Frederic C. Pachman, Christopher Antanaitis, and John Hillje. Photo courtesy of Frederic C. Pachman

Rider University senior Christopher Antanaitis, an American Studies major and Undergraduate Research Scholar, received the 2006 Paul A. Stellhorn New Jersey History Award on March 24 at the Trenton War Memorial during the 13th annual History Issues Convention. The award recognizes an outstanding undergraduate course paper which addresses any aspect of New Jersey history.

Antanaitis’ paper, “Chambersburg and North Trenton: Variations in the Experience of Italians in Trenton, New Jersey, c1900-1980,” was submitted for consideration by Dr. John Hillje, associate professor of history, at Rider.

“Chris is probably one of the finest students I’ve had the pleasure to have in my classes in the last 20 or more years,” said Dr. Hillje. “The paper submitted was actually a first draft. It did not need to be revised. Chris has exceptional research skills. He is especially good at comparing different sources on the same topic, subtopic or detail. He carefully analyzes the sources to determine as accurately as possible what happened.”

According to the awards committee, Stellhorn was a distinguished historian and public servant with a love of the humanities and New Jersey’s libraries, and especially the Newark Public Library. Throughout his career, he was associated with a number of organizations, including the New Jersey Historical Commission, where he served as director of research and the New Jersey Committee (now Council) for the Humanities, where he was assistant director.

“I was honored, grateful and particularly amazed by the reception I received at the awards ceremony,” said Antanaitis. “It seemed that my paper touched on an area that is of great interest to many people. I hope I’ve drawn attention to a subject that deserves far more study than it’s had – certainly more than I could give it in a class paper.

“I am fascinated by American culture,” added Antanaitis. “As an American Studies major, I’ve been able to take classes and do advanced work in multiple disciplines including, history, literature and music, as well as incorporate a minor in film and media studies. Rider’s American Studies courses have got to be among the most interesting and best-taught anywhere. Rider’s faculty members have had the greatest impact on me. I’ve had classes and discussions that opened whole new horizons and literally changed the way I view the world.”

Active in campus life, Antanaitis is secretary-treasurer and coordinator of the silent film series of Rider’s Alternative Film Club. Named to the dean’s list every semester, his other academic accomplishments include being accepted into the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Key Society; a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, national leadership honor society; and receiving Outstanding Achievement awards in first-year German and World History. Anatanistis has presented papers at Rider’s Student Research Celebration Day and the Gender Studies Colloquium. As an Undergraduate Research Scholar, his senior thesis is titled, “The Heroine as History’s Mirror: Hester Prynne’s Signficance in American Culture as Seen in Films of “The Scarlet Letter.’”

The Paul A. Stellhorn New Jersey History Award is sponsored by the New Jersey Historical Commission, New Jersey Studies Academic Alliance, New Jersey Council for History Education, Friends of the Rutgers University Libraries, and the New Jersey Caucus of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference.

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