History

May 2, 2020 - Six history students received recognition in the history department’s annual Dr. James Alex Baggett History Research Paper Competition. Papers were judged on the students’ use of primary sources, the originality of the topic, the historical quality and depth of the study, writing style, appropriate footnotes or endnotes, and a correctly done bibliography.

The first place winner was Luke Sower whose paper was on “The Lords of All Creation: Environmental Transformation in the Rise of Tenochtitlan.” Union University Provost Dr. John Netland announced Sower’s achievement, which included an award certificate and $100, at the school’s Virtual Awards Day celebration on May 1, 2020.

Dr. Stephen Carls, the history department chair, announced the other Baggett research paper prizes on April 30, 2020, the date set aside for the department’s annual awards banquet which was canceled owing to the novel coronavirus. Katie Allison collected the second place award consisting of $75 and a certificate of recognition. She wrote her paper on “Biblical Feminism: An Oxymoron? A History of Evangelical Feminists’ Understanding of Biblical Justice and Biblical Authority.” There was a tie for third place between Macon Bullock and Christopher Hearn. Both earned monetary awards of $50 and award certificates. Bullock’s paper focused on “Charles Guiteau: An Assassin’s Legacy,” while Hearn dealt with “A Great Man, or Maybe a Criminal: The Comedic Iconoclasm of Tom Smothers.” Recipients of honorable mention certificates were Leah Atkins who authored a paper titled “Poisonous Women: Gender and Power in Ancient Rome” and Jack Waters who penned a paper about “Muscular Christianity, Racial Theory, and the Call of Theodore Roosevelt.”