Ten Bridgewater College students were recognized for excellence by the Department of History and Political Science for 2023.
Elizabeth Gaver, Katelyn Harrison, Edward Wyatt Jones and Savannah Scott each received a Daniel W. Bly-Lamar B. Neal History and Political Science Outstanding Senior Award. Named for former Bridgewater College professors Daniel W. Bly, assistant professor of history, emeritus, and Lamar B. Neal, associate professor of political science and history, emeritus, the awards recognize outstanding performance by graduating seniors.
Gaver is a global studies and history and political science double major from Hagerstown, Md. She is a member of the Philomathes Society, the College’s scholastic honor society; Pi Sigma Alpha, a national political science honor society; Alpha Psi Omega, a national theatre honor society; Alpha Chi, a national college scholarship honor society; and Phi Alpha Theta, a national honor society that recognizes outstanding students of history. She is also a member of Pinion Players, a student-run theatre organization, and Women at Work, a group that focuses on raising awareness of and improving issues that affect women.
During her time at BC, she completed an honors project titled “Gender and Contentious Politics: Women’s Effect on the Success of Maximalist Protests.”
Gaver is pursuing a master’s degree in international relations this fall.
Harrison is a history and political science major from Brunswick, Md. She is a member of the Flory Honors program; Phi Alpha Theta; Sigma Tau Delta, a national English honor society; Pi Sigma Alpha; Alpha Chi; and the Pre-Law Society. In addition, Harrison is an academic coach, tutor and member of the Honor Council.
During her time at BC, she completed an honors project titled “The Concert System in Interwar Europe.”
Harrison will be enrolling at the University of Maryland’s King Carey School of Law after a gap year.
Jones is a political science and professional writing double major from Hampton, Va. He is a member of Sigma Tau Delta, Alpha Chi and Pi Sigma Alpha. He also participated in Bridgewater’s Moot Court team and the Pre-Law Society.
Jones will be attending law school following his graduation from Bridgewater.
Scott, a computer science and history double major from Salisbury, Md., is a member of the women’s golf team, the Computing Club and Women at Work, a student-run organization that raises awareness on issues that affect women. In addition, Scott is a member of Phi Alpha Theta, Alpha Chi and the Philomathes Society.
During her time at BC, Scott completed an honors project titled “The Women’s Committee of the Council of National Defense in Maryland, 1917-1918.”
Scott will be pursuing a Ph.D. in history this fall at George Mason University with a focus on American and digital history.
Katelin Carter and Zach Watts each received Dr. David K. “Doc” McQuilkin Endowed Scholarships. The award recognizes rising seniors in the department who have demonstrated a high level of intellectual, scholarly and academic proficiency in history, political science and/or global studies. It is named after Dr. David K. McQuilkin, professor of history and political science, emeritus, who taught at BC from 1985 to 2009.
Carter is a junior political science and professional writing double major from Souderton, Pa. She is involved in Sigma Tau Delta, Pi Sigma Alpha, the Pre-Law Society and Moot Court. In addition, Carter is on the editorial board of the literary magazine Philomathean, a student ambassador, Honor Council member and a Writing Center tutor.
Carter plans to attend law school after graduating from Bridgewater in 2024.
Watts is a junior history major from Annandale, Va. He is a member of Phi Alpha Theta. Watts presented research at the College’s 2023 Celebration of the Arts, Scholarship, Performance, Innovation and Research Excellence (ASPIRE) titled “Space in Place of War, 1960s Cold War Space Technology.”
Watts plans to attend graduate school to pursue a master’s degree in history or museum studies after graduating from Bridgewater in 2024.
Katerina Dronov, Corey Keller and Hannah Nugent each received John W. Wayland Scholarships in Public History. The award recognizes a rising senior pursuing a degree in history, public history or teacher education who demonstrates high academic proficiency and the potential for a career in public-facing history.
Dronov is a junior history and communication, technology and culture double major from Broadway, Va. She is a member of Lambda Pi Eta, the national communication studies honor society; Phi Alpha Theta; and the Flory Honors Program. After graduating from Bridgewater, Dronov hopes to become a teacher.
Keller is a junior history and political science major from Toms Brook, Va. He is an academic coach on campus and completed a research project on the U.S. military strategy in Vietnam. After graduating from Bridgewater, Keller hopes to teach high school history.
Nugent is a junior history and political science major from Gainesville, Va. She is a member of the women’s soccer team and in the Educators Rising Club. After graduating from Bridgewater, Nugent hopes to teach high school history and pursue a master’s degree.
Santia Fields received the Michael Robert “M.R.” Zigler Service Award. The award is presented for exceptional off-campus community service. It is named for an outstanding Brethren peace advocate, ecumenist and humanitarian from the BC class of 1916.
Fields is a senior history and political science major from Glen Allen, Va. She is co-president of the Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honor society, Phi Alpha Theta and the community service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega. In addition, she is president of Model United Nations, an academic tutor and a member of the Honor Council.
Fields is teaching post-graduation and hopes to later obtain a master’s degree in history to work in a museum.
Media Contact:
Logan Bogert
Communications Coordinator
lbogert@bridgewater.edu
(540) 828-5486
