Besides majoring in English literature, (with a minor in theatre), Davidson College sophomore Sarah Welty, of Calhoun, studies ancient Greek and hosts a college radio program, “Story Time with Sarah.”

As a feature writer for the college newspaper “The Davidsonian,” she has interviewed such celebrities as poet Nikki Giovanni, former Senate majority leader Tom Daschle, and current Commanding General of the United States Army Reserves, Lt. Gen. Jack Stultz.

Welty has also worked as an intern at the Calhoun Times.

The former Gordon Central High School AP English student was selected to present a paper at the British Studies Student Symposium held Feb. 25-26 at Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, Ala.

Sarah’s topic, “Make ‘Em Laugh: The Death of Wit in Stoppard’s Arcadia,” explores the two comic styles which separate the dichotomous settings of the play and also examines “the breakdown of communication in the 20th century.”

The Symposium was chaired by professors Dr. V. Markham Lester, Dr. John Tatter and Dr. David Ullrich of Birmingham-Southern College; Dr. Michael Leslie of Rhodes Colege, and Drs. Pamela Macfie and Jennifer Michael of the University of the South.

AP English teacher at GCHS, Darlene Callan, and Karlene Welty (Sarah’s mother, and a teacher at GCHS) report that the symposium was an inspiration, not only intellectually but aesthetically, in the lovely setting of Birmingham-Southern College. The school has invited Callan to bring AP English students there from GCHS next fall for participation in a literary event.