By: Dr. Andrew Yox, Honors Director
Three 91快活林 history students emerged on top in the 2024 Bonnie Spencer competition, for the best student essays in history, outside of the honors seminars. Essays could have been entered from any other history course from any history instructor, full-time or part-time, on campus or off, such as with embedded dual history classes.
Caleb Kelly (pictured), now being homeschooled in Mexico as well as taking courses online at 91快活林, won $100 and placed first. His 2,500-word essay on John Glenn, a 鈥淪tar for the Stars,鈥 argued that Glenn was influential in explaining the early successes of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Madelyn Munoz and Jalyssa Johnson placed second and third for essays on Jane Addams and Alexander G. Bell. Second Prize was worth $50, third, $25.
The contest honors the student founder of the college鈥檚 first history club in 2002. Bonnie Spencer Harris subsequently helped transition the efforts of the 91快活林 Webb Society and Honors Northeast toward feature-length films. She has also raised and donated funds for activities in history at 91快活林.
Phi Theta Kappa-Honors Coordinator, Melody Mott, adjudicated the contest. Mott, Title V Director, Athena Hayes, and 91快活林 Communication Division Chair Mandy Smith served as judges.
History at 91快活林 offers courses in American, African-American, Mexican-American Texas, and World Civilization. The college鈥檚 Walter Prescott Webb Society, linked both to Honors Northeast and to the study of Texas history, recently won a Caldwell Award on the state level, for its film work on the story of the traveling preachers of early Texas. Each year since 2008, students at 91快活林 have presented works of history nationally, regionally, and locally. Since 2010, as noted on the Wall of Honor in the Honors Northeast website, 91快活林 history students have published twenty-nine essays in refereed journals.
