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Undergraduate History Student Scholarships and Awards

In addition to scholarships offered by the university and the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, our department offers program specific scholarships in history. Scholarships are given out in the fall and spring semesters each year. You can find more details on each scholarship and how to apply for them below! 

Do you have a historical research project that you want to develop as a senior thesis or other in-depth project? Apply for our research scholarships! Applications are accepted each fall. The funds will be credited to each winner's Virginia Tech bursar’s account in the spring semester and will be applied to their university accounts. You can apply for both scholarships but must submit a separate application for each. Be sure to keep an eye on your email in the fall semester for the call for applications and the deadline. If you have questions, contact Carmen Gitre at cgitre@vt.edu. 

Environmental History Scholarship:

This scholarship, established by alumnus Jeffrey D. Rudd to “recognize environmental history’s value to students and society,” supports history majors undertaking advanced undergraduate research in the field of environmental history. Research might consider historical topics related to: the role of the state in environmental change; how social/political/economic systems affect the natural world; health, disease and the body; food, energy, and water systems; the built environment; manufacturing, extractive industries, and transportation systems; pollution or toxic waste; environmental sciences; human-environmental and human-animal interactions; and environmental policy and management. First Place: $3,000.  Honorable Mention: $700.  (monetary amounts are subject to change)

Undergraduate Research Scholarship:

This scholarship funds research for history majors creating an original senior thesis, honors thesis, or advanced digital project on any historical topic. This scholarship was established by alumnus Jeffrey D. Rudd in gratitude for the “benefits his education have afforded him” and to “encourage, support, and reward excellence in undergraduate research in the field of history.”  First place: $1,600. Honorable Mention: $500.  (monetary amounts are subject to change)

What you need to apply: 

  • Be a history major of junior or senior standing
  • A well-conceived, viable, and well-written research project proposal
  • A preliminary plan for the research and writing
  • A History Department faculty member who agrees to mentor your project and approves your proposal. Make sure you reach out to your selected faculty member well before the deadline! Not sure how to find a faculty member? If your proposed project is something you worked on in a class, consider contacting the professor who taught the class. You may also ask a faculty member who works in an area of interest. When you contact them, share your project idea and plan concisely and clearly.

Your completed application should include the following: 

  1.  A current resume, including academic honors and awards, and any relevant work or research experience.
  2.  A completed cover sheet, including the name and signature of the History faculty member who has reviewed your personal statement and agreed to serve as a thesis mentor. You will receive the cover sheet via email when the call for applications is sent out during the fall semester. If you still need one, contact csgarrella@vt.edu. 
  3.  A 500-750 world proposal that includes: 
    • Project title
    • Project overview, including the topic, central question, significance, and current representative source base, including primary and secondary sources               
    • Your research plan. What do you want to look into? Where will you do so? How might this research contribute to your project?
    • An explanation of how this research scholarship would contribute to your undergraduate education.
    • Optional: Share any financial need you may wish to disclose.

Save your application as a single PDF file. Email the PDF, using History Research Scholarship in the subject line, to csgarrella@vt.edu. 

Five awards are offered each spring semester: the Curtis Award, History Prize, Digital History Prize, James and Martha Banks Award, and Gallagher Award. While the Banks Award and Gallagher Award are only open to history majors, the other three are open to any undergraduate student at Virginia Tech! Awards will be publicly announced and presented to the winners at the history department's annual Spring Celebration event. 

Each award has its own criteria, noted below. To submit your application, please follow the instructions for your selected award. You can apply to multiple awards but must submit a separate application for each one. Be sure to follow instructions and submit a separate email for each prize you apply for. 

History Prize: Each year, Phi Alpha Theta and the history department recognize the Best Paper in History with the History Prize. The paper must be historical in nature, on any historical subject. Suggested length: 8-20 pages. Shorter and longer papers may be considered. Open to all Virginia Tech undergraduates, regardless of major. The winner receives $200 in scholarship funds. (monetary amounts are subject to change)

Submit your application for the History Prize via email to csgarrella@vt.edu. Use the subject line “History Prize.” In the body of the email, include your full name, the course in which you completed this project, and the instructor’s name. Attach a PDF file of the history paper you are submitting to the email. 

 

Curtis Award: The Curtis Award recognizes superior historical work that focuses on some aspect of the American Civil War or the History of Virginia. Entries might — but need not — have been submitted in history classes such as Historical Methods, History of the South, History of Appalachia, History of Virginia, or a 4000- level topics/research seminar course. This competition is open to all Virginia Tech undergraduates. The winner receives a certificate and $250 in scholarship funds. (monetary amounts are subject to change)

Submit your application for the Curtis Award via email to csgarrella@vt.edu. Use the subject line “Curtis Award.” In the body of the email, include your full name, the course in which you completed this project, and the instructor’s name. Attach a PDF file of the history paper you are submitting to the email. 

 

Digital History Prize: The Digital History Prize is open all undergraduate and graduate students. The project must have been produced as part of the work required in a History course. The project submitted may be the work of an individual or of a group. If you are submitting a project that was completed with a group, you must acknowledge your co-authors in the application. The winner receives a certificate and $250 in scholarship funds. (monetary amounts are subject to change)

Submit your application for the Digital History Prize via email to csgarrella@vt.edu. Use the subject line “Digital History Prize.” In the body of the email, include your full name, the course in which you completed this project, and the instructor’s name. Please also include or attach the URL of the project for which you wish to be recognized. For non-web-based projects, submit an electronic copy of your project (in some form that is representative of your work).

 

James and Martha Banks Award: The James and Martha Banks Award was established by Mac Banks in honor of his parents. James Banks is an avid history buff, and he and Martha are both involved in the Monroe County Historical Society. The Award recognizes a history major with an exceptional academic record and particular interest in American history, demonstrated through completion of a work of undergraduate research, thesis, public or digital history project or other equivalent project, including outreach. One student will be awarded a $500 prize. (monetary amounts are subject to change)

Submit your application for the Banks Award via email to csgarrella@vt.edu using the subject line “Banks Award.” Please include your full name, the course in which you completed this project, and the instructor’s name. Prepare the following as PDFs and attach:

  • A current resume
  • Your unofficial transcript
  • A personal statement (approx. 500 words) explaining your interest in American history
  • An example of your work that demonstrates your commitment to American history (for instance: a paper, digital, or public history project or documentation of outreach). 

 

Gallagher Award: The Patrica A. Gallagher History Scholarship was established by Kathleen Gallagher Ray in honor of her mother, Patricia A. Gallagher, who was a “devoted student of history.” It supports the academic career of exceptional history majors. The winner will receive a scholarship in the amount of $10,000. The scholarship will be applied to your term bill. (monetary amounts are subject to change)

Applicants of the Gallagher Award should: 

  • demonstrate academic excellence and a strong commitment to the discipline of History
  • be a history major
  • be a rising junior or rising senior. Students graduating in the same spring of the award are not eligible.
  • have completed at least 18 hours of history courses
  • have an overall GPA of 3.5 or above

Submit your application for the Gallagher Award via email to csgarrella@vt.edu using the subject line “Gallagher Award.” Please attach the following:

  • A 500-word statement of purpose that explains why you majored in history, describes relevant, history-related work or volunteer experience (including internships, undergraduate research, papers given), and explains what you hope to do with your degree when you graduate.
  • Current unofficial transcript (available via HokieSpa)
  • A PDF of a history paper/project
  • Current resume

Questions? Contact Carmen Gitre.