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Dallas, Texas – Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño has been named recipient of the 2011 Distinguished Alumna Award by the Alumni/ae Council of Perkins School of Theology, ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ. The singular award recognizes annually one graduate of Perkins who has demonstrated effectiveness and integrity in service to the church, continuing support and involvement in the goals of Perkins School of Theology and SMU, distinguished service in the wider community, and exemplary character.

In 2004, Bishop Carcaño became the first Hispanic woman to be elected to the episcopacy of The United Methodist Church. Today, she is one of 69 active bishops leading the denomination worldwide. She currently serves as Bishop of the Phoenix Episcopal Area, of The United Methodist Church, and is the official spokesperson for the Council of Bishops on the issue of immigration. Bishop Carcaño received a Masters of Theology from Perkins in 1979.

Bishop Carcaño, a native of Edinburg, Texas, was ordained elder in the Rio Grande Annual Conference in 1979. In addition to serving as a pastor of local churches in Texas, Arizona, and California, in 1986 she became the first Hispanic woman to be appointed a United Methodist district superintendent. She also led the at Perkins School of Theology as director from 1996-2001.

The award will be presented on Monday, February 7, 2011, at 6:15 p.m. during a dinner in Bishop Carcaño’s honor as part of Perkins’ .

, founded in 1911 at , is one of five official University-related schools of theology of . Degree programs include the Master of Divinity, Master of Sacred Music, Master of Theological Studies, Master of Church Ministries, and Doctor of Ministry, as well as the Ph.D., in cooperation with at SMU’s of Humanities and Sciences.

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