For a number of years the Maxwell Institute has sponsored a graduate fellowship program that gives financial aid to students pursuing advanced degrees in fields of special interest to the Institute. Named in honor of the late eminent Latter-day Saint scholar Hugh W. Nibley, this program fosters the next generation of faithful scholars by providing financial aid to students enrolled in accredited PhD programs in areas of study directly related to the work and mission of the Maxwell Institute. Work done under the auspices of the Laura F. Willes Center for Book of Mormon Studies and the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, such as studies of the Book of Mormon, the Book of Abraham, the Old and New Testaments, early Christianity, ancient temples, and related subjects are of particular interest.

Each year at this time we remind graduate students about the Nibley Fellowship Program and its application deadline. Applicants cannot be employed at the Maxwell Institute or be related to an Institute employee. Those interested in applying for the first time or who wish to renew their fellowships for the 2009—2010 academic year should know that the deadline for submitting a completed application form and all supporting documentation is August 31, 2009. The Nibley Fellowship guidelines and an application form are available at mi.byu.edu/nibleyfellowships or by e-mailing
nibleyfellowships@byu.edu.

The Maxwell Institute awarded Nibley Fellowships to the following graduate students for the 2008—2009 academic year:

Continuing Nibley Fellows are Jared William Anderson, biblical studies: New Testament, Department of Religious Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Lincoln H. Blumell, early Christianity, Department and Centre for the Study of Religion, University of Toronto; Matthew Bowen, biblical studies, Department of Theological and Religious Studies, Catholic University of America; Matthew J. Grey, ancient Mediterranean religions, Department of Religious Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Paul Derek Miller, theology, ethics and culture/history of Christianity, School of Religion, Claremont Graduate University; Jacob Rennaker, comparative religion, Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington; Daniel B. Sharp, New Testament, Claremont Graduate University; Shirley (Shirl) Irene Wood, biblical interpretation, Iliff School of Theology, University of Denver;

First-time Nibley Fellows are Trevan G. Hatch, Second Temple and Rabbinic Judaism, Jewish Studies, Baltimore Hebrew University; David Joseph Larsen, scripture, early Christianity, Department of Theology, Marquette University; Ariel Bybee Laughton, early Christianity, Graduate Program in Religion, Duke University; Avram Richard Shannon, Hebrew Bible, Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, Ohio State University; Justin Soderquist, New Testament, Septuagint, Department of Biblical Studies, Trinity Western University; Thomas K. Sowards, Bible, Department of Bible, Rothberg International School; and Matthew P. Yacubic, Mesoamerica, Department of Anthropology, University of California, Riverside.

With the increased cost of graduate programs nowadays, we would like to be able to increase the amounts we can give to our Nibley Fellows. If you would like to contribute, please contact Ed Snow at 801-422-9047 or ed_snow@byu.edu. ◆