Alumni Survey

The History Department would like to hear from our alumni.  Click here to complete a request form and with the information you provide we hope to keep you informed of the department's current activities, as well as those of other alumni.

Links

• History Club
• Phi Alpha Theta National Honor Society

Current Students

• 2007-2008 Winners of History Department Awards:

  Robert Black: Society of the Daughters of the American Republic, Captain Henry Vanderburgh Chapter Scholarship.

  Taryn Funkhouser: Dain Garrett Merit Award

  Mark W. Ota: Gustav M. & Eleanor L. Hoos and Daniel C. & Carolyn O. Scavone Scholarship

  Andrea L. C. Henke: William McGucken History Award

  Jessica Doyle: Daniel A. Miller Senior Prize in History.

  Andy Jeffries: Donald E. Pitzer History Scholarship

  Taryn Funkhouser: USI History Club Award

  Jessica Doyle: Academic Achievement Award in European History

  Kenneth Gamblin: Academic Achievement Award in United States History

  Andy Jeffries: Academic Achievement Award in World History

• 2007 – 2008 Screaming Eagle Scholars:

  The following Student Athletes are recognized by the Athletics Department for their scholastic achievement (3.6 GPA or higher):

  Sara Loete, Social Science Secondary Education

  Amie Newhart, Social Science Secondary Education

  Theodore O’Brien, Social Science Secondary Education

  Aaron Schmitt, Social Science Secondary Education

  Trevor Wagner, Social Science Secondary Education

  Troy Wagner, Social Science Secondary Education

• 2007-2008 State-Wide Recognition:

  Joe Nelson, Social Science Secondary Education: Indiana Outstanding Future Educator Award; 5 awards given annually at USI by the Indiana Association of Colleges of Teacher Education

• 2007-2008 Winners of College and University Awards:

  Jessica Doyle, History Major, Classical Studies Minor: Trustees Distinguished Merit Award

  Kevin J. Rutherford, History and English double major: Sigma Tau Delta, Mu Phi Professional Engagement Award (English Department)

  Matthew R. Etienne, Social Science Secondary Education & German Education double major: Donald S. Wolfe Scholarship (Modern and Classical Languages Department)

  Matthew R. Etienne, Social Science Secondary Education & German Education double major: USI Bookstore Scholars Scholarship

  David Staples, History Major and Classical Studies and Anthropology Minors: Academic Achievement Award in Latin (Modern and Classical Languages Department)

  Jill M. Victor, History and International Studies double major:  Academic Achievement Award in International Studies (International Studies Program)

  Andrea L. C. Henke, History major and Anthropology and Sociology Minors: Duffus-Melvin Recognition Award in Anthropology (Sociology Department)

  Mark W. Ota, History Major: Petranek Non-Traditional Scholarship, for a non-traditional student majoring in sociology, psychology, political science, or history

  Heather Meloche, Social Science Secondary Education Major:  Greater Indianapolis Alumni Chapter Scholarship for a bright and deserving freshman

  Troy C. Wagner, Social Science Secondary Education Major:  Marlan and Pat Maidlow Scholarship for a Bosse High School graduate planning a career in education.

  Taryn Funkhouser, History Major: USI Alumni Association Scholarships

  Taryn Funkhouser, History Major: USI Foundation Excellence in Learning Award

  Rachel Acton, Social Science Secondary Education Major: USI Foundation Excellence in Learning Award

• The following Students are recognized by the College of Liberal Arts for their scholastic achievement (3.5 GPA or higher with at least 90 hours completed):

Robert Black Jessica L. Doyle Jessica Ellis Kenneth Gamblin Andrea L. Henke Christopher Herron Celia M. Hicklin

Michael Hurst Kevin Rutherford Carissa Sanders Aaron Schmitt Rajeev Singh Daniel E. Smith

• Andrea Henke, expected ‘08, History, has accepted a position as a Park Ranger at the George Rogers Clark National Historical Park in Vincennes, Indiana. She will begin working part-time during this semester and will become full-time after graduation in May.

  Andy Jeffries, expected ’08, History, has presented two PowerPoint talk, “Alhambra Theater: Its History and Place in the Community,” based on his research about the Alhambra Theater in Evansville.  The first was in September at a celebration commemorating the opening of the Alhambra, held in front of the theater, and the second was as the featured speaker at the annual meeting of the Friends of the Willard Library in November 2007. Other current and former USI History students participated in this meeting as well.  Presiding was former student Jessica McCarthy (’00, History), now an attorney for Fine & Hatfield, who continues as President of the Friends through 2008.  Current student Megan Brant (History) was presented Willard’s Volunteer of the Year Award by Library Director Greg Hager.  Patricia Sides (’73, History), who is the archivist at Willard, supervised Megan’s work and was thanked by Andy Jeffries for her assistance in his research on Alhambra Theater.

  A number of USI students worked with area elementary and middle school students in the fall 2007 semester.  Volunteering for the West Terrace Elementary School History Club were Social Science Secondary Education students Brittany Rockwell and Curran Koehler. Other USI students helped prepare students at the McGary Middle School and the Plaza Park Middle School for the annual “We the People” competition.  These students included Andrea Hopkins (Social Science Secondary Education) and Andy Jeffries (History).

Alumni News

• Brandon Barrett, '04, History and Social Science, teaches middle school social studies and technology at St. Philip Catholic School in Mt. Vernon, IN.  He also coaches 7th grade girl's volleyball and basketball at North Posey Junior High.  He has returned to USI and is taking courses to add Psychology to his teaching license.
  
  Tara Ulmer, ’07, History, has joined the peace corps and before heading off to her assignment in Romania, she worked with organizations such as SGN and Camp Darfur to bring education and awareness to the public concerning the current acts of genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan. She says “I developed a passion for this subject while a student at USI, and I intend continue promoting peace all over the world.” Check out her blog at http://tarapeacecorps.blogspot.com/

  Rocky Brown, '07, History, is the Programs Coordinator at Angel Mounds State Historic Site, where he schedules the talent, vendors, and sponsors for special events (i.e. Native American Days), does the grounds tours and indoor presentations, and travels to nearby schools to do "outreach presentations." He is also deeply involved in the extensive renovation of the exhibits at the Museum on the site.

  Chad Dockery, '07, History, teaches at Berea High School in Greenville, SC, where he is the ISS Teacher, Strength Coach, Assistant Varsity Football Coach, and Head Track Coach. As of fall 2007, he will also be the Career Development Facilitator for the school.

  Evan Hart, ’05, History, received the MA in history from the University of Cincinnati in May 2007. She has now begun her studies for the PhD in the same program.

  Kurt Kaufman, '04, History, has been a firefighter for Cincinnati Fire Department since December, 2005.

  Martha Al-Hieh, '02, finished her MA in Near Eastern Languages and Cultures at IU Bloomington in spring 2005. She was admitted into the IU Ph.D. program in fall 2005, and is pursuing dissertation research on late Medieval/Early Modern Middle Eastern history with emphasis on the changing position of women in Middle Eastern societies.

  Social Science Teaching major Chad Cain ('02) has been teaching at Evansville's Harrison High School since fall 2003. He is currently completing in MALS at USI.

  Lucas Wilder, '98, has his own law firm in Dayton, Ohio.

  Jon Carl, ’95, Social Science Secondary Education, was named Indiana’s No Child Left Behind 2007 American Star of Teaching by the US Department of Education for his innovative class on historical documentaries called “Feel the History.” In October 2007, he was named one of “20 to Watch” by the National School Boards Association. He has also been named the “Caleb Mills History Educator of the Year by the Indiana Historical Society and Teacher of the Year for 2008 by the Indiana Computer Educators Association. For more on his “Feel the History” class, visit their website http://www.feelthehistory.com/

  Matthew A. Marshall, ’94, social science, works for the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security. He is currently assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq.

  John W. Morrow, '88, social science teaching, '98 Master of Secondary Education, is a past winner of the Wal-Mart and Sam's Club Indiana Teacher of the Year.  He also has been recognized as local teacher of the year by the Boonville Wal-Mart Morrow is a history teacher at Castle High School in Newburgh, IN.

  Phyllis A. Ripplemeier, ’76, social science, has joined the Vanderburgh Humane Society as shelter operations manager in Evansville.