Mary Halbur of Carlton Honored for Academic Research

2014 Apr 8

Mary Halbur of Carlton, MN, a senior history major at Widener University (Chester, Pa.), attended the eastern regional conference of Phi Alpha Theta, History Honors Society, held at Shippensburg University on April 5. Along with two peers from Widener, Halbur presented well-received research in the panel titled "Labor and Unionization in Pennsylvania." She won "best paper in U.S. history, 1920 to the present" for her research titled "Giving Voice to the Jobless: The Unemployed Councils of Philadelphia in the 1930s." Reviewers described Halbur's paper as exceedingly well-written, skillfully researched, and making important historiographical contributions to the history of unemployment, the welfare state, and Pennsylvania's politics.

Halbur also attended multiple research panels during the conference, and met and chatted with history majors and graduate students from more than 20 participating universities.

"In my view, the Widener students distinguished themselves in many ways, in presenting their research and in discussing and critiquing the research," said Batch. "This conference is about learning more historical research and also about networking. Students see the workings of a profession and begin to see themselves as professionals."

Widener University is a metropolitan university that connects curricula to social issues through civic engagement. Dynamic teaching, active scholarship, personal attention, leadership development and experiential learning are key components of the Widener experience. A comprehensive doctorate-granting university, Widener is comprised of eight schools and colleges that offer liberal arts and sciences, professional and pre-professional curricula leading to associate, baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degrees. The university's campuses in Chester, Exton and Harrisburg, Pa., and Wilmington, Del., serve more than 6,300 students. Widener is proud to be a tobacco-free campus. Visit the university's website, www.widener.edu.