Student ORGANIZATIONS

There are two student organizations in the Masters of Historic Preservation Program at UGA.

STUDENT HISTORIC PRESERVATION ORGANIZATION

Sigma Pi Kappa Honor Society

Student Historic Preservation Organization

The Student Historic Preservation Organization (SHPO) at The University of Georgia is a club run by MHP students for all grads and undergrads interested in historic sites and landscapes.

SHPO at UGA aims to provide supplemental instruction catered to the interests of students, opportunities to engage in preservation activities in Athens and the surrounding areas, and a community of those with a mutual passion for heritage conservation. Examples of extracurricular sessions provided in the past include lectures, workshops, career enhancement seminars, alumni networking opportunities and social events.

Social Activities

In the fall, SHPO participates in College of Environment and Design tailgates for home games in the Founders Memorial Garden. This is a great opportunity to cheer on the Dawgs and mingle with faculty, students, and alumni. SHPO also participates in CED-wide social events such as Third Friday, a social gathering held on the third Friday of each month and hosted on a rotating basis among the students in each of the three graduate programs.

Conference Participation

SHPO assists students in attending preservation conferences to broaden their perspectives and meet outside professionals, including the National Trust for Historic Preservation PastForward Conference and the Georgia State Historic Preservation Conference. 

 The 2018 National Trust PastForward Conference took students to San Francisco, where they visited Hyde Park Pier (left), reunited with alumni at the Palace of the Fine Arts (middle), and saw the iconic painted ladies (right). 

Students at the 2017 Conference had the opportunity to explore Chicago between sessions, including Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House (right). 

Volunteer Opportunities

SHPO members gain hands-on skills while helping the community through volunteer projects. Recently, members have acted as docents for house tours hosted by the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation; cleaned up trails at Watson Mill Bridge on Your State Parks Day; uncovered graves at Brooklyn Cemetery for the Athens MLK Day of Service; and mothballed an abandoned house with Historic Macon Foundation (at left). 

For more information and to be notified regarding upcoming meetings and events, like us on Facebook. For other questions, contact the board at shpo@uga.edu.