Zy Mazza, a Religious Studies senior, is the recipient of the 2018 Humanities Matters Scholarship, with a winning essay arguing that the humanities have become more vital than ever in a world of rapidly advancing technology.

In his essay, Mazza argued that the humanities are uniquely suited, even in the face of technology that changes the way we live, to solve the challenges of tomorrow.

“When we no longer make an effort to understand the multitude of cultures within and outside our borders, can we be surprised when we are unable to bridge the divides between nations to create meaningful global change?”

Against a backdrop of climate change, jobs lost to automation and profit valued above all else, a rich knowledge of cultures, languages, religions, and art is more important than ever, he wrote.

“The humanities don't matter just because they enrich our lives and help produce a more well-rounded populace for the future,” he wrote. “They matter because, without them, the very fabric of our beings—our humanity—is lost.”

Mariana McCune, a double major in Spanish and Biology, was selected as 2018 Humanities Matters Scholarship runner-up.

“Humanities is the tool that takes any body of knowledge and infuses it with functionality in the daily lives of people everywhere. It emphasizes communication and empathy, tools highly valued in fields outside of the humanities,” she wrote.

The Humanities Matter Scholarship is awarded annually to undergraduate majors or minors in the College of Humanities. An awardee and a runner-up are selected, based on the required essay, “Why the Humanities Matter in My Life & in the World.”