UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications

Brenham Resident Awarded UT Tyler History Scholarship

December 12, 2014

Media Contact:  Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)

December 12, 2014



Madison Draehn of Brenham is a 2014 history scholarship recipient at The University of Texas at Tyler.

Draehn, a UT Tyler senior, received the Edwin Morgan Smyrl and Frank H. Smyrl Endowed History Scholarship in the amount of $600.

The Department of History presents scholarships to declared history majors in recognition of excellent academic performance and for the purpose of encouraging the study of history at the university.

Draehn will be recognized during an awards banquet in April 2015.

She will graduate with a bachelor of science in history with a minor in social studies in December 2015 and plans to teach history at the secondary level.

“My dream is to become a great history teacher and begin spreading knowledge and wisdom through the many children who come my way,” Draehn said. “The best day of my life will be the first day I step into my very own classroom and begin to teach.”

Her memberships include Alpha Chi Honor Society, UT Tyler Education Student Advisory Board, Phi Alpha Theta History Society and the UT Tyler chapters of the National Society of Leadership and Success and the Walter Prescott Webb Historical Society.

Draehn was awarded the Smith County Retired School Personnel Association Scholarship last spring, and she also assisted with the Creative Mindset Competition of the Texas Academic Rodeo.

Her hobbies include fishing, antiquing and photography.

The Edwin Morgan Smyrl and Frank H. Smyrl Endowed History Scholarship honors the memory of Dr. Frank H. Smyrl, the first historian to join the UT Tyler faculty, and his brother, historian Edwin Morgan Smyrl. Frank Smyrl was the founding department chair and dean of the UT Tyler College of Liberal Arts.

For more information, contact Dr. Edward Tabri, associate professor of history, 903.566.7322 or etabri@uttyler.edu.

One of the 15 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler features excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degrees are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of more than 8,000 high-ability students. UT Tyler offers courses at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine as well as a location in Houston.