Our generous alumni have made the following awards and scholarships available to current Department of History students. To endow a new award or scholarship, please contact the department chair.
Applications are due mid–Spring semester (we’ll share the exact deadline by email and on social media). Awards are competitive, and recipients are notified at the end of the Spring semester.
Please be sure to review and follow the specific requirements for each scholarship before applying.
Undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a degree in History with high financial need will be considered for the Scholarship. The award will rotate; Odd years for undergraduates and even years for graduate students.
Professor David Blight is a distinguished professor and scholar of History and alumnus of the MSU History Department. The Scholarship is intended to support students in the History Department and encourage students who have demonstrated the capacity to achieve educational and professional goals, the motivation to achieve these goals, and the initiative to seek opportunities to further their progress.
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.
Amber Walker 2026, Megumi Togashi 2025, Jayson Otto 2024, Ayden Ferris 2023, Delayne Bassett 2022, Moses Massenburg 2022, Willem Conner 2021.
The intended recipient is a disadvantaged student from the state of Michigan who is a History major at Michigan State.
The award honors the late Professor Bailey, who was a professor of American intellectual and religious history in the Department of History at Michigan State for many years.
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.
Kenzie Cole 2026, Delaney Cram 2025, Megan Smejkal 2024, Alivia Young 2023, Ayden Ferris 2022, Makenzie Jacobs 2021, Makenzie Jacobs 2020, Willem Conner 2019, Allie Pail 2018.
Recipients shall be undergraduate or graduate students in the Department of History who have a strong interest in Transportation History.
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.
Maxwell Benneh 2026, Emmanuel Ankomahene 2025, Joe Konczal 2024, Joe Konczal 2023, Katie Carline 2022, Dani Willcutt 2021, Ramon Miranda-Beltran 2020, Liao Zhang 2019, Ramya Swayamprakash 2018, Anthony Padovano 2017, and Duncan Tarr 2016.
Undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a degree in History with high financial need will be considered for the Scholarship. The award will rotate; Odd years for undergraduates and even years for graduate students.
Professor David Blight is a distinguished professor and scholar of History and alumnus of the MSU History Department. The Scholarship is intended to support students in the History Department and encourage students who have demonstrated the capacity to achieve educational and professional goals, the motivation to achieve these goals, and the initiative to seek opportunities to further their progress.
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.
Amber Walker 2026, Megumi Togashi 2025, Jayson Otto 2024, Ayden Ferris 2023, Delayne Bassett 2022, Moses Massenburg 2022, Willem Conner 2021.
Recipients shall be undergraduate or graduate students in the Department of History who have a strong interest in Transportation History.
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.
Maxwell Benneh 2026, Emmanuel Ankomahene 2025, Joe Konczal 2024, Joe Konczal 2023, Katie Carline 2022, Dani Willcutt 2021, Ramon Miranda-Beltran 2020, Liao Zhang 2019, Ramya Swayamprakash 2018, Anthony Padovano 2017, and Duncan Tarr 2016.
The Department of History has established the Richard E. Sullivan Endowed Award for Teaching Excellence to honor members of the faculty who exemplify excellence in teaching and perform duties of advisor and mentor at an extraordinary level.
Michelle Moyd 2026, Walter Hawthorne 2025, LaShawn Harris 2024, Lisa Fine 2023, Michael Stamm 2022, Peter Knupfer 2021, Ronen Steinberg 2020, Pero Dagbovie 2019, Susan Sleeper-Smith 2018, Lewis Siegelbaum 2017, Karrin Hanshew 2016, Peter Alegi 2015, Leslie Page Moch 2014, Laura Fair 2013.
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The award funds annually the research of a student in the History Scholars Program, or if determined by the department, a promising student majoring in History with a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Anthony E. Woods, Sr. and his wife Mary Joan Woods are the late parents of MSU alumnus Anthony E. Woods, Jr. Tony, Sr. served in World War II. After the war, he married Mary Mary Joan, who as an English teacher with Tony at Mt. Clemens High School in Michigan. The couple later moved to Dearborn, where they both continued teaching. Anthony Woods, Jr. and Kay Samuelson Woods have established this scholarship in honor of Tony, Sr. and Mary Joan. The scholarship honors their legacy of teaching and philanthropy. It is the first established by a donor to support the History Scholars Program.
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.
Parker Wilson 2026, Kara Hwang 2025, Joe Konczal 2024, Jonah Wiegand 2023, Aaron Pap 2022, Rebecca Yeomans-Stephenson 2021, Jakob Myers 2020, Samantha Fethka 2019, Brett Binkowski 2018, Anna Cumming 2017, Haley Keefer 2016.
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.”
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.
Please submit (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.
Carly Madden 2026, Madalene Garneau 2025, Rashad Bates 2024, Rebecca Yeomans-Stephenson 2023, Katherine Denzin 2022, Thomas Crain 2021, Jon-Claude Howd 2020, Brett Binkowski 2019, Samantha Fethke 2018, Zachariah Torrey 2017, Dylan Border 2016.
This award 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.
Rocco Pyskoty 2026, Megumi Togashi 2025, Kendall Brach 2024, Kendall Brach 2023, Alivia Young 2022, LiChail Gaines 2021, Willem Connor 2020, Ashley Highland 2019, Allie Pail 2018, Manon Steel 2017, Dylan Border 2016.
This award 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.
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.
Andrew Palmer 2025, Kendall Brach 2024, Megan Smejkal 2023, Rebecca Yeoman-Stephenson 2022, Wisdom Henry and Leah Welch 2021, Wisdom Henry 2020, Brett Binkowski 2019, Matthew Brazier 2018, Zachariah Torrey 2017, Haley Keefer 2016.
The award is for History students participating in the Department’s Study Abroad Programs. Applicants should have an overall GPA of 2.75 and a History GPA of 3.25.
This award honors the late Professor Sweeney, who led MSU Study Abroad Programs to Great Britain for many years.
Please submit a 250-500 word essay discussing reasons for wishing to study abroad and a letter of recommendation from a member of the History Department faculty.
Haley Kurak 2026, Katherine Dyal 2025, Domenic Cedilo 2024, Rashad Bates 2023, Evan Coberly 2020, Wisdom Henry 2019, Billy Wetzel 2018, Allie Pail 2017, Elizabeth Schondelmayer 2016.
This honor gives an award to an undergraduate or graduate student with initiatives to promote diversity programs or activities related to the History Department’s participation in or collaboration with the university’s Jewish Studies Program.
Please submit, (1) a letter of application, stating your interest in and eligibility for the scholarship and (2) submit two letters of recommendation, at least one from a member of the History Department faculty.
Sally Parampottil 2026, Yun Zou 2025, Bernie Moore 2024, McKayla Sluga 2022, Robin Crigler 2021, Ashley Highland and Sean Wright 2019, Janelle Edwards 2018, Anna Cumming 2017, Bradley Isakson and Micaela Procopio 2016, Elizabeth Timbs 2015, David Walton 2014, Lindsey Gish 2013, Jennifer Marlow 2012
The David LoRomer Prize, which is awarded to the best paper written by an undergraduate in a History course during the past year.
Please submit your paper for consideration.
Kara Hwang 2026, Korinne Dyer 2025, Anna le Page 2024, Sophie Alegi 2023, Michael Schiestel 2022, Jakob Myers 2021, Brett Binkowski 2020.
The Rout-Williams Award in history remembers Dr. Les Rout, one of the first African American professors in the department, and Dr. Frederick Williams, former chair of the department, honors an outstanding history sophomore.
Nicole Butkovich 2026, Lucy Burnett 2025, Domenic Cedillo 2024, Jared Visser 2023, Josh Morrisey 2022, Sophie Alegi 2021, Leah Welch & Evan Coberly 2020, Michael Vorwald 2019, Rachel Lawrence 2018, Alyse Arnold 2017, Trenton Koch 2016.
This honor gives an award to an undergraduate or graduate student with initiatives to promote diversity programs or activities related to the History Department’s participation in or collaboration with the university’s Jewish Studies Program.
Please submit, (1) a letter of application, stating your interest in and eligibility for the scholarship and (2) submit two letters of recommendation, at least one from a member of the History Department faculty.
Sally Parampottil 2026, Yun Zou 2025, Bernie Moore 2024, McKayla Sluga 2022, Robin Crigler 2021, Ashley Highland and Sean Wright 2019, Janelle Edwards 2018, Anna Cumming 2017, Bradley Isakson and Micaela Procopio 2016, Elizabeth Timbs 2015, David Walton 2014, Lindsey Gish 2013, Jennifer Marlow 2012
This award honors former professor of history and Head of the Honors College, Donald Lammers by recognizing graduate students who plan a teaching career at the college or university level as exemplified by Prof. Lammers, a scholar and teacher of British empire and international relations. The graduate student in good standing who receives the award, promises – through their research interests and related activities – to improve our knowledge and historical understanding of the nature and dynamics of international and intercultural relationships in any geographical region or time period.
Please submit a letter indicating your interest in the award and a current CV.
Zachary Cho 2026, Henry Fagan 2025, Ryan Carty 2024, Yun Zou 2023, Lucy Austin 2022, Akil Cornelius 2021, Caitlin Barker 2020, Tara Reyelts 2019, David Glovsky 2018, John Doyle-Raso 2017, Jorge Felipe Gonzalez 2016, Shaonan Liu 2015, Brian VanWyck 2014, Ella Fratatuono 2013, Jill Kelly 2012, Harry Odamtten 2010.
This award honors emeritus professor of history Dr. Fred Williams and is intended to recognize a graduate teaching assistant who plans a teaching career in History at the college or university level, with preference given to the teaching of American history.
Applicants should submit a cover letter, teaching philosophy, student evaluations of their teaching, and a syllabus.
Jada Gannaway 2026, Jayson Otto 2025, Gloria Ashaolu 2024, McKayla Sluga 2023, Ramya Swayamprakash 2022, Jen Andrella 2021, Alyssa Lopez 2020, Eddie Bonilla 2019, Aaron Luedtke 2018, Ryan Huey 2017, Sara Bijani 2016, Christine Neejer 2015, Jewell Debnam 2014, Laura Cuppone and Natalie Rose 2013, Rebecca Koerselman, 2012, Erika Jackson & Lauren Kientz 2010.
This award is designed to recognize assistants who plan a teaching career in History (with preference given to the teaching of European history) at the college or university level.
Please submit a letter indicating your interest in the award, a sample syllabus, and a current C.V.
Tobias Awiti 2026, Jada Gannaway 2025, Marissa Knaak 2024, Gloria Ashaolu 2023, Marlo Buser 2022, McKayla Sluga 2021, Lucy Austin 2020, Sarah Jacobson 2019, Heather Brothers 2018, Liao Zhang 2017, Emily Elliott 2016, Brian Van Wyck 2015, Alison Kolodzy and Douglas Priest 2014, Devlin Scofield 2013, Laura Cuppone & Benjamin Bruehwiler, 2012, Benjamin Sawyer (Fall), Bethany Hicks (Spring), 2010.
Milton E. Muelder Fellowship is awarded to a graduate student pursuing a Ph.D. in a field of European, Middle Eastern, and/or history of the Arabic/Islamic World.
Recipients of the fellowship must be U.S. citizens and have received their Master’s degree or its equivalent. Preference will be given to applicants with reading knowledge of two European languages.
Please submit a cover letter explaining your suitability for the award, a dissertation abstract, and a research or writing plan for the year in which the funds will be used.
Bryttany Grimes 2026, Joseph Karisny 2025, Marlo Buser 2024, Marissa Knaak 2023, James Chrislip 2022, Joe Karisny 2021, John Vsetecka 2020, Judith Marshall 2019, Brian VanWyck 2018, Sarah Jacobson 2017, Heather Brothers 2016, Emily Elliott 2015.
Awards a graduate student of American history who has demonstrated academic excellence. Applicants will be assessed on their accomplishments at MSU (GPA, academic citizenship, time-to-degree trajectory) as well as on evidence of external recognition (grants and fellowships, participation in major conferences, peer-reviewed and invited articles).
Please provide a cover letter explaining your suitability for the award, a C.V., and a dissertation abstract.
David Marchionni 2026, Gloria Ashaolu 2025, Jada Gannaway 2024, Samantha Smith 2023, McKayla Sluga 2022, Jasmin Howard 2021, Jen Andrella 2020, Aaron Luedtke 2019, Eddie Bonilla 2018; Jorge Felipe Gonzalez 2017, Kathryn Lankford 2016, Jacob Jurss 2015, Christine Neejer 2014, Jewell Debnam 2013, Jennifer Gonzalez, 2012, Jennifer Barclay, 2010.
This award is given to a graduate student who writes the best paper in a seminar in the year of the award.
Please submit the original seminar paper. The paper should not be revised, but rather identical to the one that was submitted during the seminar.
Omar Sarr 2026, Joseph Eshun 2025, Emmanuel Ankomahene 2024, Eric Kesse 2023, Jayson Otto 2022, Ajamu Dillahuntholloway 2021, Abdoulie Jabang 2020, Bernard Moore 2019, John Doyle-Raso 2018; Robin Crigler 2017, Anh Le 2016; Tara Reyelts 2015, Elizabeth Timbs 2014; Christine Neejer and James Porter 2013, Laura Cuppone 2012.
The award is given to a graduate student, preferably one with a focus or concentration in Asian History, who is in good standing with the department, has an exemplary academic record, and is also recognized as an effective and motivational teacher.
Awarded in memory of Prof. So, an internationally known historian and specialist of the Ming dynasty, who for twenty-eight years also taught countless courses on the history of Japan, China, and Korea here at MSU.
Please submit a cover letter explaining your suitability for the award, a C.V., dissertation abstract, teaching philosophy, and student evaluations of their teaching.
Lucy Cai 2026, Daniel Fandino 2024, Caitlin Barker 2023, Yun Zou 2022, Erica Holt 2021, Patrick Buck 2020, Adam Coldren 2019, Shaonan Liu 2018, Helen Kaibara 2017, Anh Le 2016, Liao Zhang 2015, John Somerville 2014, Elizabeth Dutridge-Corp 2013, Helen Kaibara, 2012.
This Madison Kuhn award is intended to fund a second or third-year graduate student’s pre-dissertation research. By doing so, it seeks to encourage students who have demonstrated the capacity to achieve educational and professional goals, the motivation to achieve these goals, and the initiative to seek opportunities to further their progress.
Applicants must have a min. GPA of 3.75 and submit two letters of recommendation along with a proposal for the pre-dissertation research to be conducted. In the case of a tie, preference will be given to an Americanist.
Joseph Eshun 2026, David Marchionni 2025, Henry Fagan 2024, Jada Gannaway 2023, Samantha Smith 2022, Christopher Shell 2021, Dani Willcutt 2020, McKayla Sluga 2019, Jennifer Andrella 2018; Ramya Swayamprakash 2017, Janelle Edwards 2016, Kathryn Lankford-Hutcheson 2015, David Bennett 2014, Caroyln Pratt 2013, Jewell Debnam 2012.
This award is for the recruitment of new graduate students with demonstrated financial need, as determined by the federal government, for study in History at MSU.
Zachary Cho 2022, Yun Zou 2020, Marissa Knaak 2019, Joseph Karisny 2018, Ramon Miranda-Beltran 2017.