The Department of Religion is proud to announce that this year’s William L. Power Scholarship recipients are Madeleine Coleman and Madeline Sawyer.

The William L. Power Scholarship recognizes Junior or Senior undergraduates who are majoring in Religion and demonstrate excellence in grades and a strong interest in Theology and/or the Philosophy of Religion. Madeleine Coleman was selected based on her outstanding work on the Jesuit theologian Karl Rahner (1904-1980) with Dr. Jason Roberts. Madeline Sawyer’s theological reflection papers written for Dr. Jodie Lyon’s courses earned her selection for the scholarship.

Madeleine Coleman is from Decatur, Georgia, and is a senior studying Religion and Cognitive Science with a minor in Spanish. She has spent her years in the Department of Religion researching the deep and ongoing connection between Catholic Marian adornment and Sephardic Jewish textile tradition in Southern Spain. Post-graduation, she plans to return to Spain to hike the Camino Santiago and join the Peace Corps in South America, with the goal of completing a master’s degree in Religion and Technology in the following years.

Madeline Sawyer is a Religion and Public Relations double major from Cumming, Georgia, and will graduate in May 2026. Following graduation, she plans to pursue a Masters in Biblical and Theological Studies from Wheaton College through a residency with North Point Church in Athens, Georgia.

The Department of Religion congratulates both of our deserving William L. Power Recipients!