The History Club/Alpha Delta Nu Chapter at Cal State San Bernardino has established a tradition of excellence – for the fourth time in five years, and for the third consecutive year, it has been named the best chapter in the nation by the Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society. The award is given to university chapters that “excel in promoting the mission of the honor society on their campus and in their community,” which is to “promote the study of history through the encouragement of research, good teaching, publication and the exchange of learning and ideas among historians,” according to the honor society’s website. There are 970 member chapters in the Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society, with more than 400,000 individual members nationwide. The History Club/Alpha Delta Nu Chapter at CSUSB was awarded the best chapter in Division V, consisting of colleges and universities with an enrollment ranging from 15,0001 to 23,000 students, for its work in the 2017-18 academic year. The student organization is advised by history department faculty members Yvette Saavedra and Jeremy Murray, and new faculty member Marc Robinson has also begun advising the group.  “These students bring enthusiasm and excellence to the history department and the university, and it is a pleasure and a privilege to work with them,” said Murray. “They certainly keep busy! From their annual trip to Manzanar National Historic Site with Professor Cherstin Lyon, to the writing, editing, and publishing of the department’s student-run journal, to hosting countless lectures, films, and roundtables, to attending academic conferences, and also having field trips and social nights, the History Club and Phi Alpha Theta chapter exemplify the intellectual and civic spirit that we should most champion. Winning this award is richly deserved, but to win so consistently among hundreds of society chapters nationwide is truly remarkable.”  Last year’s officers were: Efren Perez, president; Marmar Zakher, vice president; Gonzalo Aguilar, treasurer; and Elvia Hernandez, secretary. This year, officer duties are shared by Elvia Hernandez (president), Alma Lilia Jiménez (vice president), and Nathanael Gonzalez (treasurer), while Perez and Zakher spend the academic year studying in China. Chance Groom, Andrea Dixon and Chance Douglas have also taken on active leadership roles in the organization.   The History Club is a student organization aimed at promoting the study of history on campus and in the community. It is sponsored by Alpha Delta Nu, CSUSB’s chapter of the national honor society in history, Phi Alpha Theta. Alpha Delta Nu also sponsors the History department’s award-winning student-run journal, History in the Making, which published its 11th issue this past spring. Any student can join the History Club, regardless of major or grade-point average. After taking at least 12 units of history courses, students may qualify for membership in Phi Alpha Theta, the national honor society. Most members join the History Club as underclassmen then, upon meeting the requirements, join the honor society as juniors or seniors. Members of the History Club and/or Alpha Delta Nu can participate in the same club sponsored activities; however, honor society members receive additional recognition upon graduation and when applying for employment or graduate programs. Honor society members are also welcome to participate in Phi Alpha Theta conferences and other scholarly activities. Visit the CSUSB Department of History website for information on the History Club and Phi Alpha Theta, as well as the department’s programs. Also visit the Phi Alpha Theta website for information on its programs. For more information on Cal State San Bernardino, contact the university’s Office of Strategic Communication at (909) 537-5007 or visit inside.csusb.edu.

 

Alpha Delta Nu also sponsors the department’s journal, History in the Making, which published its 11th edition last spring. Serving on that edition’s editorial board were (front row, left to right) Eric Lowe, Andrew Richter, Sarah Slawson, Jasmine Colorado, Athahn Steinback, Lark Winner, Kyle Burke, Byron Williams, (back row, left to right) Jacqulyne Anton, Danny Cervantes, Jordan Hammon, Hannah Norton, Samuel Briseno, Alexander Serrano and  Martin Votruba.