At the Alpha Chi 2010 Super-Regional Convention in Little Rock students from across the country had the opportunity to showcase presentations to fellow members, professors and sponsors.
The convention was held March 25-27 at the Peabody Hotel where approximately 180 students competed for cash awards and recognition. Each student was given 10 to 12 minutes to give a presentation, reading, performance or show an exhibit and then had an opportunity to respond to questions from an audience of peers and professors.
Philip Williamson, a senior Christian theology, philosophy and political science major, represented Ouachita with his presentation, “Civilizational Identity and International Conflict” in the Economics and Political Science category, essentially the backbone of his senior thesis to be presented at Scholar’s Day.
“Getting feedback on it and being forced to think through it logically and think through questions I am going to be asked will be very helpful in finishing and polishing the paper,” Williamson said.
The convention also hosted special speakers such as Carlotta Wells LaNier, one of the “Little Rock nine” who made history during the integration of schools, and Carol Rasco, President Clinton’s domestic policy adviser and president of Reading is Fundamental, along with two other White House officials.
The convention also provided service projects the students were encouraged to participate in and planned many sightseeing opportunities around the city.
“Our sponsor, Dr. Hensley, came to us last semester and said she had received a grant to take 10 students to present at the conference,” Williamson said. “It was two nights at the Peabody in Little Rock and a chance to tune up for Scholar’s Day – and a reason to finish my paper on time.”
Williamson was one of four students from Region II to receive an award for his presentation which focused on conflict resolution between the West and Muslim cultures. He was the only presenter from Ouachita.
“I hope to get [the paper] published,” Williamson said. “Having presentation experience behind it will help in that regard and I met some interesting people and professors from all over the country.”
Williamson will present again at Scholar’s Day outlining an abridged version of his senior thesis that is approximately 30-40 pages in length.
The conference was also helpful to recharge Williamson in making Alpha Chi more visible around campus. Alpha Chi is a national honor society recognizing the top 10 percent of juniors, seniors and graduate students in colleges and universities by invitation. The organization currently has more than 300 chapters across the country and inducts about 11,000 members each year according to the Alpha Chi Web site www.alphachihonor.org.
“We are actually in the process of trying to build the Alpha Chi profile on campus,” Williamson said. “We hosted a couple of service projects last semester. We went to the daycare and read to the kids which was fantastic and we are going to host an academic movie talk-back session.”
Although Alpha Chi membership is by invitation only, students can inquire through Dr. Lori Henley or Dr. Barbara Pemberton, the campus organization sponsors.
“If you are invited to join Alpha Chi, do it,” Williamson said. “It opens a lot of doors and really is a cool thing to be a part of. Also, if you are in Alpha Chi and get a chance to go to a regional conference, go and present. It is a blast and I am so glad I made the decision to go.”
By Whitney Crews, Signal Writer
