2026 Student Scholars Find a Home at JWHA
One of the highlights of the 2026 JWHA conference in Council Bluffs was the participation of this year’s student scholarship recipients, Jessica Yospe and Harrison Endicott, both seniors at Brigham Young University. The scholarship program is designed not simply to recognize promising scholars, but to bring them into the scholarly community of JWHA through presenting research, assisting with the conference, and interacting with other historians of the Restoration.
Jessica and Harrison presented together in Saturday morning’s session on communication, authority, and community in Restoration movements. Jessica explored the development of general conferences in Community of Christ and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, while Harrison examined the cultural and moral associations surrounding the Deseret Alphabet. Their session drew a notably large audience and generated substantial interest in their work.
For Harrison, Council Bluffs marked his second consecutive year as a JWHA scholarship recipient. His experience also demonstrates one of the program’s hoped-for outcomes: his paper from the 2025 conference subsequently appeared in the Spring/Summer 2026 issue of the John Whitmer Historical Association Journal.
Jessica described her first JWHA experience in terms that capture what the scholarship program is intended to foster: “JWHA gave me a welcoming, professional environment to share my research, find amazing mentors, and motivate future projects.” She added, “In my opinion, JWHA is a family; I’m grateful to be a part of it, and I hope to remain for years to come!”
Jessica and Harrison brought strong research, thoughtful presentations, and considerable energy to the 2026 conference. Their experience is also a reminder that supporting student scholarships does more than help students attend an annual meeting—it helps bring emerging scholars into the broader community of Restoration studies.
JWHA members who would like to help provide similar opportunities for future scholars are invited to contribute to the scholarship program. To make a donation or learn more about supporting future scholarship recipients, contact Cheryle Grinter, JWHA Executive Director.
