Tusculum inducts charter members into history national honor society

Tusculum College inaugurated its charter members into Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honor society on March 30.

Nine students were inducted during the ceremony including Ryan Barker, a senior double major in history and English from Laurens, S.C.; Erika Allison, a senior double major in history and museum studies from Alpharetta, Ga.; Melanie Sigman, a senior museum studies major from Covington, Ga.; Robert Owens, a senior history major from Afton; Chris Weems, a senior history education major from Dickson; Emily Cross, a sophomore history major from Russellville; Emily Bernin, a junior history major from Seymour; Matthew Moyer, a senior history major from Gray, and and Billie McKenzie, a junior history major from Allegan, Mich.

“We are very excited about our new chapter, and we are grateful to be able to recognize the extraordinary achievements of our history and museum studies majors through membership in this prestigious society,” said Dr. Scott McDermott, assistant professor of history at Tusculum, who presided over the ceremony.

“Not only does this express our tremendous pride in these students’ accomplishments, but Phi Alpha Theta will also give them a chance to grow in their historical knowledge and professional skill.”

Along with the nine students, faculty members Dr. Joel Van Amberg, associate professor of history and the department chair, and Dr. McDermott were inducted into the chapter. Other history department faculty, Dr. Angela Keaton, associate professor history and Dr. Peter Noll, assistant professor of public history, already Phi Alpha Theta members, were also in attendance.

“I have learned a great deal from this group of students,” Dr. McDermott said. “So, it is only fitting that I should be inducted side-by-side with them.”

Dr. Van Amberg added, “I am so proud of our students for this accomplishment. Many of our students are engaged in interesting historical research. Being part of the national history honor society will allow them to be recognized by a broader audience through conferences, publications and scholarships.”

Phi Alpha Theta is the national history honor society founded in 1921 at the University of Arkansas and houses more than 900 chapters and includes more than 350,000 members. The Tusculum chapter is named Alpha Pi Alpha, and its charter was initially sponsored by the East Tennessee State University Phi Alpha Theta chapter. Members in the honor society are eligible to attend and present research at regional and national conferences and may compete for more than 25 annual scholarships and prizes.

 

Tusculum College Phi Alpha Theta inductees included from left, Melanie Sigman, Robert Owens, Chris Weems, Emily Cross, Ryan Barker, Erika Allison, Emily Bernin, Matthew Moyer and Billie McKenzie.

 

 

 

 

By Ryan M. Barker, senior creative writing and history major from Laurens, S.C.