Several Morningside students presented papers and participated in research discussions at the regional 2022 Phi Alpha Theta History Conference.

Several Morningside students presented papers and participated in research discussions at the regional Phi Alpha Theta History Conference hosted by the University of South Dakota on Feb. 24, 2022.

Senior history and political science major Karlie Reagan won the best undergraduate paper prize in World History for her paper, “The Only Road: The Democratization of South Korea.” Reagan was one of three undergraduate papers recognized at the conference.Karlie Reagan

Four Morningside students including Reagan presented their research papers at the conference. Rae Barto presented “Elizabeth Van Lew: General Grant’s Valued Informant,” Dana Pearson presented “Lincoln’s Scapegoat: General David Hunter,” and Blake Stratton presented “The Abiding War: The Impact of Agent Orange on Vietnam Veterans.” Morningside students Derek Anderson, Mikellie Grant, Madeline Keating, Brett McEachern, Ro Paschal, and Hunter Yearington served as commentators on presented research papers from other institutions in attendance.

Adam Fullerton, library director and faculty advisor for Morningside’s Phi Alpha Theta chapter, and Greg Guelcher, professor of history at Morningside, accompanied the students to the conference. Guelcher also served on the program committee for the conference and as chair of the panel on United States History.

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.

History at Morningside