EIU Department of History

History Scholarships and Writing Awards

The History Department recognizes exemplary undergraduate and graduate student work with several awards. Some reward consistent high performance, others recognize distinction in research and writing or work on a topic or geographic region (see below). Deadlines vary, so please follow the directions that accompany a specific award, or contact Dr. Alonzo Ward, Awards Committee Chair, for clarification.

The awards listed below are not an exhaustive list of funding available here at EIU. As a student within the History Department, you are eligible for a number of scholarships awarded from outside the department that are not listed here. 

History Department Scholarships

The Awards Committee requests nominations from History faculty for students deserving the following scholarships and awards. Deadlines vary. Applicants should complete applications or solicit nominations to meet the published deadlines. The deadline for nominations for History Department awards marked with an asterisk* is the first Friday in March. For departmental awards, students should submit hard copies with their name, course number and course name on the title page ONLY to Dr. Mark Hubbard, Awards Committee Chair. All winners are recognized at the History Department Awards Banquet held at the end of each Spring semester.

~~~~~~~~~

Undergraduate Scholarships

• The Errett and Mazie Warner History Award* (first awarded in 1977): For an outstanding junior or senior history major.
  •  

• Robert and Julie Sterling History Education in Social Science Scholarship* (established in 1999 by Robert & Julie Sterling. Dr. Sterling taught in EIU's history department for 43 years (1956-1998), specializing in Civil War History. Julie likewise has provided dedicated service to EIU, working as an academic advisor for many years): For a junior or senior history major with teacher licensure. Graduating seniors are not eligible.
  • 
    
    
• The William B. Reid, Jr. History Education Scholarship* (established in 2001 by the family of William B. Reid, Jr. in recognition of his dedication to education. Mr. Reid taught for 35 years and received his high school, undergraduate, and graduate education at EIU): for a junior or senior history major with teacher licensure.
  • 
    
    
• Lawrence and Emily Nichols Memorial Scholarship* (established in memory of Lawrence Nichols, a member of the History Department's faculty from 1962 through 1994; first awarded in 2006): for a full-time EIU student exhibiting academic excellence with an interest in U.S. or Latin American history.
  • 
    
    
• The Elisha H. and Estella Ziegler Baumgartner Scholarship* (established in 1991 through the estate of Elisha H. Baumgartner): for an outstanding sophomore history major.
  • 
    
    
• The Ardath Fogelsanger History Scholarship* (established in 1974 by Ms. Edna Honaker in memory of her daughter Ardath Fogelsanger): for an upper division history major who, through activities in class and outside of the classroom, demonstrates a love for and dedication to the study of history.
  • 
    
    
• Jeanne and Donald Tingley Memorial Scholarship* (established in 2006 by the friends and family of Dr. Donald Tingley, who served on the EIU History Department faculty from 1953 to 1985, and his wife, Jeanne): for a full-time history major in good standing. Preference is given to first generation incoming freshman and/or transfer students.
  •  

• The Rex Syndergaard Scholarship* (in recognition of P. Rex Synderaard's service to the EIU History Department in which he taught from 1956-1980; first awarded in 1981): For an outstanding undergraduate or graduate student with an interest in teaching.
  •  

• The Wolfgang and Barbara Schlauch European History Scholarship* (established in 1999 by Wolfgang Schlauch, EIU's modern German History professor for nearly 30 years, from 1969-1998, and his wife, Barbara, also a historian): for a history major (undergraduate or graduate) with an outstanding academic record and a concentration in modern European history.
  •  

• The Stephan M. Horak Award* (established in 1987 in memory of Dr. Stephan Horak, who taught in the EIU history department for 21 years from 1965 to 1986 and published numerous books and articles on Russia and Eastern Europe): for an outstanding senior history major with a concentration in European history and at least one course in Russian or Eastern European history.

• History Study Abroad Scholarship (first awarded Spring 2005; two awards up to $500 each): for EIU students (undergraduate or graduate) majoring in History and exhibiting a commitment to studying abroad through EIU. Priority given to History undergraduate and graduate students who plan to participate in a study abroad program through EIU. Students conducting research abroad may also apply. Application Deadline: last Friday in January. See Study Abroad Scholarship form.

Graduate Scholarships

• The Charles H. and Dorothee Coleman Scholarship (established in memory of Charles H. Coleman who taught history at EIU from 1926 through 1961 and distinguished himself as a Lincoln Scholar; first awarded in 1973):For a distinguished graduate student majoring in history. Awarded at the beginning of the Fall semester; selected by the History Graduate Committee. Contact the History Graduate Coordinator for information.
  
  •  

History Department Writing Awards

The History Department recognizes undergraduate and graduate student writing with several awards. Hard copies of papers must be submitted to the departmental office manager, by noon on the first Friday in March (student’s name, course number, & course name should appear on the title page ONLY, followed by a second title page with title only, unless otherwise specified). Winners are announced at the History Department's Spring Awards Banquet.

~~~~~~~~~

Undergraduate Writing Awards

• The Herbert and Jane Lasky Anne Frank Award (established in 1998 by Herb & Jane Lasky. Herb Lasky served the EIU History Department for nearly forty years (1966-2004), directed the EIU Honors program from its inception (1982-2004), and spearheaded the creation of the EIU Honors College): for the best undergraduate paper on the Holocaust written for a course taught by a member of EIU's history department.
  •  

• The Alexander Hamilton Paper Award in American History (established in 1999 by Herb & Jane Lasky. Herb Lasky served the EIU History Department for nearly forty years (1966-2004), directed the EIU Honors program from its inception (1982-2004), and spearheaded the creation of EIU Honors College): for the best undergraduate paper on American history written for a course taught in EIU's history department.
  •  

• The History Faculty Writing Award in European History** for the best paper in European history written by an undergraduate for a course taught in EIU's history department. 

Graduate Writing Awards

• The Lavern M. Hamand Graduate Writing Award** (Lavern Hamand taught in the EIU History Department from 1957 through 1982; first awarded in 1993): for the best paper written by a graduate student currently enrolled in the graduate program in the Department of History.  Papers submitted for consideration should have been written for a graduate course or be part of a master's thesis in the Department of History. (There are two competitions for this award - fall and spring.)
•  
•  

College & University Awards

Undergraduate

• Asian Studies Paper and Creative Work Awards (Undergraduate) 

  Any paper or creative work that deals with Asia or Asian America and was produced in Spring or Fall 2021 or  Spring 2022 for an undergraduate or graduate course at EIU (or presented at a conference or exhibition) will be accepted. Those who submit essays written for a graduate course or a creative work must also provide the name and email of the faculty member under whom the work was undertaken. A paper that won an award for the 2019 or 2020 Asian Studies competition will not be considered. Winners will be recognized with certificates and monetary awards at an EIU conference on Asia on Thursday, April 14, 2022, and are required to present their works at the venue. The deadline for submission is 12 p.m. on Friday, April 1, 2022. If you have any questions about the awards or the submission process, please contact the chair of the Asian Studies Awards Committee, Dr. Gordon Tucker, at tgctucker@eiu.edu.

  Submission site: https://www.eiu.edu/asian_studies/awardapp.php

  •  

• Booth Library Award for Excellence in Student Research and Creativity (an award for which all University students qualify; administered through the Booth Library): The program encourages students to enhance their studies by utilizing the wealth of information available at Booth Library and other research venues. All entries are original works completed by Eastern students within the last 12 months. The award recipients are selected on the basis of excellence, creativity and the use of research resources. For more information, consult the rules on the Booth Library website. selected 
  •  
  •  

• Social Science Writing Awards (an award for which History undergraduates qualify: administered through the Dean's Office, College of Sciences): Regardless of major, students who write strong research papers in upper-division social sciences courses, including history, should consider submitting them for recognition and cash awards. Submissions are made directly to the chair of the History Department; selections are made by the Social Science Writing Awards Committee. 
  •  

• Distinguished Senior Awards (administered through Alumni Services):Recognizes EIU seniors who have enriched the university community by demonstrating outstanding character and leadership through academic achievement, campus and community involvement, and extra-curricular honors and awards. Nominations due in March.

• Study Abroad Student of the Year (administered through the Study Abroad Office): Recognizes a student who embodies the values of the Office of Study Abroad and the importance of international education in the calendar year. For more information, visit the Study Abroad Office's International Awards page.

• Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Essay Contest (an award for which History undergraduates qualify; administered through the Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program) Regardless of major, EIU students can submit essays or research papers that incorporate a feminist perspective. The papers can be written during the previous academic year or semester concurrent with the competition. Deadline: First Monday in February with awards made during Women's Awareness Month; Contact Dr. Jeannie Ludlow, Coordinator, WGSS program, and consult the rules.

• Livingston C. Lord Memorial Scholarship (EIU's highest scholastic award, established by the Alumni Association in memory of EIU's first president; nominations are made during the Fall semester and awards are made at Spring commencement): for five junior or senior students, nominated by faculty and staff who have stellar academic credentials and are pursuing teacher licensure. 

• Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activities (URSCA) Grants (administered through the Honors College; for an application, completed early during the semester before the research project starts): for any EIU student with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The funding awards a student and their faculty mentor as they engage in research.

• Warner-Brainard Pre-Legal Presidential Award  Eligibility criteria: Junior or Senior minoring in Pre-Law Studies; minimum GPA of 3.0; demonstrate outstanding scholastic achievement; person of outstanding character whose actions and conduct reflect credit upon EIU. Nomination letter from an EIU faculty member should be submitted to Karen Swenson, PLS Department. https://www.eiu.edu/prelaw/scholarships.php 

Graduate

• Robert and Kathryn Augustine Distinguished Thesis Award (awarded by the EIU Graduate School): To recognize the student with the highest achievement in master’s degree
  •  

• Distinguished Graduate Student Award (awarded by the EIU Graduate School): Every graduate program has the opportunity to name one currently enrolled student from the program as a "Distinguished Graduate Student" to be recognized during the April awards ceremony. Criteria for selection is left to the faculty of the graduate program and the graduate coordinator is responsible for organizing the selection process and completing the notification form for the Graduate School. Students selected are then eligible to be nominated for induction into the Hamand Society of Graduate Scholars and graduate programs may want to refer to that eligibility criteria when selecting their program's Distinguished Graduate Student, but are not required to do so.
  
  •  

• Graduate School Research/Creative Activity Awards (awarded by the EIU Graduate School): to support outstanding graduate research and creative activity projects that include partnerships with external businesses, industries, or educational agencies. 
  •  

• Annie E. Weller Scholarship: The award was established by the family of Annie L. Weller to provide financial support for a full-time undergraduate or graduate student majoring in social sciences, history, or physical sciences accepted to Eastern Illinois University.
  •  

• Williams Travel Award (awarded by the EIU Graduate School): to provide travel support for EIU graduate degree-seeking candidates who have papers or creative works accepted for presentation at regional, state, national, or international conference between July 1 and June 20 of current fiscal year. 
  •  

• EIU Distinguished Master's Thesis Award Competition and Midwest Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS) Thesis Nomination Recognition of the highest achievement in master's degree research based on projects. Second-place in the competition is awarded the The EIU Master's Thesis Award of Excellence. 

• King-Mertz Distinguished Research/Creative Activity Award (awarded by the EIU Graduate School): recognition of the highest achievement in graduate research based on non-thesis graduate research/creative activity projects required for a degree program and completed between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 the prior year. 

• Asian Studies Paper Awards (Graduate) Any paper that deals with Asia or Asian America and was written in Spring 2018, Fall 2018, or Spring 2019 for a course at EIU (or presented at a conference) will be accepted. Winners are required to present their papers and receive the awards at the conference. The online form for submission is located here: https://www.eiu.edu/asian_studies/awardapp.php  Questions: contact Dr. Tim Engles, tdengles@eiu.edu.  

  •  

  •  

  • 
    
    
• Graduate Student Investigator Award (awarded by the College of Arts & Sciences): The Graduate Student Investigator Award (GSI) program was developed to support graduate research and to provide a forum for the presentation of superior graduate student research.
  •  

• Interdisciplinary Center for Global Diversity Travel Grant   The Interdisciplinary Center for Global Diversity (ICGD) awards EIU students presenting original research/creative activity at a conference in keeping with the ICGD's mission of promoting a greater awareness of global diversity and interdisciplinary approaches to Africana, Asian, Latin American, and Women's Studies. The grants are for reimbursement of documented travel expenses. The grants are for reimbursement of documented travel expenses up to $200. https://www.eiu.edu/cats/forms/student_travel.php   

  •  

• James Jones Fund for the Study of the Experience of War in History, Literature, Theatre, Film, and Music Scholarship: The student must have a 3.0 GPA, and must submit a written or creative work (or images and a narrative summary of a creative work) that indicates an awareness of the experience and impact of war.