Contact: Dr. Donna M. Simon (304) 766-3363 dsimon@wvstateu.edu

INSTITUTE, W.Va. – Two West Virginia State University (WVSU) students will be present papers at the Western Pennsylvania Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society Conference this Friday and Saturday in Morgantown.
Nicole Jones and Ron Starcher are the first two students from WVSU to have their papers accepted for presentation at the regional conference of the national history society.
Jones, a history major set to graduate in May, will present her paper titled “The Etruscans: Their Mysterious Civilization and Influence on Rome.”
Starcher, a senior majoring in social studies education, is presenting a paper titled “The Spread of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire.”
Both Jones and Starcher are active members of the C.E. Jones Historical Society at WVSU.
“These students will have a wonderful opportunity to represent West Virginia State University in a positive way and bolster the school’s image, especially since this is the first time any student from State has ever presented a paper at a Phi Alpha Theta Regional Conference,” said Dr. Lois Lucas, History professor and interim dean of the College of Business and Social Sciences at WVSU. “We are very proud of them.”
Each student will make a 15-20 minute presentation in addition to submitting their written papers. The top presentations will be recognized at an awards ceremony on Saturday, April 6.
The regional conference is sponsored by the West Virginia University Delta Nu Chapter of the Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society.
Phi Alpha Theta is an American honor society for undergraduate and graduate students and professors of history. The society has over 350,000 members, with approximately 9,500 new members joining each year through 860 local chapters.