WCU’s Rhett Riley honored at Alpha Chi convention
William Carey University alumnus Rhett Riley received the H.Y. Benedict Fellowship during the 2021 Alpha Chi National Convention, held virtually April 8-10.
The $3,000 award will assist him as he enters graduate school to pursue a master’s degree in geography. Riley also received the Patricia Graham Prize in World History for his presentation titled, “The Via Vienna: How the Ottoman Empire Approached the Second Siege of Vienna.”
Riley graduated from William Carey University in November 2020 with a major in history and a minor in business. His undergraduate thesis entitled, “A Geographical, Political, And Economic Survey of the Carpathian Region Leading up to the Ottoman Defeat at Vienna in 1683,” allowed him to delve into the historical geography of the Carpathian region. His research stimulated an interest in the profession of geography and cartography.
Dr. Mark Nicovich, WCU professor of history, was Riley’s advisor and mentor.
"Rhett is a superb student, and his work on the Siege of Vienna combines the best of historical and geographic research methodologies. His success here is a great lead-in to our department's upcoming minor in geography and geographic information systems, as it shows how these two distinct fields overlap and complement each other," Nicovich said.
Alpha Chi, the national college honor society, has been invested in the scholarly pursuits of its student members since 1922 and awards 26 scholarships and fellowships each year totaling $74,000 to student members who submit their work to a rigorous, national competition.
Dr. Read Diket, professor of art, is lead faculty sponsor for William Carey University’s Mississippi Beta chapter.
