The FMU chapter of the national history honor society, Phi Alpha Theta, has won the Best Chapter Award for the third year in a row.
“We are really proud of all the hard work everyone has put in this past year,” senior history major and president of Phi Alpha Theta, Philip Huber said. “We are going to try to accomplish the same goal this year, and with the support of the members, friends of Phi Alpha Theta and student involvement, I have no doubt we will win it again.”
The FMU chapter of Phi Alpha Theta is one of 422 chapters in the nation. The advisor for the chapter is associate professor of history, Dr. Christopher Kennedy.
“We are doing more on campus and doing more as a group,” Kennedy said. “That is how we have gotten past our competition.”
Phi Alpha Theta’s vice president, Mihai Birladeau, a senior majoring in history, is also aware of the organization’s involvement on campus.
“Phi Alpha Theta is a constant presence on campus,” Birladeau said. “We hold food sales, lecture series and trips, like the annual Renaissance Festival trip in October.”
The lecture series is a sequence of talks given by FMU professors, as well as guest speakers. The series covers a wide range of topics. The first lecture will take place at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 26. The speaker, Mr. Thomas Kent Daniels, from the Lynches Lake Historical Society, will talk about the history of Lake City, South Carolina.
Phi Alpha Theta has other planned activities for this semester, including a trip to Charleston to tour Fort Sumter and Patriot’s Point on Saturday, Sept. 29. The trip is open to all students.
Additionally, the organization prepares to attend the annual Renaissance Fair in Charlotte, North Carolina. This year, the trip is scheduled on Saturday, Oct.27. Students of all majors and classifications are welcome to sign up.
Former president of Phi Alpha Theta and recent graduate of FMU, Bryan Wells, would like to invite the students of FMU to get involved and attend some events.
“We wouldn’t be where we are today if it wasn’t for the students of Francis Marion,” Wells said. “It is only with their help can we continue to succeed.”