Phi Alpha Theta Looks Back On Successful Year

Phi Alpha Theta Students pose for a picture at the regional conference

It has been a busy, but successful, year for the History Department’s chapter of the Phi Alpha Theta History Honors Society, which has over thirty-five members, including both undergraduate and graduate students.

In April 2024, a delegation from the University of Montana History Department attended the Phi Alpha Theta NW Regional Conference at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Washington. Led by PAT co-advisors Jody Pavilack and Wade Davies, nine graduate students and one undergraduate student presented their original research papers at the conference. Four graduate students were nominated for awards and are being considered for Best Conference Paper or Best Graduate Student Paper. The nominees and their papers are as follows:

  • James Compton, "First in Patriotism: Montana's Native Americans and the Politics of Conscription, 1940-41"
  • Rory Johnson, "Interpreting Nature in the Upper Missouri Region: Treaty with the Blackfeet, 1855"
  • Mitch Morris, "The Ritual of Running: Steve Gachupin, Lewis Tewanima, and the Continuity of Pueblo Distance Running in the Twentieth Century"
  • Lauryn Tecca, "Idleness, Ignorance, and Crime: Parents and Student Rights at the Butte Industrial School in the Long Progressive Era".

Congratulations to everyone who presented at the conference and kept up UM History’s tradition of a strong showing! And, a special thank you to the Harry Fritz Fund donors who made participation in the conference financially possible for many students! 

CONFERENCE UPDATE! 

WINNER, Graduate Paper:

Lauryn Tecca, University of Montana, “Idleness, Ignorance, and Crime: Parent and Student Rights at the Butte Industrial School in the Long Progressive Era”

RUNNER-UP, Graduate Paper

James R. Compton, University of Montana, “‘First in Patriotism’: Montana’s Native Americans and the Politics of Conscription, 1940-1941”

 

Alongside their scholarly success this semester, Phi Alpha Theta also welcomed fifteen new members at an initiation luncheon held on April 30, 2024.  The 2024 initiates are as follows: Claire Broling, Samantha Carlson, Tyler Cockerill, Lucas Foreman, Joel Freedman, Nathaniel Hansen, Daniel Martin, Bridgett Meskis, Quin Pray, Tatyana Rohrer, Trevor Watts, Benjamin Williams, Nicole Witters, Dylan Yonce, and Henry Young. 

Thank you to the Harry Fritz Fund donors for making this luncheon possible!