Awards

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. The deadline for spring applications is April 16, 2021. 

The Friends of History 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.

Friends of History Scholarship Awards

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.  All History majors in good standing are eligible to apply. What kinds of research may be funded? These grants are especially suitable for students planning or doing research on a Senior Honors Thesis,...

Jayne and Richard Burkhardt Scholarship originates from a gift to the Department by the Burkhardt family whose intention was to “provide funds the History Department could use to encourage undergraduate students to pursue history majors.”

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. The deadline for submissions is April 30, 5pm, 2022.

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.   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,...

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 Academic Advisor in History, 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 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. Applications for the scholarship must be addressed to the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Professor Ralph Mathisen (ralphwm@illinois.edu).  Each...

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. Recipients are determined by the Director of Undergraduate Studies, in consultation with the Academic Advisor.