Milligan hosted the tenth annual Blue Ridge Undergraduate Research Conference on April 11. Representing ten schools, 56 students, including 29 from Milligan, gathered and presented their research on a variety of topics.
“I believe that it was very successful,” said Joy Drinnon, assistant professor of psychology and organizer of the 2003 Blue Ridge Conference.
Five or six mini-sessions were held within each of the three main sessions. Three or four students presented in each mini-session on diverse topics such as environmental studies, history of journalism and historical theology. All sessions were open to students and faculty.
“I have heard generally good comments about the sessions,” said Ted Thomas, associate professor of humanities, history and German.
Thomas received an e-mail from Mignon Mayfield Shelton, who attended a military history session where Milligan senior Tiffany Sample had presented research on Shelton’s father.
Shelton commended the organization and feeling that Sample put into the presentation and research.
“It is important for students to participate in these conferences and to be a part of it as the host college,” said Drinnon.
After lunch, guest speaker John Shelton Reed of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, gave a lecture entitled, “Where and What is the South.” Drinnon said his presentation was entertaining and educational for everyone.
Thomas applauded Drinnon’s work as the coordinator and planner of the 2003 conference.
“She was quite well organized and she gets a lot of credit,” he said.
Milligan will also host the 2004 Blue Ridge conference again with Drinnon serving as the coordinator. Colleges host the conference for two years in a row because the framework is established after the first year.
“I hope for more participation from more colleges and more students next year,” said Drinnon.
The conference, which began at King College in 1993, has traveled to Carson-Newman College, Lee University and Maryville College.
Milligan hosted the conference once before, in 1995.