Please provide a brief summary of your paper/research.

My research challenges the Catholic Church's frequent appeal to tradition in matters of opposing female ordination, specifically its claim that priestly roles have, from the Church's inception, been reserved exclusively for men. It argues that a close examination of historical sources, such as the extra-canonical texts and ecclesiastical artwork, reveals that women in the early Church were ordained to major positions such as presbyters and bishops, roles that conferred substantial religious authority. Furthermore, it contends that the widespread ignorance of this tradition today stems from a deliberate process of censorship by the Catholic Church, which sought to legitimize a later patriarchal structure by erasing evidence of women's liturgical leadership.

What led to your interest in this area?

I wrote this paper as the essay component for Dr. Alexander Meyer's Late Antiquity class. My specialization within the field of Classics is women's history, and having been raised Catholic, I have long held a particular interest in the history of the Church—especially its more obscure and controversial aspects. Initially, I intended to write about the role of imperial women in Constantine's court and their contributions to the Roman Empire's adoption of Christianity. However, while researching the early Church, I came across depictions of Mary portrayed with the iconographic attributes of bishops. Intrigued by this imagery, I decided instead to explore the broader question of women in positions of high ecclesiastical authority.

What prompted you to submit your paper to the competition?

In complete honesty, this submission was intended as a trial run. Over the summer, I completed an Undergraduate Summer Research Internship on the legislation against magic in Classical Athens. I had been planning on writing a short essay based on that research for the sole purpose of submitting it to this competition in the coming year. However, I wanted to test the waters first, so I decided to submit a paper this cycle to familiarize myself with the application process and better understand the competition. Additionally, since I was planning to apply to graduate school this fall, I figured that any sort of recognition would be a nice addition to my application.

Can you describe how you felt when you found out you'd been selected as a winner?

I was in complete shock. When the first few rounds of winners were announced in the days prior—honourable mentions (the top 10%) and regional winners—I noticed that most of the names in my category were from prestigious Ivy League universities. At that point, I had more or less accepted defeat. I never anticipated winning the global award; at best, I had hoped I might receive an honourable mention. But when that call came at eight o'clock one morning, and the initial shock began to fade, I couldn't have been more proud of myself. It felt like the perfect conclusion to my time as an undergraduate.

What are your plans for the future – do you plan to continue in this field?

At the moment, I do not plan to continue in the field, although I haven't entirely ruled out the possibility of returning to pursue an M.A. in Classics in a few years. For now, I have applied to attend business school in the coming year, after which I plan to join my family's financial planning firm.

Will you be attending the Global Summit in Dublin? If so, what are you most looking forward to there?

Yes, I will be attending, and I am incredibly excited! I am especially looking forward to hearing the other winners present their research at the conference. I am also eager to explore Dublin and learn more about its medieval and Viking history (a particular side interest of mine).

What do you think the benefit of programs like the Undergraduate Awards is for students?

Programs such as the Global Undergraduate Awards are an invaluable opportunity for anyone considering graduate studies. Not only does such recognition strengthen a graduate school application, but the November Summit event also emphasizes networking, allowing participants to connect with other emerging leaders in their fields. For me personally, however, the greatest benefit has been the confidence it has given me. My university journey has been marked with struggles and setbacks, but to finish my degree with such an award has allowed me to see that through my hard work, I am truly capable of achieving great things.