Awards and scholarships for history undergraduates

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. 

Fall Scholarships

The following scholarships applications are due in the fall.

Deadline: December 7

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.  The awardee must be studying or interested in American History.

Amount

$500

One award per year.

Requirements & Application

To be considered for this scholarship you must:

  • Be a senior majoring in History
  • Have a minimum GPA of 3.75 in History and a GPA of 3.5 overall
  • Have completed 60 hours of coursework at the University of Illinois
  • Submit resume
  • Provide a 250-500 word essay about your interest in American History

Application

To apply for the Belle Barrett Scholarship please fill out our application form. 

Apply to the Belle Barrett Scholarship

Past Recipients

  • 2026: Rosette Pavkov, Marica Szczybura
  • 2025: Chris Chong; Justin Wytmar
  • 2024: Eunjoo Kim, Sasha Rushing
  • 2023: Tara Leininger, Eddie Ryan, Quinn Searsmith, Danielle Weimerskirch
  • 2022: Blanca Alcantar, Ruth Sussman, Jason Smith, Jamie Terrasi
  • 2021: Patrick John Sullivan, Kassidy Elizabeth Mahoney, Ryan E. Yoakum, Yasmeen K. Ragab
  • 2020: Spenser Bailey, Thomas Weller, Gabrielle Marback-Pehler, Jensen Rehn
  • 2019: Zain Al-Khalil, Taylor Marcusson, Nathan Simmons
  • 2018: Joshua Altshuler, Rebeca Martínez, Madeline Marie Alvendia, Thomas Dowling
  • 2017: DeAnna DeHoff, Ignazina Altamore, Lisa McGovern, Suzanne Ayers, Miguel Suárez Medina
  • 2016: Nicholas Cohen, Alison Jonesi
  • 2015: Trent Rehusch, Ryan D. Fane, Julia M. O'Brien
  • 2014: Neha Nigam, Holly L. Gooden, Grant S. Snyder, Yu Ma
  • 2013: Alexander C. Ion, Amanda R. Lawrence, Christopher A. Baldwin, David A. Rahimi

John and Judith Steinberg Alfonsi Scholarship for Outstanding History Undergraduate & Academic Excellence

Created in honor of John and Judy’s lifelong dedication to education and their interest in supporting well-informed citizens, and future historians. John and Judy remain passionate about studying history in their retirement and hope their scholarship will encourage future generations of students to pursue their own interests in the field.  When asked about what inspired their gift to supporting History at Illinois, Judy said, “It’s important to know where you’ve been, so you can move ahead.” 

Amount

$1000

One award per year.

Requirements & Application

To be considered for this scholarship you must:

  • Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Students must require financial need to be eligible.
  • Be a sophomore, junior, or senior majoring in History
  • Have completed 30 hours of coursework at the University of Illinois; transfer students must have completed 15 hours of coursework at the University of Illinois
  • Provide a 250 word essay explaining why history or history education is your chosen major.

Application

To apply for the Steinberg Alfonsi Scholarship please fill out our application form. 

Apply to the Steinberg Alfonsi Scholarship

Past Recipients

  • 2026: Lillian Webb, Naomi Saathoff
  • 2025: Sonny Steinhauer; LiAn Barclay
  • 2024: Anthony Erkan
  • 2023: Elizabeth Janecek, Morgan Paoli
  • 2022: Nico Divizio, Faithe Wenger
  • 2021: Esther Armenta, Kyle Hubert
  • 2019: Yoss Arianlou, Michael J. Ruby
  • 2018: Bennett Stewart
  • 2017: Jaime Nolasco

Walter N. Breymann Scholarship for Outstanding Undergraduate History Majors

Established in 1998, this scholarship recognizes promising History majors who have demonstrated academic merit 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.  

Amount

$2500

Five awards per year.

Requirements & Application

To be considered for this scholarship you must:

  • Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Priority will be given to students who demonstrate financial need.
  • Be a junior or senior history major
  • Have completed 60 hours of coursework at Illinois
  • Provide a 250-500 word essay detailing the way this scholarship would assist you in your future endeavors and the way it will help your financial needs.
  • Have a minimum 3.75 GPA in History and 3.5 GPA overall

Application

To apply for the Breymann Scholarship please fill out our application form. 

Apply to the Breymann Scholarship

Past Recipients

  • 2026: Alisha Benavides, Katherine Mayer, Michael Zimmerman
  • 2025: Katelyn Barbour, Jenissie Jamison, Dylan Rapp, Sonny Steinhauer
  • 2024: Rachel Mulick, Izzy Sauer, Marica Szczybura, Justin Wytmar
  • 2023: Krystos Kanallakis, Chrissy Kim, James O'Connor, Jacklyn Vargas
  • 2022: Tressa Jones, Kayla Swanson, Adam Matolak, Jason Smith
  • 2021: Yoss Arianlou
  • 2020: Aidan Guzman-Perez, Caitlin Lopez-Battung
  • 2019: Raul Salazar Jr., Austin R. Justice, Donte Winslow, Caitlin Lopez-Battung, TyKira DuBose, Akilah Mouzon, Taylor Ann Mazique, Tressa Jones, Terrell Spurlock Jr., Aidan Guzman Perez
  • 2018: Raul Salazar Jr., Taylor Ann Mazique, Caitlin Lopez-Battung
  • 2017: David Stage, Jacklyn Montiel, David Stage, Cassidy Burke
  • 2016: David Stage, Cassidy Burke, Jacklyn Montiel
  • 2015: Alex J. Villanueva, Elizabeth J. Ray
  • 2014: Jeffrey P. Burer, Shaogui Zhang
  • 2013: Michael L. Norton, Emily A. Matlak
  • 2012: Terry W. Foster, Aryn H. Braun

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 9 credit hours of History 300 or 400-level courses. The selection committee will also pay attention to nominees' overall academic records (with particular attention to History classes). Scholarship winners will be selected at the end of the academic year, with the scholarship awarded the following year. 

Amount

 $5000 

One award per year.

Requirements & Application

To be considered for this scholarship you must:

  • Be a junior majoring in History
  • Have taken HIST 200 and at least 9 credit hours of History 300 or 400-level course.
  • Have completed 60 hours of coursework at UIUC
  • Submit resume
  • Provide a 500 word essay on the way HIST 200 and your History 300 or 400-level courses have improved your overall academics while at the University of Illinois.
  • Have a minimum GPA of 3.75 overall

Application

To apply for the Waterman Scholarship please fill out our application form. 

Apply to the Waterman Scholarship

Past Recipients

  • 2026: Vicka Liokumovich
  • 2025: Marica Szczybura
  • 2024: Margaret Holohan
  • 2021: Ryan E Yoakum, Carmen Gutierrez, Merrick William Robinson, Claudia Krok, Amina F. Malik, Susan Whelton
  • 2020: William Crimmins, Raul Salazar, Diamond Dadej, Krista Zamora, Nathan Jolley, Kavi Naidu
  • 2019: Krishna Appalaneni, Kavi Naidu, Austin R. Justice, Jensen Rehn, Broderick (Rocky) Khoshbin, Sara Temple

Spring Scholarships

The following scholarships applications are due in the spring.

Deadline: 

Award for Students in Teacher Education

Awarded each spring, this award is intended for those in the History department who show great potential as teachers and intend to pursue a career in teaching.

Amount

$1000 

One award per year.

Requirements & Application

To be considered for this scholarship you must:

  • Be a junior or senior student in the history department. 
  • Be majoring in history and accepted into the secondary education minor
  • Have completed 60 hours of coursework at Illinois.
  • Have a minimum GPA of 3.5
  • Provide a 250-word essay explaining why you want to teach history

Application

To apply for the Award for Students in Teacher Education please fill out our application form. 

Apply to the Award for Students in Teacher Education

C. Ernest Dawn Undergraduate Research Travel Award

The endowment was established by Dr. Patricia J. O’Brien for the purposes of providing scholarship to history undergraduates needing to conduct research in archives or library collections. The award honors Professor C. Ernest Dawn, who taught at Illinois from 1949-1989.  This award shall be considered a mark of special distinction; thus, this scholarship is awarded to a student in the Honors Program in the Department of History.  

Amount

$2000

One award per year.

Requirements & Application

To be considered for this scholarship you must:

  • Be a junior history major in the Honors Program
  • Have completed 60 hours of coursework at the University of Illinois; transfer students must have completed 30 hours of coursework at the University of Illinois
  • Provide a 250-500 word essay on the way this scholarship will assist you in your scholarly activities through conducting research
  • Have a minimum 3.5 GPA in History

Application

Only eligible students will receive an email inviting them to apply.

Past Recipients

  • 2026: Michael Zimmerman
  • 2025: Victoria Siek
  • 2024: Will Doty, Anthony Erkan, Izzy Sauer, Justin Wytmar
  • 2022: Muskaan Siddique
  • 2021: Render Symanski
  • 2020: Broderick Khoshbin and Rubab Hyder
  • 2019: Brandon Nakashima
  • 2018: Terrell Spurlock Jr., Donté Winslow, and Dimitri Love, Representatives of Black Students for Revolution
  • 2017: Juliana Reschke
  • 2016: Samantha Yadron
  • 2015: Alex. J Villanueva

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.  

Amount

$500

Up to two awards per year. If multiple recipients are selected, the total amount of the award will be evenly distributed amongst the recipients.

Requirements & Application

To be considered for this scholarship you must:

  • Assist the Department during recruitment events
  • Be a member of Phi Alpha Theta or History Journal Member
  • Provide a 250 word essay explaining why history or history education is your chosen major

Application

Only eligible students will receive an email inviting them to apply. 

Past Recipients

  • 2026: Lillian Webb
  • 2025: Katelyn Barbour; Will Doty
  • 2024: Devin Manley, Julie Matuszewski
  • 2023: Connor Barnes, Rachel Burdette, Tara Leininger, Muskaan Siddique
  • 2022: Riley Mueller, Alyssa Saulsberry, Merrick Robinson, Sara Tolva
  • 2021: Tess O'Connell, Ryan Yoakum, Taylor Ann Mazique
  • 2020: Jakob Domagala, Jensen Rehn, Rubab Hyder, Hailey Vivian Vasquez, Giana Poerio
  • 2019: Hanna Jin, Alicia Ortman, Rachel Thompson

The Kathryn Oberdeck Public History Award

The Kathryn Oberdeck Public History Award honors the dedication and scholarship of our colleague professor Kathryn Oberdeck. Her commitment to public history, and to service for the common good, is one of her most enduring legacies. The award supports undergraduates who are undertaking experiential learning or professional development projects in the areas of public history and/or community engagement.

This award is not currently being awarded. 

Amount

At least $750, amount will vary from year to year.

One award per year.

Requirements

To be considered for this scholarship you must:

  • Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Priority will be given to students who demonstrate financial need.
  • Support a project in public history including:
    • Internships
    • Honors research papers
    • Major independent research projects
  • Projects will involve a community partner and be undertaken under faculty guidance
  • Provide a 250 word essay explaining why history or history education is your chosen major

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. This scholarship is made available through the generous donations of many donors. 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.

Amount

$2000

One award per year.

Requirements & Application

To be considered for this scholarship you must:

  • Be a senior in History
  • Be taking HIST 493

Application

Chosen by committee; no application necessary.

Past Recipients

  • 2026: Noah Yeager, "Complicating the Cold War University and Anti-War Activism at the University of Illinois"
  • 2025: Justin Wytmar, “The Italian Expositions: National Identity and Cultural Modernism on Display during the Fin de Siecle”
  • 2024: Devin Manley, "Transgressing Normativity: Global Indigeneity, Gender Presentations, and Sexual Practices in Colonial Mexico, 1519-1670.” 
  • 2022: Jason Smith, “Hard Work, Heavy Minds: Mental Illness, Working Conditions, and the Mitigation of Dissent, 1960-2000.”
  • 2021: Benjamin Escobar, "A Place to Call Home: Families and Space in 1950's Suburban America"
  • 2020: Broderick "Rocky" Khoshbin,"The Hidden War: Injustice in the Wake of the Philippine-American War"
  • 2019: Brandon Nakashima
  • 2018: Nicholas David Goodell, "The Experience of the Working Class in the German Revolution of November, 1918"
  • 2017: Mindi Zhang, "The Patriots Far Away: A History of Chinese Students in the United States During the Early Twentieth Century"
    • Honorable Mention: Miguel Suárez Medina, "The Institution of the Palenque in Colonial Colombia: Military, Economic, and Political Mobilizations"
  • 2016: Nicholas A. Cohen, "Let Them Produce for Themselves’: Cooperation, Ideology, and Americanism in the Great Depression Self-help Movement, 1931-1939"
    • Honorable Mention: Mackenzee Kienitz, “’The Stories of Witches and Conjurers': The Textual Objectification of African Women in Eighteenth-Century Travel Narratives"
    • Honorable Mention: Jiayi Li, "Rethinking the Politics of Apolitical Intellectuals in Modern China: A Study of Two Returnee Scientists--Bao Wenkui and Tan Haosheng"
  • 2015: Ryan D. Fane
  • 2014: David A. Rahimi
  • 2013: Peter R. Pellizzari

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 an outstanding undergraduate paper or project submitted in a regular History course during the Fall Semester.  

Amount

$1000

One award per year.

Requirements & Application

Eligible papers or projects (see below) should have a clear historical relevance, organization, coherence, and inner integrity.  (“Historical relevance” means that the paper or project should illustrate or illuminate some significant theme or event in some specific time and place.)  They should be of reasonable length or scope, and should show originality in conception and execution.  A reasonable length for a paper is ten to thirty pages.  Acceptable projects might include plays or stories, poems, paintings, sculpture, dance exhibits, films, audio histories, websites, etc. 

Independent primary research, while desirable, is not an absolute necessity for this undergraduate award.

To be considered for this scholarship you must:

  • Take a History class for the Fall semester 
  • Papers submitted for honors credit under History 493 are excluded from this competition since they are already included in the competition for the Mark H. Leff Thesis scholarship
  • Have completed 30 hours at the University of Illinois
  • Enrolled in good standing at the University of Illinois majoring/minoring in history
  • Produce a paper deemed high quality by the History faculty

Application

Chosen by committee; no application necessary.

Past Recipients

  • 2026: Naomi Saathoff: "Kendo as a Feminist Sport: Kendo and the Japanese Women's Liberation Movement"
  • 2025: LiAn Barclay:"Beyond Tradition: Twentieth-Century LGBTQ History in Chinatown,San Francisco"; Bridget Ulbert: "Migrants and the National Health Service"
  • 2024: Justin Wymar, "Brahmins, Bayaderes, and Boulevards: The Representation of India on the French Musical Stage, 1852-1923"
  • 2023: Tara Leininger, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Failures and Responses", James Perkovich, "The Historiography of Asian Involvement in U.S. Imperialism"
  • 2022: James Monroe
  • 2021: Taylor Ann Mazique,
  • 2021: Ryan William Feldt
  • 2020: Amelia Watkins
  • 2019: Austin R. Justice, “Will This Cruel War Never Be Over?’:  Competing Memories of the Mexican American War in the Nineteenth Century”
  • 2018: Spenser R. Bailey, “Dean Thomas Arkle Clark: Space as a Medium for Control”
  • 2017: Mindi Zhang
  • 2016: Thomas J. Hendrickson, Everything History Podcast
  • 2016: Hernando Sevilla-Garcia, "Regulating Emancipation: An Analysis of Manumission Legislation from 1814-1851 in Colombia"
  • 2015: Hannah Y. Park
  • 2014: Nicholas D. Hopkins
  • 2013: David A. Rahimi 

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. 

This award is administered by the College of LAS. 

Past Recipients

  • 2026: Graciela Best, Aidan Wright, Jai O’Dell, Vicka Liokumovich
  • 2024: Will Doty, Margaret Holohan, Chrissy Kim, Justin Wytmar
  • 2023: Eunjoo Kim, Aidan McMahon, James O'Connor, Zhilingyun Zhang
  • 2022: Ryan Feldt, Tara Leininger, Alexis Martinez, Edward Ryan
  • 2021: Blanca Alcantar, Aubrey Matlak, Allison Marie Smerz, Jason Smith
  • 2020: Johnna Jones
  • 2019: Jensen Rehn, Michael J. Ruby, Spenser Bailey, Michael A. Strom
  • 2018: Michael Lars Phil, Nicholas David Goodell, Nathan Michael Simmons, Gabrielle Angela Marback-Pehler
  • 2017: Joshua Altshuler, Sara Temple, Ljubica Basica, Thomas Dowling
  • 2016: Rebeca Martinez, Huiyi Chen, William A. Ringhofer, Junyi Tang
  • 2015: Allyson R. Cubr, Katherine E. Bora, Jasmine S. Kirby, Nicholas A. Cohen
  • 2014: Ryan D. Fane, Emily A. Matlak, Alexander F. Berk, Julia M. O'Brien
  • 2013: Erik D. Bingham, Sarah K. Correiter, Michael C. Burk, David A. Rahimi

Robert W. Johannsen Scholarship for Promising Senior Honors Thesis Research

This endowment was established by professor Johannsen’s students and colleagues, to provide an opportunity for a superior undergraduate history major to work in depth in the campus library and special collections in any field of United States history. This scholarship is awarded annually to an Honors student with junior standing, for the support of work on a senior thesis. 

Amount

$2500

One award per year; on occasion funds may allow for 2 awards per year.

Scholarship money will be paid in the summer before the student’s senior year, to help support research on the thesis.

Requirements & Application

To be considered for this scholarship you must:

  • Be a junior in History in the Honors Program
  • Have completed 60 hours of coursework at the University of Illinois
  • Provide a 250-500 word essay on your senior thesis research plan and the way it relates to United States History
  • Have a minimum 3.5 GPA in History 
  • Submit a faculty member who can serve as a reference

Application

To apply for the Johannsen Scholarship please fill out our application form. 

Apply to the Johannsen Scholarship

Past Recipients

  • 2026: Max Kogan
  • 2025: Rosette Pavkov
  • 2024: Katelyn Barbour, James Perkovich
  • 2023: Devin Manley, Julie Matuszewski
  • 2022: Muskaan Siddique, Quinn Searsmith
  • 2021: Render Symanski, Ruth Sussman
  • 2020: Kassidy Mahoney
  • 2019: Rubab Hyder
  • 2018: Hanna Jin, Brandon Nakashima
  • 2017: Bennett Stewart
  • 2015: Nicholas A. Cohen
  • 2014: Ryan D. Fane
  • 2013: Steven A. Grosso

Thomas A. Manning Memorial Scholarship

This endowment was established by Jean M. Manning to help make education more affordable for the University of Illinois students and to honor the memory of her brother, Thomas A. Manning. Thomas earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois. He combined his love of history with his love of travel and good wine. He would often give presentations on topics including the history of the wines of ancient Rome.

Amount

$1000

One award per year.

Requirements & Application

To be considered for this scholarship you must:

  • Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Students must require financial need to be eligible.
  • Be a history major and completed 15 hours of History related coursework
  • Provide a 250-word essay explaining why history or history education is your chosen major
  • Have one letter of reference 

Application

To apply for the Manning Memorial Scholarship please fill out our application form. 

Apply to the Manning Memorial Scholarship

Past Recipients

  • 2026: LiAn Barclay
  • 2025: David Ju
  • 2024: Will Doty, Jai O'Dell
  • 2022: Anna Rataj
  • 2021: Annabella Nelson

Winton U. Solberg Family 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 a promising undergraduate student studying or interested in American history.

Amount

$4000

One award per year.

Requirements & Application

To be considered for this scholarship you must:

  • Be a junior or senior in History 
  • Have completed 60 hours of coursework at the University of Illinois; transfer students must have completed 30 hours of coursework at the University of Illinois
  • Submit resume
  • Provide a 250-500 word essay on your interest in American History
  • Have a minimum GPA of 3.75 in History coursework

Application

To apply for the Solberg Family Scholarship please fill out our application form. 

Apply to the Solberg Family Scholarship

Past Recipients

  • 2026: Christine Park
  • 2025: Coralyn Johnson
  • 2024: Colin Stanhope

Winton U. Solberg History Award

This scholarship, named in honor of Professor Winton Solberg (1922-2019) and funded through the generosity of the Solberg family, will be awarded to a promising undergraduate student majoring in History demonstrating academic excellence.

Amount

$750

One award per year.

Requirements & Application

To be considered for this scholarship you must:

  • Be a junior or senior in History
  • Have completed 60 hours of coursework at the University of Illinois; transfer students must have completed 30 hours of coursework at the University of Illinois
  • Submit resume
  • Provide a 250-word essay explaining why history or history education is your chosen major
  • Have a minimum GPA of 3.75 in History coursework

Application

To apply for the Solberg History Scholarship please fill out our application form. 

Apply to the Solberg History Scholarship

Past Recipients

  • 2026: Ava Buckley
  • 2025: Rosette Povkov
  • 2024: James Perkovich

Winton U. Solberg Memorial 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 a promising undergraduate student studying or interested in American history.

Amount

At least $500, amount will vary from year to year.

One award per year.

Requirements & Application

To be considered for this scholarship you must:

  • Be a junior or senior in History
  • Have taken 15 hours of coursework in American History at the University of Illinois
  • Have a minimum GPA of 3.75 in those American History courses
  • Submit resume
  • Provide a 250-500 word essay on your interest in American History

Application

To apply for the Solberg Memorial Scholarship please fill out our application form. 

Apply to the Solberg Memorial Scholarship

Past Recipients

  • 2026: Lyndon Shi
  • 2025: Grace Denton
  • 2024: Joe Griffith