BENJAMIN KANAGY

Benjamin Kanagy of Wichita Trinity Academy was selected as a Lifelong Learning Scholar in 2021.

His parents are Pam and Nathan Kanagy, and he has two siblings, Graham and Gabrielle.

Ben earned two bachelor’s degrees in three total years of undergraduate study. Interested in human life and experience, Ben chose to major in Psychology at Kansas State University, where he took courses in psychological research, theory, and clinical application. An especially formative experience at K-State was a World Religions course, which examined the major world religions from anthropological perspectives, and Ben gained personal experience soon after through cross-cultural trips to India and South Africa.

What began as a secondary interest quickly became an additional bachelor’s degree in Bible at Manhattan Christian College. Taking additional credits every semester on top of his K-State coursework, Ben studied biblical literature, theology, and interpretation, taking special interest in intertextuality, ancient Near Eastern backgrounds, and the Hebrew Prophets. His experience at MCC as a teaching assistant and guest lecturer further fueled his desire to pursue a career in education and to continue his studies by applying to graduate school.

Ben is currently completing a Master of Arts in Biblical Exegesis at Wheaton College, a degree focused on cultivating interpretive and hermeneutical skills for studying biblical texts in their original languages. The program includes intense training in both Hebrew and Greek. While taking classes for his master’s degree, Ben also tutors English, reading, and writing in the Chicagoland area.

For Ben, learning isn’t confined to educational institutions, a valuable lesson the Lifelong Learning Scholarship has taught him. He is immensely grateful for the community of scholars in the foundation who inspire him to seek new experiences and challenge him with wisdom and perspective. “I firmly believe that I wouldn’t be the person I am today without all the people I have interacted with along the way. Encountering people of diverse experiences, personalities, and beliefs is vital to becoming a well-rounded learner— and person in general.”