College of Arts and Sciences

Undergraduate Scholarships

Charles G. Sadler History Memorial Scholarship

Criteria:

  • Incoming freshman, enrolled full-time
  • Minimum ACT composite score of 27 or an ACT composite of 22 and a high school class rank in the top 10 percent
  • Declared History Major
  • Demonstrated outstanding student based on activities and community service

Terms:

$1,250 per year for four (4) years

Selection Process:

Recipients will be chosen by the Department of History Scholarship Committee 

Applications and Inquiries:

Department Chair
Department of History
Western Illinois University
1 University Circle
Morgan Hall 438
Macomb, IL  61455
309/298-1053
TM-Roberts@wiu.edu

Is this Award or Scholarship Renewable?

Yes, up to three (3) years

What are the Criteria for Renewal?

  • Maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Remain a History Major
  • Have taken at least two history courses during the previous academic year

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Judy Ellen Denton Thompson Writing Award

The prize was established by Professor Bill Thompson of the WIU Libraries and is named in honor of his mother. Papers from the Fall or Spring semester qualify.

In awarding the prize, the History Department's scholarship committee considers papers nominated by History faculty for the quality of research, excellence in writing, and sophistication of argument. Please consider submitting your students' best work for this honor. The prize carries a $250 award.

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Emily V. Leonard History Memorial Scholarship

Criteria:

  • Incoming freshman, enrolled full-time
  • Minimum ACT composite of 23
  • Declared History Major
  • Demonstrated potential in the field of History

Terms:

$1,333 per year for four (4) years

Selection Process:

Recipients will be chosen by the Department of History Scholarship Committee 

Applications and Inquiries:

Department Chair
Department of History
Western Illinois University
1 University Circle
Morgan Hall 438
Macomb, IL  61455
309/298-1053
TM-Roberts@wiu.edu

Is this Award or Scholarship Renewable?

Yes, up to three (3) years

What are the Criteria for Renewal?

  • Maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Remain a History Major
  • Have taken at least two history courses during the previous academic year

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Gordon W. Kirk Honors History Scholarship

Criteria:

The purpose of this endowment fund is to recruit incoming Freshman majoring in history. Participation in the Centennial Honors College is encouraged. To be eligible, a student must:

  • Be a History Major
  • First Preference to an entering Freshman who qualifies for the Centennial Honors Program
  • Second Preference to a Transfer student who qualifies for the Centennial Honors Program, if the first preference is unavailable
  • Third Preference is to a current student with an overall GPA of at least 3.4

Terms:

This scholarship is to be awarded annually through an EFT payment 1/2 fall and 1/2 spring. The scholarship is to be award as four annual scholarships at $1,500 each ($750 fall/$750 spring), making the entire scholarship for each student $6000.

Selection Process:

Using the prioritized criteria, selection will be based on academic credentials. Selection of the award recipient(s) each year shall be made by the Department of History at Western Illinois University.

Applications and Inquiries:

Department Chair
Department of History
Western Illinois University
1 University Circle
Morgan Hall 438
Macomb, IL 61455
309/298-1053
TM-Roberts@wiu.edu

Deadline for Applications:

  • First Monday of April (for fall awards)
  • First Monday of November (for spring awards)

Is this Award or Scholarship Renewable?

Yes

What are the Criteria for Renewal?

Renewal is automatic as long as the criteria are met

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History Teacher Education Scholarship

Criteria:

  • History Education Major
  • Entering or in the semester of their student teaching

Terms:

The dollar amount and number of awards is determined by the department based on available funds.

Selection Process:

All students who meet this criteria will receive the award. Should the award become competitive, additional criteria will be added in order to select recipients

Applications, Inquiries, Deadline:

Department Chair
Department of History
Western Illinois University
1 University Circle
Morgan Hall 438
Macomb, IL  61455
309/298-1053
TM-Roberts@wiu.edu

Is this Award or Scholarship Renewable?

No

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Larry Balsamo Scholarship

Criteria:

  • Incoming freshman
  • Enrolled full-time
  • Minimum composite of 25
  • Plan to major in history teacher certification
  • Demonstrated leadership or civic duty through activities or community service

Terms:

$1,500 per year for five (5) years

Selection Process:

Recipients will be chosen by the Department of History Scholarship Committee

Applications and Inquiries:

Department Chair
Department of History
Western Illinois University
1 University Circle
Morgan Hall 438
Macomb, IL  61455
309/298-1053
TM-Roberts@wiu.edu

Is this Award or Scholarship Renewable?

Yes, up to four (4) years

What are the Criteria for Renewal?

  • Minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Remain in history teacher education
  • Show progress toward graduation

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Linda E. Janus Scholarship in History

Criteria: 

  • History Major, enrolled full-time
  • Minimum GPA of 3.0
  • Demonstrated financial need

Terms:

This is a progressive scholarship award beginning with $2,000 in the first year; $3,000 in the second year; $4,000 in the third year and $5,000 in the fourth year if the student meets the requirements each year. Funding will be disbursed half in the fall and half in the spring. It will be applied to the student's account.

Selection Process:

Application forms are to be submitted to the Department of History. The recipients are selected by the Department of History Recruitment and Scholarship Committee.

Applications and Inquiries:

Department Chair
Department of History
Western Illinois University
1 University Circle
Morgan Hall 438
Macomb, IL  61455
309/298-1053
TM-Roberts@wiu.edu

Deadline for Applications:

April 1st for consideration for the following Fall semester

Is this Award or Scholarship Renewable?

Yes if the student maintains the original requirements

What are the Criteria for Renewal?

  • Maintain at least a 3.0 GPA
  • Is a History Major
  • In financial need

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Richard D. & Janet L. Boynton History Honors Thesis Award

Criteria:

  • Junior or Senior History Major
  • Member of Centennial Honors College completing upper-division Honors in History or completing University Honors in History
  • Enrolled in History 490H (Honors Thesis) during semester award is given
  • Minimum 3.6 cumulative GPA at time of application

Terms:

  • A one-semester $500 award for an Honors History major to be awarded via EFT during the semester in which he/she completes the honors thesis
  • During the semester in which any Honors History major is enrolled in HIST490 (Honors Thesis in History), the student may apply to the History Department Chair for up to $250 in History Honors Thesis Research grant funds, to be awarded via EFT, to defray expenses related to the student's Honors thesis research.

Selection Process

  • The $500 History Honors Thesis Award will be awarded near the end of each semester to the student whose thesis is selected as the most outstanding that semester
  • The selection committee for the $500 Award is to be composed of at least three members of the History faculty who have supervised Honors theses
  • Students applying for a History Honors Thesis Research Grant will submit to the History Department Chair a brief (one-page) proposal, explaining the nature of their research, its significance, and an explanation of the research expenses involved in the Honors thesis research
  • The number of History Honors Thesis Research Grants that will be approved by the History Department Chair each semester will depend on the availability of funds

Applications and Inquiries:

Department Chair
Department of History
Western Illinois University
1 University Circle
Morgan Hall 438
Macomb, IL  61455
309/298-1053
TM-Roberts@wiu.edu

Deadline:

Working draft of complete honors thesis due to selection committee by December 5 (for Fall graduation) or May 5 (for Spring graduation)

Is this Award or Scholarship Renewable?

No

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Susan F. & Clifford H. Haka History Student Opportunity Award

Application

Criteria:

  • Enrolled full time undergraduate student during the semester the award is given
  • History Major
  • Have completed at least 30 semester hours, at least 15 of which must have been completed at WIU by the semester the Haka award is given
  • Have been endorsed by a member of the History faculty as having strong academic potential
  • Have a minimum 3.0 GPA for courses completed at WIU
  • Qualify as having financial need to support direct educational necessities, such as the purchase of textbooks or payment of tuition and other fees, as determined by the WIU Scholarship Director

Additional Information:

Award amount is $2,000

Terms:

Available for the fall and spring semesters

Selection Process:

Recipients will be chosen by the Department of History Scholarship Committee 

Applications and Inquiries:

Department Chair
Department of History
Western Illinois University
1 University Circle
Morgan Hall 438
Macomb, IL  61455
309/298-1053
TM-Roberts@wiu.edu

Is this Award or Scholarship Renewable?

No

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Victor & Mary Hicken History Scholarship

Criteria:

  • Declared History Major
  • Completed a minimum 60 semester hours (junior standing) at time of initial award
  • Three letters of recommendation submitted to the Department of History Chair
  • Writing sample (no more than 10 pages in length) originally submitted for credit in a History course
  • Have a minimum 3.5 GPA and maintain a 3.5 GPA during the award period

Terms:

Approximately $2,500 per year for up to two (2) years

Additional Comments:

Applicants cannot be recipients of the Leonard, Sadler or Balsamo Scholarships in the Department of History

Selection Process:

Recipients will be chosen by the Department of History Scholarship Committee

Applications and Inquiries:

Department Chair
Department of History
Western Illinois University
1 University Circle
Morgan Hall 438
Macomb, IL  61455
309/298-1053
TM-Roberts@wiu.edu

Is this Award or Scholarship Renewable?

Yes, for up to one (1) additional year

What are the Criteria for Renewal?

  • Maintain at least a 3.5 GPA
  • Remain a History Major

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William & Doris Burton Writing Award in History

Criteria:

  • Any class level is eligible
  • No GPA requirements
  • Can be any university major
  • Must be enrolled in a History class during semester of award
  • There is no citizenship requirements

Terms:

The William and Doris Burton Writing Award shall be awarded biannually based on the availability of funds with a recommendation of at least a $500 award in the Fall and Spring semester. The Fall semester prize will be reserved for graduate students, and the Spring semester prize is for undergraduates. Students are not eligible to receive this award in consecutive semesters. Award recipients will be paid via DPA; winners are responsible for any and all taxes associated with the prize.

Selection Process

Recipient(s) chosen by the Department of History Scholarship Committee 

Applications and Inquiries:

Department Chair
Department of History
Western Illinois University
1 University Circle
Morgan Hall 438
Macomb, IL  61455
309/298-1053
TM-Roberts@wiu.edu

Deadline for Applications:

Contact the Department of History

Is this Award or Scholarship Renewable?

No

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Graduate Scholarships

Darrell & Virginia Dykstra Memorial Scholarship 

Criteria:

  • New or returning full-time graduate student in History
  • 3.25 GPA in History courses previous to application
  • Undergraduate degree in History
  • Letter of application of up to 500 words indicating the student’s interest in graduate study of history
  • Letter of recommendation from a professor of history at WIU or another institution

Terms:

The award amount will be determined by the annual interest earnings on the endowment, currently approximately $5,500, to be applied to the student's university account, half in the fall and half in the spring.

Should the recipient not retain G.P.A. eligibility, the selection committee will choose another recipient from applications received.

Selection Process:

The recipient will be selected by the Department of History Graduate Committee

Applications and Inquiries:

Graduate Coordinator
Department of History
Western Illinois University
1 University Circle
Morgan Hall 438
Macomb, IL  61455
309/298-1053
P-Cole@wiu.edu

Deadline for Application:

March 1 of each year

Is this Award or Scholarship Renewable?

Yes

What are the Criteria for Renewal?

The scholarship is renewable for a second year provided criteria is met

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David P. Pasquini Award

Criteria:

  • Student currently teaching full time
  • In M.A. History program
  • Letter of application of up to 500 words indicating how graduate study in history contributes to the applicant's teaching
  • Outstanding contributions to the field of history and/or the department

Terms:

Award amount is $1,500

Selection Process:

Recipients will be chosen by the Department of History Graduate Committee

Deadline for Application:

March 1 of each year

Applications and Inquiries:

Graduate Coordinator
Department of History
Western Illinois University
1 University Circle
Morgan Hall 438
Macomb, IL  61455
309/298-1053
P-Cole@wiu.edu

Is this Award or Scholarship Renewable?

No

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