Honors in the Major

History major Kayla Reeves graduated with honors from Florida State University in Spring 2024. She originally enjoyed studying British history but now focuses on American history with an emphasis on the Southern United States, religious history, and social movements.

Gabrielle graduated from Florida State in the spring of 2023. In her last year at university, she planned, researched, and wrote an Honors in the Major thesis under the guidance of Dr. Paul Renfro. In this article, she discusses her experience pursuing such a milestone project.

Hi, I am Mallory, a senior double-majoring in History and English. I am also a Presidential Scholar at FSU, and I graduated this past Spring Semester. My research looks at the overlap between history and literature, examining how fiction can be a source for historical research and for crafting historical narratives where archival material might be lacking.

In this interview, Carlos Campos (FSU 2023) reflects on researching and writing an Honors in the Major thesis. Carlos worked with Dr. Maier Katkin and Dr. Stoltzfus on Clarence Darrow, one of the key figures of the progressive era.

My name is Angilmarie Rivera Sanchez, and I am a senior at the university double majoring in History and Political Science, certified in U.S. Intelligence Services and TESOL. My HITM project is titled “The Role of Gender in Commemorating the White Rose.” The White Rose was a student-led resistance group that condemned Hitler's Germany, calling for an end to the war and the government's war crimes by publishing anonymous leaflets. While both men and women were members of this group, between the 1980s and 2000s just one woman, Sophie Scholl, became the face of the movement. My study tries to explain this change in the commemoration of the White Rose.

History major Ethan Dubroff talks about his experiences in pursuing an Honors in the Major project. "Since I hope to pursue my masters and possible PhD, I knew I wanted to participate in the Honors in the Major program, so I could get more experience with larger research projects."

An interview with Noah Dubroff in which he discusses his experiences with doing an Honors in the Major thesis.

An interview with Logan Buffa, a senior studying History and Political Science, and his faculty mentor, Dr. Katherine Mooney. Logan transferred to FSU as a junior in 2020. Upon graduation, he plans to go to graduate school in History. His HITM project addresses the question: Where did Florida Man come from historically?

Who would not want to work on superheroes? To look at their lives and exploits in a world of fast-paced adventures and moral absolutes. This is what Spencer Molenaar has decided to work on in his Honors in the Major project (HITM) for History.

Christina Portuallo was introduced to the Lowell Correctional Institution and its questionable history in Dr. McTighe’s undergraduate class on mass incarceration. This marked the beginning of her long journey of research on the history of women’s prisons in the United States.