Scholarships and Awards
Scholarships
Awards
Award Winners
Applications
Scholarships
The Department awards four scholarships annually through competitive application for history and American studies majors.
Oscar H. Darter Scholarship in History by the Class of 1940
- In honor of their 50th class reunion, members of the Class of 1940 established the Oscar H. Darter Scholarship in History to help deserving students interested in history and world civilization. Professor Darter received the Ed. D. degree from the George Washington University and was chair of the History Department from 1926 until 1960. His history of Fredericksburg’s first century, Colonial Fredericksburg and Neighborhood in Perspective, was published in 1957.
Joseph C. Vance Memorial Scholarship in History
- Dr. William Bryan Crawley, Jr. and Dr. Theresa Young Crawley established this scholarship in memory of Dr. Joseph C. Vance. A World War II veteran who served on submarines in the Pacific, Dr. Vance was a member of the Department of History from 1960 until his retirement in 1987 and was department chairperson for more than a decade during his tenure.
James Farmer Scholarship
- Established to honor faculty member and civil rights leader James Farmer, Farmer Scholarships are awarded to students who exemplify in daily life, intended career field, and commitment to service to others the ideals espoused by Dr. Farmer, and who, as is the case with both Darter and Vance Scholarships, have a record of superior academic achievement. Established in 1999 by the College's Board of Visitors, the Farmer Scholarships honor Dr. Farmer's role in the Civil Rights Movement. Significant in his lifetime as one of the world's leading advocates of human rights was his founding of the Congress for Racial Equality and leading the Freedom Rides into the Deep South in the 1960s.
Hamlin A. Caldwell, Jr. Scholarship in History
- Family members and friends established a scholarship to honor Hamlin A. (“Ham”) Caldwell’s long service as an adjunct member of the faculty of the Department of History and American Studies after his death in 2005. A graduate of the Naval Academy and holder of three patents related to anti-submarine warfare, Caldwell was deeply interested in a wide range of social justice and environmental issues and committed to the open and intelligent discussion of public policies that pertained to them.
Awards
The Department recognizes students, particularly graduating seniors, who have achieved significant successes in the course of their academic work in history and American studies.
Phi Alpha Theta Award for Excellence in History. The local chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the history honorary society, recognizes the graduating senior with the highest GPA in history with its annual award.
Willie Lee Rose Award. Named in honor of distinguished aluma, historian, award-winning author, and long-time faculty member at Johns Hopkins University, the Rose award is made annually at graduation to the graduating senior who has provided outstanding leadership in the college and community and service to the programs of the department of history and American studies
Joseph Carroll Vance Award for Excellence in Historical Research. Dr. Vance taught in the Department for 27 years and was for 11 years its chairperson. The award which bears his name is awarded to the graduating senior whose thesis is judged to be the best for that year.
Almont Lindsey Award for Excellence in History. Named in honor of a former faculty member whose service to the College spanned three decades, the Lindsey Award is bestowed annually on a graduating senior in recognition of academic achievement and service to the department.
Glen R. Thomas Award for Excellence in American Studies. Named in honor of the founder of the American Studies program at the College, the Thomas Award is made annually to the graduating senior with the highest grade point average in American Studies.
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Award Winners
Pictures of 2007 Award Winners
Pictures of 2006 Award Winners
Pictures of 2005 Award Winners
Pictures of 2004 Award Winners
Pictures of 2003 Award Winners
Phi Alpha Theta Award for Excellence in History
2000 Matt Fitzpatrick
2001 Katherine Hunt
2002 Christina Barber
2003 Todd Casey
2004 Rachel Smith
2005 Michele Heimiller
2006 Lauren McCreedy
2007 Nicholas Ross & Philip Newton
Almont Lindsey Award for Excellence in History
1975 Elaine Marie Williams
1976 Jacquelynn R. Leggett
1977 Patricia Kay Jaggers
1978 Elizabeth Somerville
1979 Mitzi Gaye Turner
1980 Gayle Jean Pope
1981 John M. Coski
1982 Paula Jean Garten
1983 Victoria Via
1984 Susan Lyn Albert
1985 William Stanford Smith
1986 Bruce E. Loving
1987 Karon G. Joyner
1988 Anne-Marie Tracy
1989 Jodi Painter
1990 Lyn A. Mardsen
1991 Cheryl (Beth) Rabb
1992 Elizabeth C. Johnston and Liam J. Cleaver
1993 Selena S. Chon and Kristi E. Morin
1994 Jeffrey W. McClurken
1995 Heather Blake and Karen L. Waters
1996 Tonya A. Poole
1997 Sarah E. Ratliff and Kenneth T. Stout
1998 Matthew A. Anderson
1999 Amanda E. Craddock, Kevin T. Donovan, and Emily A. Smith
2000 Jessica D. Maddox
2001 Corie D. Tarbet
2002 Dana Angell
2003 Carisa McAllister
2004 Jennifer Howard
2005 Rachael Deane
2006 Paloma Bolasny
2007 Kati Singel
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Willie Lee Rose Award
2001 Melissa A. Wilson
2002 Jason Hickman
2003 Marcia Allison Jennings
2004 Jennifer Hammond
2005 Noah Cincinnati
2006 Emily Mushen
2007 Sarah Eckman
Joseph C. Vance Award for Excellence in Historical Research
1987 Kimberly D. Jones
1988 Marianne Quarles
1989 Jodi L. Painter
1990 Roger S. Mitchell
1991 Lisa A. Hohl and Mary Hutson
1992 Liam J. Cleaver
1993 Kevin R. Uphalde
1994 David L. Preston
1995 Karen L. Waters
1996 Roger C. Ward
1997 Theodore Jones III and Christa M. Brzozowski
1998 J. Cecelia Walthall
1999 Tyler L. Fall
2000 Matthew Fitzpatrick and Jessica D. Maddox
2001 Katherine A. Hunt
2002 Dana Angell
2003 Thomas Holloway
2004 Maryclaire Lindgren
2005 Noah Cincinnati
2006 Clint Woods
2007 Elizabeth Kuhl
Glen R. Thomas Award for Excellence in American Studies
1988 Philip A. Schmidt
1989 Chrissy E. LaDouce
1990 Kirsten J. Pedersen
1991 Elileen Lilly
1992 Michelle L. Moncure
1993 Wendy L. Ralph and Deena L. Rannazzisi
1994 Ann M. Donoghue
1995 Mark R. Duffy
1996 Melinda A. Voguit
1997 Heather E. Burnham
1998 Julie C. Armstrong
1999 Jessica Dawn Rueter
2000 Mary Frances Thomas
2001 Leigh R. Hightower
2002 Janelle Kennedy
2003 Todd Casey
2004 Lynn Nashorn
2005 Brad Frost
2006 Amy Miller
2007 Brandon Borkey
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Applications
Each scholarship application requires a 250-word essay about why one should be considered for that scholarship. See below for more information on the individual scholarships and the application essays. 2008-2009 applications are accepted here through April 9, 2008.
Oscar H. Darter Scholarship in History by the Class of 1940
The Oscar Darter Scholarship honors former faculty member and historian Oscar Darter and is awarded to a student interested in world history.
Joseph C. Vance Memorial Scholarship in History
The Joseph Carroll Vance Scholarship honors former department chairperson and historian Joe Vance and is awarded to a senior who is concentrating in American history.
[The Darter/Vance scholarships can be jointly applied for by writing a single essay explaining why you think you would be a good candidate for the Darter/Vance Scholarships.]
James Farmer Scholarship
The James Farmer Scholarship is awarded annually to a rising junior or senior major in the Department of History and American Studies. The criteria for the Farmer Scholarship, as stated by the Board of Visitors resolution establishing the award, are:
1. The recipient must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 or better in his or her major.
2. The recipient will be “an individual who exemplifies in daily life, intended career field, and commitment of service to others the ideals espoused and practiced by Dr. James Farmer through his lifetime as one of the world’s leading advocates of human rights.”
The application for this scholarship requires you to explain why you think you would be a good candidate for the Farmer Scholarship.
Hamlin A. Caldwell, Jr. Scholarship in History
The Hamlin A. “Ham” Caldwell, Jr. Scholarship is awarded annually to a junior or senior major in the Department of History and American Studies. The scholarship requires:
1. The recipient have and keep an overall GPA of 3.0 or better in his or her major.
2. The recipient be an individual whose academic work and career preparation reflect the concerns Professor Caldwell expressed for social justice and environmental issues and to the free, open and intelligent discussion of public policies and legislative actions related to them.
The application for this scholarship requires you to explain your career goals and how you think your academic coursework is preparing you to participate in the discussion of public policies that touch on social justice and environmental issues.