Bible major Haley McCracken was named the 2008-09 recipient of the Jeeninga Fellowship in Archeology.
McCracken’s archeological focus will be conducted via The Bethsaida Excavations Project–a creation of the University of Nebraska at Omaha–in Israel. After her dig with Bethsaid, McCracken plans to tour the country and visit other dig locations at major cities in Israel while traveling June 2 to July 3. [Photo: Haley McCracken on the right in Israel.]
McCracken is the second recipient of the award. Last year, School of Theology student Shannon New-Spangler received the award and spent several weeks at Tel-Dan for her dig and spent a week touring the country.
The Fellowship was established by the late Dr. Gustav Jeeninga, founder and former director of the Bible Museum, for assisting students to study up to four weeks in the Mediterranean basin.
To receive the Jeeninga Fellowship reward, prospective students must be of sophomore status, major in Biblical studies and maintain a grade point average of 3.0 After these criteria are fulfilled, the student must create a proposal, including the area the student wishes to excavate along with a financial estimate. The proposed archeological site must be relevant to the Mediterranean basin and must focus on a time period limited up to the end of the Byzantine Period or 1000 AD. After the archeological trip is finished, the recipient must produce a report, both orally and in writing.
According to David Neidert, Jeeninga Museum Director, McCracken was chosen because of her precise choice in excavation: the Sea of Galilee. After her presentation, McCracken’s works may be archived in Nicholson Library.
The Selection Committee for the Fellowship consists of Neidert; Dr. Blake Janutolo, Dean College of Science and Humanities; Dr. Alan Overstreet, Chair, Religious Studies Department; Dr. Barry Ross, Professor of Old Testament in the School of Theology; and Dr. Kimberly Majeski, Instructor of Bible for the Seminary.
—John Tapley is a senior majoring in Mass Communications at Anderson University.
Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,800 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.
