Three Tennessee Wesleyan College students presented scholarly papers at Lee University’s Eleventh Annual Literary Symposium. Brianna Cash, Miranda Duncan, and Koltin Thompson are members of Tennessee Wesleyan’s Alpha Epsilon Gamma chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the college’s international English Honor Society.
Lee’s Symposium is an annual academic conference open to Sigma Tau Delta members and/or English majors and minors, with five to six sessions running simultaneously.
The three TWC students were in attendance at the symposium with students and faculty from Cumberland University, Tennessee Temple University, Tennessee Tech University, Bryan College, Lane College, Shorter University, Maryville College, William Woods University, and Lee University.
Dr. Elizabeth Ruleman, faculty sponsor of the local chapter of Sigma Tau Delta and associate professor of English and the chair of the department of English and foreign languages, attended the symposium with the students and chaired a session.
“I was extremely proud of our students,” said Dr. Ruleman. “They held their own, reading with animation and were engaged with the students from other colleges in the question and answer sessions. These students embody the strengths of TWC’s English program.”
Mr. Thompson’s story “Peldrara” was featured in the “Fantasy Fiction” session while Ms. Cash read a poem entitled “Beautiful” in a session called “A Feast of Poetry.”
In the “Romantic Era II” session, Ms. Duncan read her scholarly paper “Identity in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein,” in which she explored the identities of both Victor Frankenstein and his creature, ending with the final question: Who is really the monster in this text?
“It was interesting to hear what other students submitted, especially when you could tell they were passionate about the subject,” said Duncan. “I enjoyed hearing examples of other college students’ exemplary papers because I feel that I can use that experience to better myself academically.”
Ms. Cash, Ms. Duncan, and Mr. Thompson’s work in Tennessee Wesleyan’s chapter of Sigma Tau Delta includes participating in service projects such as assisting with the college’s literary magazine and with TWC’s annual Homecoming and Halloween activities.
The group has tutored adults at the Adult Education Center, donated materials to North City School to help teachers who work with struggling readers, contributed to UNICEF to buy a soccer ball, school supplies, and books for children overseas, and supported Haiti relief efforts as well as Rice and Beans Ministries, which prepares food bags and purchases school uniforms for Central American children.
For more information on TWC’s Sigma Tau Delta chapter or the English department, contact Dr. Elizabeth Rulemen by phone at 746-5247 or by email at esruleman@twcnet.edu.