Sarah Simon, a Westminster College junior English major, received an undergraduate travel/presentation grant from Westminster's Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning to present "The True 'Father' Figure: A New Historicist and Feminist View of Ma in The Grapes of Wrath" at Susquehanna University's Department of English and Creative Writing Undergraduate Conference Feb. 15-16.

Simon is a daughter of Linda Arbogast of Struthers, Ohio, and Andrew Simon of Dublin, Ohio. She is a graduate of Struthers High School.

Simon's faculty adviser for the conference is Dr. Kristianne Kalata Vaccaro, Westminster visiting assistant professor of English and 2000 Westminster graduate.

"The paper was originally written for Dr. Matthew Sivils' course, The American Bestseller," Vaccaro said. "In it, Sarah analyzes how one of the book's main characters, Ma Joad, challenges patriarchal attitudes and conventionally gendered responsibilities, ultimately becoming a kind of 'father' figure."

The Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning was created to enrich undergraduate education at Westminster through advancing world-class teaching as well as by participating in collaborations that address community and regional needs including strengthening K-12 education. The Undergraduate Research Initiative provides funding for students to conduct research and to present their research at regional and national conferences. Visit www.westminster.edu/drinko for additional information about the Drinko Center.

Contact Vaccaro at (724) 946-7350 or e-mail vaccarkk@westminster.edu for more information.