April 10, 2003
Contact: Annie Johnson (509-963-1416/fax 509-963-2301/e-mail: johnsann@cwu.edu)
ELLENSBURG, Wash. - Oxford or Harvard? That’s the choice
Central Washington University senior Phil Lindholm is facing upon
graduation in June. Lindholm is double majoring in philosophy — with a
religious studies specialization— and philology and exegesis.
Philology is the historical and comparative linguistics,
while exegesis is the explanation or critical interpretation of a text.
He proposed and had the philology and exegesis major, through the
individual studies department, accepted as a philosophy major at
Central.
Lindholm, from Auburn, came to CWU after earning his
Associate in Arts degree from Green River Community College in 2001.
One program option for Lindholm is a two-year Master of
Theological Studies degree at Harvard, which has an emphasis on
scripture and interpretation. It would give him the opportunity to
also study at a variety of other renowned institutions -- including
Boston College, Boston University School of Theology, Episcopal
Divinity School, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Holy Cross
Greek Orthodox School of Theology -- through a mutual agreement called
the Boston Theological Institute.
“This would allow me to study with professors whom I
particularly admire that do not teach at Harvard, such as Peter Kreeft
at Boston College and Elie Wiesel at Boston University,” Lindholm says.
Meanwhile, his interest in Oxford began when he took a
graduate course focusing on the Dead Sea Scrolls at the University of
Notre Dame last summer. That is when Lindholm became interested in the
work of Dr. Philip Johnston, a professor at Oxford.
“I have since informally reviewed his recent book, “Shades of
Sheol,” in which many of my suggestions were sent to the publisher for
the second printing,” Lindholm adds.
Heidi Szpek, CWU religious studies professor, became
acquainted with Lindholm when he was searching for a Hebrew teacher in
2001. Szpek, who has a background in Hebrew and Semitic studies,
helped direct Lindholm in his studies of Biblical Hebrew, Aramaic and
Textual Criticism.
“I’m pleased to have played some part in his academic goals,”
Szpek says. “I’m both proud of and excited for Phil to have the
opportunity to continue his studies at either of these most prestigious
institutions. It’s indeed an honor not only for Phil, but also for me,
the department of philosophy and CWU to be a part of such success.”
Lindholm, who is also a semifinalist in the Washington state
Rhodes Scholarship Competition, will present his first professional
paper, titled “The Dead Sea Scrolls and Pauline Theology,” at the
Midwest Regional American Academy of Religion.
He also has had a paper accepted for presentation at the
International Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature at
Cambridge University, England.
In addition to serving as president of the CWU philosophy and
religious studies club, Lindholm is a member of the university’s
prestigious McNair Scholars Program and past member of the Douglas
Honors College.
“I’ve also been blessed to receive a number of awards,
including the Central Investment Fund Scholarship, Green River
Community College President’s Award and named to the All-Washington
Academic Team,” Lindholm points out.
He says he’ll decide on graduate school after visiting both Harvard and
Oxford.
