Two undergraduate scholars, Thomas Gregory, a senior majoring in geography, and Robert
David Weatherford, a senior majoring in English and Spanish, will discuss their research
during the College of Arts and Sciences Keith and Thyra Thomson Honors Convocation,
Friday, Oct. 15, at 3 p.m., in the University of Wyoming Arts and Sciences auditorium.
Gregory, of Papillion, Neb., is a member of the UW Honors Program. The title of his
talk is "Going Green with Living Roofs." He will discuss the concept of green roofs
and demonstrate the interdisciplinary nature of geography by relating his research
with his study-abroad experience to The Netherlands. Gregory chose to explore green
roofs because it is a relatively new concept in sustainability with many environmental
benefits and pleasing aesthetic value.
Laramie native Weatherford is a senior majoring in English and Spanish. He will present
"The Words of God and Men: The Literary Criticism of the Book of Mormon." Weatherford
was raised in the Latter-Day Saint religious tradition and attended Brigham Young
University for one year. The Book of Mormon, therefore, has been an important part
of his cultural and spiritual consciousness. 
"I wanted to undertake an academic approach to the polemical and popular book, seeing
if a literary lens, rather than a credulously accepting or openly excoriating one,
would yield a new perspective on the book's authorship, historicity, and value. And
it certainly did," notes Weatherford.
His research ultimately led Weatherford to certain aspects of the language in the
Book of Mormon as it exists now and in its previously published editions. He will
show why study of Mormonism and its founding document are important to the academy
today. Weatherford is a member of the UW Honors Program and Sigma Delta Pi (UW's Hispanic
honor organization). During his sophomore year, he was a board member of Spectrum,
UW's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender organization.
Each year, the College of Arts and Sciences hosts the honors convocation to recognize
arts and sciences undergraduates who made the President's, Dean's or Freshman honor
rolls the preceding year. The keynote speaker for the event is Arts and Sciences Alumna
Susan L. Pamerleau (B.A. sociology, 1968), retired major general of the United States
Air Force (USAF).
The title of her talk is "Leadership Lessons for Life . . . NOW and AFTER College."
The Keith and Thyra Thomson Honors Convocation is open to the public and free of charge.
For more information about the event, call the Arts and Sciences Dean's Office at
(307)766-4106.
