LAKELAND, Fla. (April 17, 2007) — Florida Southern College senior English major Lynsay McCaulley has been accepted to present her essay, "Heroism Amidst Ambiguity," at Prophecy 2007: From Hero to Legend, an international Harry Potter conference to be held in Toronto, Canada in August. The conference takes place two weeks after the release of the seventh and final Harry Potter book on July 21.

McCaulley’s paper categorizes Severus Snape, a character in the Harry Potter series, as a classic epic/myth hero. “His role as hero is under deep scrutiny because of his ambiguous character,” says McCaulley, “but my critical essay breaks down the requirements for a classic epic/mythic hero and how he fulfills them.”

Drs. Mary Pharr and Paula Buck of the English department worked with McCaulley on the project. “Lynsay is not just a Potter enthusiast; she's become an expert analyst, someone who knows the nuances and significance of the entire series,” said Pharr. “All of us in the English department are delighted at her acceptance as international conference presenter.”

After graduating, McCaulley plans to work full time and later attend graduate school. She is the daughter of Frank and Pamela McCaulley of Polk City, Fla.

About Florida Southern College
Founded in 1885, Florida Southern College is a private, comprehensive, United Methodist college with a liberal arts core. The college maintains its commitment to academic excellence through 39 undergraduate majors and distinctive graduate programs in business administration, education, and nursing. Florida Southern has a 13:1 student/faculty ratio, provides strong student/faculty mentorship programs, boasts 25 NCAA Division II national championships, and is ranked by U. S. News and World Report as one of the top ten Southern Comprehensive Colleges-Bachelor’s institutions and by the Princeton Review as a “Best Southeastern College.” Located on scenic Lake Hollingsworth, Florida Southern is the home of the world’s largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.