Devon Payne received the Best Paper recognition at the 56th Annual Phi Alpha Theta Regional Student History Conference. 

Sioux City, IA – Devon Payne, a senior history major at Morningside, received the Best Paper recognition at the 56^th Annual Phi Alpha Theta Regional Student History Conference. Payne’s “Soldiers of Fortune: South Korea’s Involvement in the Vietnam War,” was one of two undergraduate papers recognized as outstanding at the virtual event on February 25. Devon Payne presenting at the virtual conference.

Several Morningside students were involved in the conference as was Greg Guelcher, professor of history, who served as a moderator and a member of the program committee. Students who participated in the conference included senior public history major Lauryn Baehr, junior American and world history and education major Dana Pearson, junior history and political science major Karlie Reagan, junior history and studio art major Madeline Keating, and senior American and world history and education major Danna Sanchez. Devon Payne presented his work during the session on Vietnam, and senior history major Riley Slechta presented “Culper Spy Ring: The First American Spy Ring” in the United States History session of the event.

“I’m very proud to see Morningside well-represented at the Phi Alpha Theta Regional Student History Conference,” said Guelcher. “Even with the challenges posed by COVID-19 during the last year, our students continue to be involved and strive for academic excellence.”Professor Guelcher served as a moderator and helped organize this year’s conference.

Phi Alpha Theta is an American honor society for undergraduate and graduate students and professors of history with over 400,000 members and 970 chapters across the nation. Morningside’s chapter, Alpha Omicron Phi, was founded in 2014.

Morningside’s history program engages students with real-world learning experiences and research that prepare them for careers in law, government, business, and education. Graduates who receive a departmental recommendation have a 100% placement rate at law schools, and the program has an excellent overall reputation with graduate schools and government agencies. The faculty are active scholars committed to supporting student success, and Morningside offers ample opportunities for students to get involved on campus and beyond. Learn more here.

History at Morningside