Indiana University East history major Vyvyan Walker received a scholarship to attend the National Trust for Historic Preservation Annual Conference, which met  in Indianapolis October 29-November 2.

The conference featured topical sessions led by nationally-known preservationists and field experiences in which participants toured sites associated with Indiana’s limestone heritage, historic churches, and places linked to the Underground Railroad. Walker took part in tours of historic Indianapolis theaters and restored homes in the Near North Side.

Walker is from Winchester, Ind., and a sophomore at IU East. She is in the Honors Program, an academic program that provides an intellectually enriched curriculum for highly-motivated students, and will present about her experience at the conference and historic preservation in her history course, The Nature of History, as part of the program.

“I enjoy all aspects of history, and I intend on becoming a historian. I enjoyed the opportunity of attending the conference and learning more about the restoration of historic structures and sites locally in Indianapolis,” Walker said.

In addition to students selected from Indiana University campuses, scholarship recipients came from such schools as the University of Southern California and the University of Texas.  Students were invited to submit an essay explaining their interest in historic preservation. A faculty panel chose up to two attendants from each Indiana University campus based on the essays.

Professor of History Joanne Passet, who is the IU East representative to the Indiana University Committee on Historic Preservation, also attended the conference. She said students benefit from the conference by learning historic preservation and it also provides an opportunity for college students to network with each other and public history professionals.