Departmental Scholarships for Undergraduates

• Sandra Sageser Clark Endowed Scholarship
• Robert and Catherine Workman Endowed Scholarship
• Harry Reed Endowed Scholarship
• Richard Gilder Scholarship
• Marian Aylesworth Scholarship

The SANDRA SAGESER CLARK ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP IN HISTORY is for “worthy and capable students enrolled at Michigan State University in the Department of History.” Sandra Sageser Clark is the Director of the Michigan Historical Center, a state agency that includes ten museums, the State Archives of Michigan and historic preservation, archeology and publications programs. She is the former editor of Michigan History Magazine and has served as president of the American Association for State and Local History. She is particularly interested in assisting students majoring in history who plan careers that will help the public discover, enjoy and find inspiration in their heritage through museums, archives, publications, historical preservation, and other public history programs.

Applicants should be History majors who will be juniors or seniors during the following academic year. Preference will be given to “students interested in careers in public history.”

Each application should include (1) a statement–approximately one page, typed, double-spaced–of the applicant’s interest in and engagement with public history and (2) two letters of recommendation. At least one recommendation must be from a professor of history at Michigan State. The second recommendation may be either from a professor of history at Michigan State or from the applicant’s supervisor in a public history activity.

The ROBERT AND CATHERINE WORKMAN ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP IN HISTORY is intended for students who have demonstrated financial need as determined by the University’s criteria, who are enrolled in the College of Social Science with a major in History, and who have achieved a minimum grade point average of 2.5, both cumulatively and in the last semester completed at MSU.

To apply for the Workman scholarship, please submit (1) a letter of application, stating your interest in and eligibility for the scholarship, (2) proof of your financial need, and (3) two letters of recommendation. At least one of the letters of recommendation should be from a professor in the Department of History; the other should be from someone who can also tell us about your academic performance.

The HARRY REED ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP IN HISTORY is intended for undergraduate history juniors with either African American history or American history as their major area of emphasis. Harry Reed is an Emeritus Professor of History at Michigan State.

To apply for the Reed Scholarship, please submit (1) a letter of application, stating your interest in and eligibility for the scholarship, and (2) two letters of recommendation.; At least one of the letters of recommendation should be from a professor in the Department of History; the other should be from someone who can also tell us about your academic performance.

The RICHARD GILDER SCHOLARSHIP honors Richard Gilder, a Wall Street stockbroker with a life-long interest in history who is co-founder of the Gilder-Lehrman Institute of American History and the Gilder-Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance and Abolition at Yale University.; The scholarship is intended for Michigan State University history majors who have completed a minimum of 90 credit hours, have a minimum grade point average of 3.4 overall and 3.5 in History courses and have completed HST 202 and 203 (or their equivalents).; Applicants must also have completed or be enrolled in at least three other U.S. history courses, at least two of them at the upper level.; Preference will be given to students whose career goals include pursuing a profession that focuses on American history through teaching, archiving, museum work or the like.

To apply for the Gilder Scholarship, please submit (1) a letter of application, stating your interest in and eligibility for the scholarship, and (2) two letters of recommendation.; At least one of the letters of recommendation should be from a professor of U.S. history in the Department of History; the other should be from someone who can also tell us about your academic performance.

Application for all four scholarships are due in the middle of Spring semester and will be considered by the Undergraduate Affairs Committee of the Department of History. The exact date on which applications are due each year is announced on Professor Tabuteau’s listserv.

There is no application form: your letter of application serves as your application form.

The MARIAN AYLESWORTH SCHOLARSHIP, founded by James D. and Sally A. Spaniolo to honor Marian Lee Aylesworth, a 1932 graduate of Michigan State University in the College of Arts and Letters by offering this award to academically motivated students enrolled in the College of Arts and Letters. Marian Lee Aylesworth instilled in her family a love for life long learning. Her perseverance, intellectual curiosity, and love for the humanities is reflected in the selection of recipients. This award is intended to encourage students who have demonstrated the capacity and motivation to achieve high educational and professional goals and the initiative to seek opportunities to further their progress.

Eligible students are notified by the College of Arts & Letters.  Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.5. Preference will be given to students majoring in English or History (Social Science History majors are eligible to apply) with membership in the Honors College. The amount of the award depends on available funds. The award will be credited during the tuition payment process. Application deadline is February 25, 5:00 p.m. If the date falls on a holiday or a weekend, the due date becomes the next business day.

Download the application here.

J. Morgan Sweeney Memorial Scholarship

• This award is for History students participating in Departments’ Study Abroad Programs. 2.75 GPA overall, and a 3.25 GPA in HST classes.
• Submit a 250-500 word essay discussing reasons for wishing to study abroad.  Provide letter of recommendation from a HST faculty member.

Irene Steindler Endowment in HST

• This award is for an Undergraduate with initiatives to promote diversity; programs or activities related to the Department’s participation in or collaboration with the University‘s Jewish Studies Program; increasing visibility of the Department to the public (visiting lectureships, webcasts, podcasts, etc.) faculty research and travel, and graduate research.