Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) honors student Terri Hamilton has been awarded a 2025 Portz Interdisciplinary Fellowship by the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC). Hamilton, a fourth-year English and history double major, was selected for her project, Folklore as Geography: How Do Cultural Narratives Shape Place?
Hamilton, a first-generation college student, is one of six students nationwide to receive a Portz Fellowship, which supports innovative undergraduate research that crosses traditional academic boundaries. She was awarded $1,500 to support her ongoing research. The project is sponsored by Dr. Abigail Heiniger, associate professor of literature and languages, with additional support from Dr. Sandra Weems, LMU Honors Program director.
“Terri Hamilton is an incredible student and scholar,” said Heiniger. “Her research into Appalachian folklore springs from her own experience with local folklore in the tristate region. She explores the ways that stories shape our world and bring us together.”
Hamilton’s research draws on folklore studies, geography, communication studies, history, and cultural studies to examine how narratives shape regional identity. Her work focuses on oral traditions and how storytelling reflects community values. The historical component connects regional tales to changing social and economic conditions, while the geographical approach considers how landscapes influence the stories people tell and how those stories influence communities.
“Terri's leadership and scholarship make her an exemplar of the LMU Honors Scholars Program and truly worthy of the recognition she has received from NCHC,” said Weems. “It’s a wonderful surprise to see one of our students acknowledged alongside Ivy League and R1 winners in these same categories of interdisciplinary fellowships and presentations. What wonderful validation for Terri, her work, and that of her faculty mentors!”
Using an original fieldwork collection she developed through two previous Ledford Scholarship projects, Hamilton analyzes both historical and modern folktales. Her project goals include expanding her folklore archive, examining historical records, mapping relationships between story and geography, and presenting her honors thesis defense. She also plans to pursue publication of her findings.
“There’s been a notable gap in folklore studies since the 1970's and early 1980's,” said Hamilton. “I hope to show how folklore preserves cultural heritage while adapting to new social and geographical influences.”
Hamilton recently earned third place in the arts and humanities category of the Sloane Prize in Undergraduate Research (S.P.U.R.) at the NCHC annual conference in San Diego, where she presented earlier phases of this research.
The Portz Fellowship was established through the vision and generosity of Dr. John and Edythe Portz, longtime supporters of the NCHC and advocates for innovative undergraduate research. Their legacy continues to foster cross-disciplinary work that advances student scholarship nationwide.
Lincoln Memorial University is a values-based learning community dedicated to providing educational experiences in liberal arts and professional studies. The main campus is in Harrogate, Tennessee. For more information about the undergraduate and graduate programs available at LMU, contact the Office of Admissions at 423-869-6280 or email at admissions@lmunet.edu.
