Omega Tau

2007-2008 Omega Tau Officers:

President: Christopher Cornell

Vice President: Gina Smith

Treasurer: Jillian Reddish

Secretary: Nate Beal

Omega Tau is Trinity University's chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the international history honors society. Our membership includes both history majors and minors, as well as others who love history. Our goal is to enhance Trinity students' appreciation of the past through a variety of means, some academic, some social. Founded in the early 1980s, under the aegis of Professor Donald Everett, Omega Tau has sponsored informal and formal speakers series, screened historically significant films followed by discussions between relevant faculty and the audience, and held symposia. Following initiation and chapter elections, a member of the history faculty gives a speech, which is, in turn, followed by a sumptuous meal; the cuisine is related to the culture discussed in the speech.

Omega Tau also offers three annual prizes: the Donald Everett Outstanding Student in History Award, which goes to the senior major whom the History Faculty feels has made the most significant contribution to the study of the past and to the department, the Philip F. Detweiler Prize For Excellence in Historical Writing, for long essays, and the Frances Kellam Hendricks Prize, for shorter essays. Students submit copies of their best writing, which a faculty/student editorial committee reads and evaluates.

In February, 1998, we inaugurated the History SymposiumThe History Symposium, begun in 1997, is modeled on professional conferences, and offers students an opportunity to present their scholarship to the Trinity community; a question-and-answer session follows each presentation. Papers are selected on a competitive basis. All submissions are judged by a student/faculty editorial panel, and after the winners are announced, they will receive guidance on how to prepare a public presentation. Students may submit the same essay for the Symposium and the Detweiler Prize., in which students present their scholarship to an audience of peers and faculty, a session that was followed by a question and answer session.

To join Omega Tau, you must have:

1. 12 hours in History
2. 3.1 GPA in all history courses
3. 3.0 GPA in two-thirds of all other courses

To Apply:

1. Pick up an application in the History Department
2. Attach an unofficial (TigerPaws) copy of your transcript
3. Include the one-time initiation fee of $40.00, payable to Phi Alpha Theta, the international organization of which Omega Tau is Trinity's Chapter. Annual, local dues are $5.00.
4. Turn in your application to the History Department in early Spring.