Winners of 2023 Inaugural Hare Preaching Prize Announced

On May 17, 2023, homiletics students at Boston University School of Theology gathered to preach for the inaugural Edith P. and Augustus G. Hare Preaching Prize. The prize had two categories: the first for sermons based on a Biblical or other scriptural text, and the second for sermons for a situation of the student’s choice, which could include poetry, musical lyrics, or a local community reflection. The winning recipients were awarded a $1,000 prize for each category, and the students were judged by a panel, including Bishops Scholar in Homiletics and Preaching David S. Jacobsen, and PhD students Joshua Lazard and La Ronda Barnes. All registered spring 2023 STH students were able to enter, and students were free to speak from any tradition or spirituality and receive feedback in a learning setting.

“This was the first year for us to organize the Hare Prize, thanks to a generous donation from the Hare family,” said Professor Jacobsen. “We were most pleased that we could offer two prizes, one for textual sermons and another for situational sermons. This way, any students who preached with non-Christian texts and students whose preaching takes place in radically different contexts and situations could join in. Hearing powerful student sermons and the beautiful range of good preaching across traditions and contexts made it all worthwhile. It shows me once again that BUSTH is truly the ‘School of the Prophets.’” 

Congratulations to all participating students as well as the 2023 inaugural award winners.

Prize 1: Text-based Sermon

Katy Fazio, winner: Katy Fazio is a second-year Master of Divinity student in the Pastoral Ministry track. Katy is a Member in Discernment in the United Church of Christ and currently serves as Minister of Children and Families at First Congregational Church in Milton.

J.J. Martinez, honorable mention: J.J. Martinez is a second-year graduate student at the Boston University School of Theology pursuing a Master of Divinity on the pastoral ministry track. He is a recipient of the Raíces Latinx Fellowship. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from The University of Texas at El Paso, graduating summa cum laude with honors. He will pursue a PhD after graduating. J.J. is a declared candidate for ordination in the New England Conference of The United Methodist Church and hopes to pastor once he completes his education.

Audrey Woodhams, honorable mention: Audrey Woodhams is a second-year candidate for the Master of Divinity at Boston University School of Theology. She is passionate about building local creative communities. She is a pastor, writer, singer/songwriter, mom of three, and Ted Lasso fan, and maintains that running charades = the greatest game of all time.

Prize 2: Situational Sermon