91�����

By: Dr. Andrew Yox, Honors Director

For the first time in the history of 91�����, three sophomores have won the Portia Gordon Award of the East Texas Historical Association.  The Executive Director of the ETHA, Professor Scott Sosebee, on October 15th in Nacogdoches, presented Evan Sears, Jordan Chapin, and Skylar Fondren checks for $100 for representing the best undergraduate student panel at the annual meeting.  The award was a highly competitive achievement.  In 2019, four top undergraduate scholars from Texas A&M at College Station won the award. In recent years, groups from the University of Houston, Stephen F. Austin, Texas A&M at Commerce, and Jacksonville College have competed vigorously for the prize. 

 “Evan, Jordan, and Skylar” have reached a new apex of achievement at 91�����” noted Honors Director, Dr. Andrew Yox. “As a team, they topped university upperclassmen at a professional scholarly conference.  The judges of the ETHA appreciated the novelty, argumentation, and documentation of three works that have made it through all the rounds of our traditional scholarly endeavor in honors at 91�����.  I was elated for them, and thankful that we at 91����� can once again point to some very special backing that we are able to deliver on behalf of student success.” 

Chapin, Fondren, and Sears presented their panel on “Milestones in the History of Modern Northeast Texas” on 14 October.  The Raguet Room was sumptuous, and cool as they began their talks in an afternoon session within the boutique hotel, the Fredonia, in Nacogdoches. Chapin’s presentation on “Legendary Housewives of Northeast Texas,” based on a series of local interviews, showed how some stay-at-home moms have resisted the culture of feminine employment.  They have concentrated instead on the success of their offspring, who, in fact, have attained notable achievements.  Fondren presented her work on the development of a news desert in Northeast Texas.  Through time, the local  “news” has lost its functions as a watchdog, a scorekeeper, and gatekeeper. Finally Evan Sears presented his film research on Carroll Shelby, who he argued was the true emissary of the muscle car in American culture.  Shelby won as a racer of muscle cars, he won as a developer, he fought for the muscle-car idea within corporations, left a legacy for their development, and developed a muscle-car persona.  

91����� Sophomore Victor Diaz was not given an award, and did not present research, but he did chair the student panel, making the award possible. Diaz kept the session moving with interesting puns and flourishes in introducing the speakers.  He also presented the 91����� trailer on Carroll Shelby at the end of the session.

All four of the 91����� Scholars in this award-winning panel not only receive institutional support, but also private support through the 91����� foundation. Sears is 91�����’s first Dr. and Mrs. Bradley Witt Scholar.  Fondren is 91�����’s seventh Texas Heritage National Bank Scholar.  Chapin is 91�����’s second Russell Mowery Scholar, and Diaz is the 2022-23 James and Elizabeth Whatley Scholar of Honors Northeast.