History Day showcases benefits of history degree
When people think of a history degree, they often imagine it leading only to teaching or a life spent in a dusty library, but History Day at Texas A&M University-Victoria is geared to change that perception.
The A&M-Victoria History program will host History Day on March 26 inside the Alcorn Auditorium in University West. The event will begin at 12:30 p.m. with lunch for students and presentations by students and faculty members, followed by a keynote speaker at 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
“This is a great example of our history faculty working to make their discipline more accessible,” said Craig Goodman, interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences. “The requirements of citizenship demand being well-informed in history. Dr. Cuenca has worked hard to secure an exciting speaker for our students, and I'm excited to see students' projects.”
One of the major topics of discussion during History Day will be how a history degree equips students for success in a wide range of careers, said Esther Cuenca, associate professor of history and chair of the Social Science Department. Students who study history know how to write and communicate effectively, think critically and research using trustworthy sources.
“The study of history is more than just learning about what happened in the past. It allows us to better understand the world we live in and how we reached where we are today,” Cuenca said. “Through history, we can track the scope of U.S. and world politics and how societies have progressed. It shows us the importance of contributing to society and how to be a good citizen.”
To show the relevance of history and the range of options available to students, History Day will begin with a focus on A&M-Victoria students and faculty members and their research. Students also will have the opportunity to participate in trivia and games after lunch is served.
History Day will end with a keynote presentation by Christopher Bonura, a professor at Mount Saint Mary’s University in Maryland. His keynote is titled “The Church Outside Christendom: Medieval Christianity in Asia and the Middle East.” Through the address, Bonura will share his research into how Christianity began spreading and appearing in regions of Asia and Africa. Bonura earned a Ph.D. in history from the University of California at Berkeley and has received fellowships at the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies at the University of Toronto, the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, Harvard’s Dumbarton Oaks Library, and Princeton’s Seeger Center for Hellenic Studies. He also received the 2023-2024 Rome Prize in Medieval Studies.
“I love getting to know students and helping them understand how a history major can be useful to them,” Cuenca said. “It’s a way to explore new ideas, revisit previous concepts and see how actions and decisions of the past have shaped the world today. I look forward to this event every year, and I can’t wait to see the different research projects and presentations that our students will bring this year.”
Texas A&M University-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 50 academic programs in the colleges of Business, Education & Health Professions, Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, and Natural & Applied Science. A&M-Victoria provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as online classes that students can take from anywhere. The university supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.