnson French (see bio) received a Doctor of Divinity degree (honoris causa) in recognition of her groundbreaking leadership in the Episcopal Church. A double graduate of Trinity College and elected in 2023 as the first woman bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey, the Episcopal Churchâs second-oldest and sixth-largest diocese, Bishop French has quickly become known as a principled leader and advocate for âgospel justice.â
In May 2025, she was featured in a New York Timesâ article publicly defending an Episcopal parishâs right to shelter the homeless. Bishop Frenchâs global witness reflects her deep commitment to faith lived contextually, and as an alumna, she defends values that resonate with those Trinity College hopes to instill in its graduates.
The Right Reverend Victoria Matthews
The Right Reverend Victoria Matthews (see bio) received a Doctor of Divinity degree (honoris causa) in recognition of her pioneering leadership in the Anglican Church of Canada and the wider Anglican Communion. Bishop Matthews was elected the first female bishop in Canada in 1994. Throughout her episcopal ministry in Toronto, Edmonton, Christchurch (New Zealand), and Moosonee, she has demonstrated courageous and visionary leadership.
As Bishop of Christchurch during the 2011 earthquake, she led an ecumenical response that brought hope and practical support to thousands and oversaw the creation of the iconic âcardboard cathedral.â In recent years, she has continued to serve the Church with wisdom and compassion, including work in northern Ontario alongside Indigenous leaders and communities facing urban poverty. A double graduate of Trinity, Bishop Matthews has inspired a generation of women in ministry.
DIVINITY PRIZES 2026
Click on the Year to View Prize Recipients.
First Year
- Dimitra Chronopoulos: The Doolittle Prize in Reading for most improved preaching skills
- Magdalena Jennings: The Rupert Fenwick Williams Prize in New Testament
- Hanna Kae: The Sidney Childs Prize in Dogmatics (systematic theology)
- Christopher Wiebe: The Dean Feilding Scholarship for highest standing
Second Year
- Peter Choi: The Canon Charles Frederick Pashler Prize in Moral Theology; The Margaret L. Muckle Prize in Philosophy of Religion
- Yan Ma: The Fourth Bishop of Torontoâs Prize for General Proficiency; The Spencer Prize in Mission Study
- Madison MacGregor: The David Neelands Divinity Associatesâ Prize for College involvement
- Shadi Masahi: The Alexander Burnside Chafee Prize for best preaching skills
- Richard Mason: The Kent Testimonial Prize for best Master Of Theological Studies thesis
- Yousef Sawires: The Canon P.M. Lamb Prize in New Testament Greek; The McDonald Prize for General Knowledge of the English Bible; The Archbishop Kingston Memorial Scholarship for highest standing
Third Year
- Thomas Chaput: The J. Nicholson Prize in Liturgics
- Helen Hyo-Kyung Choi: The Margaret L. Muckle Prize in Christian Education: The Hamilton Memorial Prize for Best Honours Thesis
- Grace Rockett: The McDonald Prize for General Knowledge of the English Bible; The Canadian Bible Society Prize for Excellence in Scripture Reading; The Dorothy Shuter Prize in Liturgics
- Evangelos Tzoganakis: The Margaret L. Muckle Prize in Church History; The Gordon Kent Stephen Memorial Prize for highest standing
Governor Generalâs Silver Medal for Highest Standing Overall
The Governor Generalâs Academic Medal was first awarded in 1873 by the Earl of Dufferin and has since become one of the most prestigious awards that a student in a Canadian educational institution can receive. The Governor General of Canada continues this tradition of encouraging scholarship across the nation and of recognizing outstanding students.