History majors receive awards at honor society meeting

Linda Bird

Kelly Dunnigan

Emily McManus

SHREVEPORT, La. (Centenary News Service) — Two Centenary College history majors have received awards for research papers they recently presented at the regional meeting of Phi Alpha Theta (history honor society) and the Louisiana Historical Association meeting in Lafayette, La.

Linda Bird, a senior history and political science major, won the Kimberly Hanger Prize for best undergraduate paper. She presented a paper titled "Campaigning for Woman's Suffrage and Beyond in Northwest Louisiana, 1913-1920."

Kelly Dunnigan, a senior history major, received Honorable mention for her paper titled "A Different Sound: College Radio Comes to Shreveport, Louisiana."

Emily McManus, a senior social studies education major, also presented a paper titled "Departing From the Old Ways: Caddo Parish Public Schools and the Peabody College Surveys, 1950-1968."

The research for all three papers was completed in senior seminar under the guidance of Dr. Sam Shepherd, professor of history.

Dr. Shepherd was also honored by the Louisiana Historical Association by being named a Fellow of the Association. Dr. Elaine Thompson, a professor at Louisiana Tech and Centenary alumna, class of 1994 presented the award to Dr. Shepherd. She reviewed Dr. Shepherd's achievements as a scholar of Louisiana history, his service to the LHA and the community, and his role as a teacher and mentor to students.

The Louisiana Historical Association is a dynamic group of diverse individuals who share a common interest in the history of the state of Louisiana. The LHA was founded on April 11, 1889 for the purpose of collecting and disseminating historical information on Louisiana, a goal which remains the primary mission of the association.

The LHA hosts an annual state historical conference each spring where members hear presentations of current historical research, share ideas and opinions about the history of the state, browse the latest titles published on the state's history, and annual awards are given to members and students for their contributions to the study of Louisiana History.

About Centenary College of Louisiana

Centenary College is a private, four-year arts and sciences college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1825, it is the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Centenary is one of 16 colleges and universities constituting the Associated Colleges of the South and has been recognized as "One of the Best 373 Colleges" by the Princeton Review and one of "America's Best Colleges" and one of "America's Best Private Colleges" by Forbes.com. In 2008 Centenary College celebrated 100 years in Shreveport and Bossier City.