The Division of Graduate Studies recognizes the very fine thesis work being accomplished by its graduate students through the annual granting of the Outstanding Thesis Award, in the amount of $1,000. This award also accords a high profile to faculty mentoring of graduate student research. For the calendar year 2001, the external committee of emeritus faculty judges selected Nathan Neil Orgill's thesis from the College of Social Sciences. Nathan's faculty thesis committee chair was John Bohnstedt, and his thesis committee members were Warren Gade and Robert Dinkin.

Nathan completed his thesis, The British National Press and the Outbreak of the First World War, for the Department of History in the summer of 2001. His thesis convincingly shows that the role of the press was not as strong as previously believed in causing the British government to declare war on Germany and Austria-Hungary. In constructing his arguments that refute earlier historians’ judgments, Nathan has drawn on an impressive array of primary and secondary sources in both English and German. The University Award Committee judged this thesis an outstanding example of historical scholarship, masterfully researched, and skillfully presented. His mentor, John Bohnstedt, considers it one of the two best theses he has directed in his entire 46 years at this university.

Nathan pays great tribute to his adviser: “Dr. Bohnstedt was my most important adviser at CSUF; all that I am as a Europeanist I owe to his guidance. I hope that some day I will be able to do as good a job as a teacher of European history and a mentor for students.”

Nathan is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in European History at Duke University.