By Steve Esser
YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. — Speaking on a variety of topics related to the medieval and Renaissance eras, students from Young Harris College presented at the 36th University of Virginia-Wise Medieval Renaissance Conference.
Six students spoke at the academic conference in Wise, VA., a gathering of scholars based on disciplines – or fields of study – related to the medieval and Renaissance periods. The conferences are also often a ground-level for research scholarships.
“This event was significant because it allowed our Young Harris students an opportunity to present on some facet of research that they are working on,” said Dr. Daniel Helbert, an assistant professor of English at Young Harris College. Helbert arranged and organized the trip for the students. “This, then, enables further conversation, networking, and ultimately publication of their research.”
The students – Laci Thompson, Eli Smith-Foot, Allie Killer, Andrew Cowan, Megan Cothren, and Olivia Lamons – presented essays on different topics:
- Laci Thompson: “Morality in Marie de France: Looking beyond Gender Roles”
- Eli Smith-Foot: “The Rulership of King Arthur in Lawman’s Brut”
- Allie Killer: “Airy Charms: Magic in Shakespeare’s Richard III, Henry V, and The Tempest”
- Andrew Cowan: “The role of women in Medieval/Arthurian society”
- Megan Cothren: The Merging Symbols in “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”
- Olivia Lamons: “A Comparison of Disability and Social Class in Shakespeare’s Plays”
The UVA conference is an annual event based around research on the medieval and Renaissance periods.
“I went to the conference because it was an opportunity to put the things I learned in Dr. Helbert’s Shakespeare class into practice,” said Olivia Lamons. “It was my first time speaking at a conference setting and it introduced me to something that requires professional skills – public speaking, networking, etc. I learned how to modify a written paper to a format that is more acceptable for listeners and was able to listen to papers by other students and professors on interesting medieval topics.”
The event is also interdisciplinary, meaning there were other English scholars as well as historians, art historians, and music historians.
“I believe I learned quite a bit, from supposed geographical locations concerning Amr’s tomb, how crocheting relates to medieval literature, and how movies such as The Labryinth are representative of the medieval period,” Megan Cothren said. “My reason for going was to experience an academic conference among people interested in the same special topic as I am. It was a great experience that all scholars should have the opportunity to do at least once in their academic career.”
For Allie Killer, she appreciates the opportunity so much, she has gone twice: “I am so grateful for YHC’s support which allowed me to attend the UVA-Wise Medieval Renaissance Conference for the second year in a row. I was truly amazed to see my own growth since last year’s conference. This year, I was empowered to engage in discussions with professors and graduate students from other schools, building connections with them and broadening my knowledge of the field.”
Conferences like this are often at the graduate level or higher, meaning the participants either have or are pursuing a graduate degree in the field.
“However, the UVA Wise Renaissance conference has a healthy undergraduate program every year as well. That’s what our YHC students were presenting in and why it was such a great opportunity,” Helbert said. “All the presentations were very well received by the academic community, and these young scholars represented Young Harris College very well.”
About Young Harris College
Young Harris College is a private baccalaureate and master’s degree-granting institution located in the beautiful mountains of North Georgia. Founded in 1886 and historically affiliated with The United Methodist Church, Young Harris College educates, inspires, and empowers students through an education that purposefully integrates the liberal arts and professional studies. The College has four academic divisions: Fine Arts; Humanities; Mathematics, Science, and Technology; and Professional Studies. Approximately 1,400 students are enrolled in its residential and Early College programs. The College is an active member of the NCAA Division II and remains a fierce competitor in the Conference Carolinas. For more information, visit yhc.edu.
