Beginning this spring, history students at Northeast Texas Community College will have the opportunity to compete for the first annual Bonnie Spencer Prize. In addition to a grade, students will be able to enter their U.S. history essays into a contest for cash prizes.
Bonnie Spencer, An NTCC alumna†who today is an ICU nurse at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview and a Board Member of the Appaloosa Foundation, began NTCC?s first History Club back in 2003.
?We were always pleased to have history majors, but Bonnie was quite an inspiration in both suggesting the first History Club at NTCC, and building a small group that won contributions and embarked on self-financed history trips,? Dr. Andrew Yox, said.
When Spencer left, NTCC?s History Club sagged into nonexistence.
In 2007, however, Honors Northeast formed. One of the notable opportunities for students in the Texas history section of the newly created ?Biotex Seminar? for freshman was to compete at the state level as members of the Webb Society, the student auxiliary of the Texas State Historical Association.† NTCC scholars subsequently submitted many prize-winning essays, and explored the option of making Texas history films. Even though occupied with her own career in nursing, Spencer again became involved, working to help launch the film culture at NTCC.
?I can remember thinking, how is this going to work?† What a help Bonnie Spencer was with the initial organization, the research, the acting, and even the technical aspects of our first feature-length history films!? Yox said.
Now Spencer has provided funds for a two-year start up of NTCC?s first history award, and has even agreed to read the top nominees to help determine the winners.† From her work in establishing NTCC?s first history club in 2003, Spencer now has helped establish the NTCC Webb Society, and is providing an additional means to encourage expertise and achievement in history here.
Students interested in the award should submit an electronic copy of their NTCC essay, written for a U.S. History 1301 or 1302 section for the year 2015-2016, of at least 1,000 words to Dr. Andrew Yox at†ayox@ntcc.edu. †For more information, one may also email†Yox or call him at 903-434-8229.† Submissions are due by April 26 at noon. The essay should have a compelling purpose, and a thesis.† It should utilize citations (endnotes or footnotes) appropriate to the discipline of history.
