Five Grove City College history majors presented research papers this month at the regional Phi Alpha Theta Conference at Mercyhurst University, with four of them winning best paper honors from their reviewing panels.

“Grove City College History majors have consistently won awards for the research papers they have presented at this conference. This is a testimony to their intellect, diligent work, and research and writing skills,” Dr. Gary S. Smith ’72, chair of the Department of History, said. “Under the guidance of the history faculty, our majors produce many excellent research papers and frequently present their work at regional and national forums.”

The students’ work covered a wide range of subjects, from the Boston Massacre and the Siege of Malta to slavery in America and the link between between fashion and power in 16th century Europe. These students presented their research at the March 5 conference in Erie, Pa.:

     • Vincent Michael ’17 of Aliquippa, Pa. – “Ripples Through the Inmost Sea, Consequences of an Ottoman Victory at the Great Siege of Malta”
     • Sam Archibald ‘18 of Grove City, Pa. – “The Best Laid Plans: How Premeditation and Escalation Caused the Boston Massacre”
     • Jenna K. Hershberger ’18 of Woodbridge, Pa. – “Power Wears a Ruff: Spain’s Dominance of European Fashion from 1550-1650”
     • Eleanor Gray ’16 of Saline, Mich. – “Northern Federalists and Slavery in the Early Republic”
     • Benjamin Allison ‘18 of Newton, N.J. – “Views of the Gateway Region on the Spanish-American War, 1898: The Year in Review”

Michael, Archibald, Gray, and Allison were awarded the best paper for their respective panels.

Phi Alpha Theta is an American honor society for undergraduate and graduate students and professors of history. Its mission is to encourage research, good teaching, publication and the exchange of ideas among historians.

For more information about Grove City College’s History department, visit: www.gcc.edu/hist.