JACKSON, Tenn. — Jan. 25, 2010 — Six 51社区 students presented history papers at the Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society Biennial Convention Jan. 7-8 in San Diego, Calif.
Noah Arnold, Charles Googe, Micah Snow, Cameron White, Elizabeth Blevins and Kate Cline all made presentations during the convention, on such topics as the role of music in the French Revolution, Memphis during the Civil War and European re-enactments of Napoleonic battles.
In addition to the students, history faculty members Stephen Carls, Keith Bates, Judy LeForge and David Thomas also attended the event, which drew about 500 people from across the country 鈥� the largest convention in the organization鈥檚 history.
Carls, chairman of Union鈥檚 history department, said the convention experience was beneficial for the students for several reasons.
鈥淚t opens the door to the history profession,鈥� Carls said. 鈥淎t the college level, it鈥檚 not as intimidating as moving into the world of the history profession at a later date. You鈥檙e really learning about the nuts and bolts of the history world in a very compassionate environment.鈥�
Carls added that the convention allows students to meet professors who are experts in the field, which may help them when applying to graduate school. It also gives them a chance to get to know their Union professors on a different level.
As part of the convention, Carls received a meritorious service award from the Phi Alpha Theta organization at the president鈥檚 banquet. Only four awards were given at the banquet, and the organization has about 850 chapters.
For 27 years, Carls has been the Phi Alpha Theta adviser at Union for 27 years. The chapter has won seven straight Best Chapter Awards from the national organization. Carls has also served a term as a national council member for Phi Alpha Theta and as a member of the national advisory board.