Susan Ingram of Ada has been awarded the first Dr. Marvin Kroeker Annual Best Historical Research Paper Award at East Central University.
Kroeker, a retired ECU professor of history, established the $300 cash award last year to be presented annually to the ECU student who prepares the best paper in history and/or Native American studies.
Ingram’s research paper actually was her thesis for her master of education degree which she received in May. She is the first person to earn the degree with an emphasis on secondary education-academic discipline (history). The title is “Women in Education: The Lives and Careers of the Hornbeak Sisters.”
Louise Hornbeak was a respected history professor at ECU from 1923 until 1967. She left her entire estate, valued at almost $1 million, to ECU when she died in 1990. The funds were used to establish an endowment for the Louise Hornbeak History Scholarship which can cover a student’s tuition, books, fees, and room and board. Since the endowment was established, 94 Hornbeak Scholarships have been awarded.
Hornbeak had a twin sister, Katherine, who taught at Smith College in Northampton , Mass. , for more than 30 years.
Their older sister, Hattie, taught high school in Dallas for many years. Kroeker taught at ECU from 1966 to 1993 and developed ECU’s first Native American studies courses, which led to the development of the current Native American Studies program. The award recipient is selected by a committee from the History and Native American Studies Department.
Ingram also works in ECU’s Communications and Marketing Department.