The following awards and scholarships are available to Department of History undergraduate students. We are grateful to the support of our donors for making these awards possible.
Awards
The Centenary Prize for Outstanding Senior in the Teaching of Social Studies
The prize recognizes the superior scholarship and pedagogical promise of students the Social Studies Education Program, and is awarded on the basis of overall academic performance and a record for excellence in the students’ coursework and preparation for a career in teaching.
Learn more about the Centenary Prize
C. Ernest Dawn Undergraduate Research Travel Award
Travel awards and grants of up to $500 are available to students who can demonstrate that their original research would be significantly enhanced or facilitated by travel to an archive, museum, library, or conference; and/or whose projects require specialized equipment or access to online databases, printed materials, or other sources not available on campus or through our own library.
Learn more about the C. Ernest Dawn award
Distinguished Service Award
The Distinguished Service Award recognizes seniors who have gone above and beyond in their service to the Department by assisting with new student recruitment, becoming on-campus leaders within the Department and the History Honors Society Phi Alpha Theta, and helping create a stronger, more cohesive sense of community within the Department.
Learn more about the Distinguished Service Award
The Kathryn Oberdeck Public History Award
The Kathryn Oberdeck Public History Award honors the dedication and scholarship of our colleague professor Kathryn Oberdeck. The award supports undergraduates who are undertaking experiential learning or professional development projects in the areas of public history and/or community engagement. Appropriate projects may include, but are not limited to, internships, an honors research paper, or major independent research project.
Learn more about the Kathryn Oberdeck Award
Michael Scher Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Paper
Named in memory of Professor Michael Scher, who taught in the department between 1971 and 1975, the Scher Award was created in 1977 to recognize the outstanding undergraduate paper or project submitted in a regular History course during the preceding calendar year.
Learn more about the Michael Scher Award
Scholarships
The Martha Belle Barrett Scholarship for Undergraduate Academic Excellence
This scholarship recognizes graduating seniors who have exhibited outstanding scholarly achievement in history over the entire course of their academic careers at the University of Illinois. Selection is made by the Director of Undergraduate Studies and Academic Advisor in History in consultation with the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, on the basis of outstanding GPA and superior commitment to the study of history as evidenced by the students’ records in upper-division courses.
Learn more about the Martha Belle Barrett Scholarship
Robert H. Bierma Scholarship for Superior Academic Merit in History
This scholarship was established in 1985 to recognize superior academic merit in history and to contribute to the tuition of students entering their senior year at the University. Selection of the Bierma Award winners is made by the Dean of Honors Programs in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, in consultation with the Director of Undergraduate Studies and Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies, on the basis of outstanding GPA and superior commitment to the study of history as evidenced by the students’ records in upper-division courses.
Learn more about the Robert H. Bierma Scholarship
Walter N. Breymann Scholarship for Outstanding Undergraduate History Majors
Established in 2010, this scholarship recognizes promising History majors who have demonstrated academic merit, future promise, and financial need. It is supported by the generous bequest of Irmudine Breymann (M.A. ’47) and is named in honor of her husband, Dr. Walter Breymann (M.A. ’47, Ph.D ’50). Eligible candidates will be those History majors with junior or senior standing who are identified by the University as demonstrating financial need.
Learn more about the Walter N. Breymann Scholarship
Jayne and Richard Burkhardt Scholarship for Outstanding Undergraduate Achievement
The Jayne and Richard Burkhardt Scholarship originates from a gift to the Department by the Burkhardt family. The History Department awards the Burkhardt scholarship to four undergraduates annually who have demonstrated exceptional ability in their first year in the History Department – whether as first year students or transfers to the Department. In-coming freshmen with a superior academic background and demonstrated enthusiasm for history are also considered for the award.
Learn more about the Burkhardt Scholarship
Robert W. Johannsen Scholarship for Promising Senior Honors Thesis Research
This scholarship is awarded annually to an Honors student with junior standing, for the support of work on a senior thesis, especially in the field of United States history. Scholarship money will be paid in the summer before the student’s senior year, to help support research on the thesis.
Learn more about the Robert W. Johannsen Scholarship
Mark H. Leff Scholarship for Outstanding Honors Thesis
Named in honor of consummate teacher and mentor Professor Mark H. Leff, this scholarship is awarded each year to a senior student in the Honors Program. Thesis writers who wish to be considered for this scholarship must submit drafts of their projects by the deadline, which will be announced spring semester.
Learn more about the Mark H. Leff Scholarship
Thomas A. Manning Memorial Scholarship
Learn more about the Thomas A. Manning Scholarship
Winton U. Solberg Scholarship
This scholarship, named in honor of Professor Winton Solberg (1922-2019) and funded through the generosity of the Solberg family, will be awarded to promising undergraduate students studying American history. The scholarship carries with it a $4,000 award.
Learn more about the Winton U. Solberg Scholarship
John and Judith Steinberg-Alfonsi Scholarship for Outstanding History Undergraduate & Academic Excellence
Learn more about the Steinberg-Alfonsi Scholarship
William F. and Virginia C. Waterman Scholarship
The William F. and Virginia C. Waterman Scholarship will be awarded based on performance in the core required classes for the History major: History 200 and 498. The selection committee will also pay attention to nominees' overall academic records (with particular attention to History classes) and improvement over time in the case of mixed academic records. Scholarship winners will be selected at the end of the academic year, with the scholarship awarded the following year.