Faculty Awards Presented at Holy Cross

WORCESTER, Mass. – The annual Fall Convocation was held at Holy Cross on Tuesday, Oct. 2. The event honored the recipient of the 2001 Holy Cross Distinguished Teaching Award and the recipients of the Rev. Raymond J. Swords, S.J., Faculty Medal.

Holden resident Frederick J. Murphy of the religious studies department was this year's distinguished teacher.

A member of the Holy Cross faculty since 1983, Murphy served as the chair of the religious studies department for six years. He earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics, a master's degree in religion and a Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian origins from Harvard University. He also studied at the Weston School of Theology and the University of London.

He is author of four books, including "The Religious World of Jesus: An Introduction to Second Temple Palestinian Judaism," which earned first prize in the national Alpha Sigma Nu Book Awards for books published by scholars affiliated with Jesuit schools.

A native of Worcester, Murphy grew up on a street just behind Holy Cross and attended Sacred Heart School on Cambridge Street and St. John's High School in Shrewsbury.

The Distinguished Teaching Award was established to recognize the dedicated faculty members at the College and carries with it a $1,000 honorarium.

The Rev. Raymond J. Swords, S.J., Faculty Medal, named after the 28th president of the College, was designed to honor members of the faculty who have served at Holy Cross for 25 years. Eight members of the Holy Cross faculty were recognized: Danuta Bukatko of psychology, John Carter of economics, Charles Locurto of psychology, Kornath Madhaven of biology, Blaise Nagy of classics, David Schaeffer of political science and Helen Whall of English.