Jan 10, 2016 - A group of five Phi Alpha Theta members representing Union’s Delta-Psi chapter attended the Phi Alpha Theta Biennial Convention in Orlando, Florida, on January 6-9, 2016. Dr. Stephen Carls, his wife, and three students flew from Memphis on January 6 and enjoyed a welcome reception at the convention hotel the same evening. Mickey Mouse was a special reception guest, and the Union group had its photo taken with him during his visit. The convention included numerous student paper panels and several special meals. The last event was the Presidential Banquet where Dr. Carls, the society’s national president, addressed the convention on “Fighting a Total War: French Armaments Production during World War I.”
Kathryn Mitchell, Jordan Sellers, and Olivia Winters were the three Union students at the convention, and all of them presented papers as members of student panels. Mitchell spoke on “Clarence Saunders and the Need for a New American Grocery,” Sellers talked about “The Irish in New York, 1820-1870,” and Winters dealt with “A Trio of Death: Yellow Fever Epidemics in Memphis.” Their panels were well attended and their papers well received.
In addition to convention events, group members visited the Walt Disney World Epcot Theme Park on January 9. Their day’s activities began with rides on Spaceship Earth, Test Track, and Mission: Space. They later visited the pavilions of several countries, including England, France, the United States, Norway, and China, that are a part of the park’s World Showcase, an area reflective of a world’s fair.
The group enjoyed their last meal in Orlando at the T-Rex Café in Disney Springs on January 10. They flew back to Tennessee that same afternoon.
Members of Union University's delegation at the 2016 Phi Alpha Theta Biennial Convention in Orlando, Florida, stand with Mickey Mouse at the opening reception on January 6. They are (left to right) Dr. Alice-Catherine Carls, Jordan Sellers, Kathryn Mitchell, Olivia Winters, and Dr. Stephen Carls.
Participants in the 2016 Phi Alpha Theta convention panel "Medicine/Public Health" pause for a photo at the beginning of their session on January 7. They are (left to right) Dr. Christopher Kennedy, Olivia Winters, Ryan Johnson, and Kirsten Baker.
Olivia Winters listens as Dr. Christopher Kennedy comments on her paper titled "A Trio of Death: Yellow Fever Epidemics in Memphis" at the 2016 Phi Alpha Theta Biennial Convention in Orlando, Florida.
Drs. Stephen Carls (left to right), Michael Decker, and Mark Barringer take time for a photo prior to their "How to Panel: How to Apply to Graduate School" on January 7 at the 2016 Phi Alpha Theta convention in Orlando, Florida.
A sign announces the location of the panel "Ireland" on January 7, 2016, at the Phi Alpha Theta convention in Orlando, Florida.
Members of the panel titled "Ireland" join together for a photo prior to the start of their session on January 7, 2016 at the Phi Alpha Theta convention in Orlando, Florida. They are (left to right) Russell Sawyer, Tabitha Moorehead, Jordan Sellers, Matthew Rafferty, and Dr. Tandy McConnell.
Jordan Sellers (third from left at the panel table) answers a question from the audience during the panel "Ireland" on January 7, 2016, at the Phi Alpha Theta convention in Orlando, Florida.
Members of the Union delegation at the 2016 Phi Alpha Theta Biennial Convention enter Disney Springs for the first time as a group on the evening of January 7. They are (left to right) Dr. Alice-Catherine Carls, Kathryn Mitchell, Jordan Sellers, and Olivia Winters.
A display case filled with numerous colorful sweets greets visitors at Goofy's Candy Company on January 7, 2016.
Members of the panel titled "U.S. Economic History" pause for a photo on January 8, 2016, at the Phi Alpha Theta convention in Orlando, Florida. They are (left to right) Kathryn Mitchell of Union, Joseph McQuoid, Chair Dr. Gary Lindsey (standing), Ryan Glauser, and Mary Liu.
Attendees at the Phi Alpha Theta convention panel called "U.S. Economic History" take time for a photo prior to the start of the paper presentations on January 8, 2016. In the front row on the right are members of Union University's contingent. They are (left to right) Jordan Sellers, Olivia Winters, and Dr. Alice-Catherine Carls.
Union's Kathryn Mitchell gets ready to deliver her paper on "Clarence Sanders and the Need for a New American Grocery" on January 8, 2016, for a panel titled "U.S. Economic History" at the Phi Alpha Theta convention in Orlando, Florida.
Fire from the volcano at the Rainforest Café fills the sky in Disney Springs on the evening of January 8, 2016.
Members of the Union University delegation attending the 2016 Phi Alpha Theta Biennial Convention smile as they prepare to order dinner at the Rainforest Café in Disney Springs on January 8. They are (left to right) Dr. Alice-Catherine Carls, Olivia Winters, Jordan Sellers, Kathryn Mitchell, and Dr. Stephen Carls.
Union group members enjoy hot chocolate drinks on a cool evening at the Ghirardelli store in Disney Springs on January 8, 2016. They are (standing, left to right) Jordan Sellers, Dr. Alice-Catherine Carls, and Olivia Winters. Kathryn Mitchell is seated with her back to the camera.
Union group members stand in front of the geodesic dome at Spaceship Earth at the Walt Disney World Epcot Theme Park in Orlando, Florida, on the morning of January 9, 2016. They are (left to right) Dr. Alice-Catherine Carls, Olivia Winters, Kathryn Mitchell, and Jordan Sellers.
The Union contingent at the Phi Alpha Theta convention in Orlando, Florida, stand with Mary Poppins (dressed in white dress) at the Walt Disney World Epcot Theme Park on July 9, 2016. They are (left to right) Dr. Alice-Catherine Carls, Dr. Stephen Carls, Olivia Winters, Kathryn Mitchell, and Jordan Sellers.
Members of Union's delegation at the Phi Alpha Theta biennial convention stand in front of the Mission Space building at the Walt Disney World Epcot Theme Park in Orlando, Florida, on January 9, 2016. They are Dr. Alice-Catherine Carls, Kathryn Mitchell, Olivia Winters, and Jordan Sellers.
A kiosk stands in front of the French pavilion at the Walt Disney World Epcot Theme Park that the Union University delegation visited on January 9, 2016.
The Union University group at the Phi Alpha Theta convention stand with Belle (dressed in blue and white) at the Walt Disney World Epcot Theme Park on January 9, 2016. Group members are (left to right) Dr. Alice-Catherine Carls, Olivia Winters, Kathryn Mitchell, Jordan Sellers, and Dr. Stephen Carls.
Attendees at the Phi Alpha Theta convention in Orlando, Florida, enjoy food and fellowship at the Presidential Banquet on January 9, 2016.
Dr. Stephen Carls delivers his presidential address titled "Fighting a Total War: French Armaments Production during World War I" on January 9 at the 2016 Phi Alpha Theta Biennial Convention in Orlando, Florida.
Members of the Union University delegation attending the Phi Alpha Theta convention relax at the T-Rex Café in Disney Springs on January 10, 2016, as they prepare to order lunch. They are (left to right) Olivia Winters, Kathryn Mitchell, Jordan Sellers, and Dr. Alice-Catherine Carls.