Francis Marion’s Phi Alpha Theta chapter named country’s best

One of Francis Marion University’s most decorated honor societies, the Phi Alpha Theta History honors society, has won yet another national award.

The FMU chapter of Phi Alpha Theta – Alpha Theta Zeta – has become the honor society’s most lauded chapter in in recent years and it recently added two more awards: the Nels Claven Founders Award for best overall chapter in the nation and the National Best Chapter Award for its enrollment division.

It’s the second year in a row FMU’s Phi Alpha Theta chapter has won the Founders Award and the eighth year in the row it’s won the Best Chapter award for its enrollment in a division of 622 other colleges and universities.

Chapter President Russ Sawyer says the chapter’s success is emblematic of the passion the students have for the subject of History.

“It’s been a great learning experience,” Sawyer says. “All of the members are so into History and that really shows with the chapter.”

Founded in 1996, FMU’s Phi Alpha Theta chapter has hit it’s stride over the past decade with a greater focus on finding more ways to be involved, both on campus and at Phi Alpha Theta, and other history-related events across the country.

The chapter is involved in a variety of events on campus. It supplies volunteers for academic events on campus, participates in the Heritage Festival in Lake City, attends history-related events like the Renaissance festival in Huntersville, N.C., and recently joined in the international food expo on campus. Twice, the FMU chapter has hosted Phi Alpha Theta’s regional conference on campus.

Chapter members have also presented numerous papers at Phi Alpha Theta events, and consistently produced winning entries.