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. Of particular interest is 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, and ancient temples.

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 2010–2011 academic year should know that the deadline for submitting a completed application form and all supporting documentation is August 31, 2010. The Nibley Fellowship guidelines and an application form are available at maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/nibleyfellowships or by e-mailing nibleyfellowships@byu.edu.

The Maxwell Institute awarded Nibley Fellowships to the following graduate students for the 2009–2010 academic year:

Continuing Nibley Fellows are Jared William Anderson, history of the Bible, Department of Religious Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Matthew Bowen, biblical studies, School of Theology and Religious Studies, Catholic University of America; Trevan G. Hatch, Second Temple and Rabbinic Judaism, Baltimore Hebrew Institute, Towson University; David Joseph Larsen, Bible, School of Divinity, University of St. Andrews; Ariel Bybee Laughton, early Christianity, Graduate Program in Religion, Duke University; Paul Derek Miller, theological ethics and history of Christianity, School of Religion, Claremont Graduate University; Jacob Rennaker, Hebrew Bible, School of Religion, Claremont Graduate University; Avram Richard Shannon, Near Eastern languages and cultures, The Ohio State University; Daniel B. Sharp, New Testament, School of Religion, Claremont Graduate University; Justin Soderquist, Bible, Department of Biblical Studies, Trinity Western University; Thomas K. Sowards, Bible and ancient Near East, Department of Bible, Hebrew University; Shirley (Shirl) Irene Wood, biblical interpretation, Iliff School of Theology, University of Denver.

First-time Nibley Fellows are Jason Combs, New Testament, Department of Religious Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Ian Fowles, religions of North America, School of Religion, Claremont Graduate University; Daniel O. McClellan, Jewish studies, Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies, University of Oxford; Dave Nielsen, New Testament, Graduate Program in Religion, Duke University; and Joseph Stair, ancient Mesoamerica, Department of Anthropology, University of Kentucky.

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.