For the fifth year in a row, the University of Lynchburg’s chapter of Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society, Alpha Beta Upsilon, has received a Best Chapter Award. Alpha Beta Upsilon, one of 1,000 Phi Alpha Theta chapters across the U.S. and abroad, was honored in the Division I category, which includes colleges and universities with fewer than 3,000 students.
They also volunteer with community partners, including Historic Sandusky, a University-owned house museum; South River Meeting House, an 18th-century Quaker church; Cloverlea, a historic house at the University’s Claytor Nature Center; the Lynchburg Museum System; and the Wharton Memorial Foundation in Bedford, Virginia.
“The energy and enthusiasm our students bring to their projects is just amazing,” said Dr. Lisa Crutchfield, the chapter’s faculty advisor and associate professor of history. “As busy as they all are, I so appreciate their dedication and excitement for delving deeper into history and engaging with the public to share local stories.
“I’m grateful to our community partners … for providing our students the opportunity to research and tell their stories. Historical research must not be conducted in a vacuum. The point is to share our collective and community history. Our … members have done a tremendous job of bringing local stories to life and engaging with the public, and those projects continue to build. I’m excited to see where our students will take them in the future.
“In the meantime, it’s fantastic to receive validation from the national organization of the hard work we are doing. And to consistently receive the award — five years in a row! — showcases the students’ dedication and the momentum they are continuing to generate.”
Each year, the students prepare a scrapbook detailing their activities. The scrapbook is submitted to Phi Alpha Theta for consideration for its Best Chapter Awards.
“I enjoyed reviewing the PAT scrapbook,” University President Dr. Sally Selden ’19 HAA said after the 2026 Best Chapter Awards were announced this month. “I was truly impressed by the submission and delighted to see the amazing opportunities and experiences our students are having.”
To join Phi Alpha Theta, students must have a 3.0 overall GPA and a 3.1 or higher GPA in their history classes. They must have completed at least 12 credit hours in history coursework, and are invited to join by the faculty advisor.
