Undergraduate Fellowships, Prizes, and Awards

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Prizes

The History Department offers up to 10 undergraduate essay prizes designed to reward a broad range of undergraduate writing – from Senior Theses to term papers to specialized essays in German-Jewish history.  The deadline for 2012-13 submissions is April 15, 2013.  We offer prizes both for history majors and non-majors.

The prizes listed below are made possible thanks to the tremendous generosity of our alumni and former members of our faculty.  The History Department expresses its gratitude for their support in recognizing the achievements of our undergraduates.

**Submissions for prizes are now being accepted on a continuous timeline. Students may submit their work for up to a year after graduating, i.e.: Students who have not completed their final paper or senior thesis by the April deadline may submit their work to be considered in the following year’s competition at any time up until the following year’s deadline.**

Paul J. Schrag Prize ($200) for best undergraduate essay in German-Jewish history.

Baensch Prize ($500) for best essay on Wisconsin history. Projects considered need not deal with Wisconsin exclusively, but the subject must clearly center on the history of the territory and/or state.

William F. Allen Prize ($200) for historical essays of term-paper size and scope, no more than one of which may be by an undergraduate non-major.

Curti Prize ($200) for the best historical essay of term-paper size and scope, written by an undergraduate non-major.

Andrew Bergman Prize (One $1250 award and up to two $750 awards) for the best undergraduate paper written for a history course, based on quality of writing and research, with special attention to clarity and accessibility of writing. This does not need to be a term paper.

Fred Harvey Harrington Prize ($500) for the best undergraduate thesis by a history major.

• 2012-13 History Undergraduate Writing Prize Application
• Undergraduate Prize Winners, 2011-2012
• Undergraduate Prize Winners, 2010-2011
• Undergraduate Prize Winners, 2009-2010
• Undergraduate Prize Winners, 2008-2009
• Undergraduate Prize Winners, 2007-2008
• Undergraduate Prize Winners, 2006-2007
• Undergraduate Prize Winners, 2005-2006

Short-term Research and Conference Grants

The Department of History offers small grants to undergraduate students who need funding to defray research costs, travel to archives and libraries, or attend history conferences.  Deadlines for submissions are typically in the early Fall and Spring semesters. Note: This grant is not currently being offered.

• Short-term Research and Conference Grant Recipients

Research Fellowships and Scholarships

The University offers funding to enable undergraduates to undertake cutting edge research under the supervision of a faculty member.  These are terrific opportunities and you should take advantage of them.  Careful advance planning (up to one year ahead of time) is essential.  Students in their third year (in exceptional cases in their second year) are urged to contact potential faculty sponsors early in the fall semester to begin crafting a project.  Application deadlines tend to be in the early spring and if your application is successful you will receive funding for the summer or for your senior year.   Don’t be bashful!  Faculty enjoy working with motivated undergraduates on exciting research projects.

William K. Fitch Scholarship

This scholarship provides tuition and fees, at the in-state level, for one academic year (non-renewable).  Both out-of-state and in-state students may apply.  Applicants will be considered on the basis of a combination of financial need and academic/intellectual merit (financial need will be determined by the Office of Financial Aid).  One Fitch Scholarship will be awarded annually.

Preference will be given to History Majors with a concentration in U.S. History and to History Majors with other concentrations who have completed coursework that offers comparative & transnational perspectives on U.S. History.  Please see the application for further eligibility details.   William K. Fitch Scholarship (pdf)

• Recipients of the William K. Fitch Scholarship

Davis / Gerstein Undergraduate Research Award

Thanks to generous funding provided by Susan E. Davis and Miles J. Gerstein, the Department offers undergraduate awards to students who propose to undertake an in-depth research project under the close supervision of a History Department faculty member.  Successful applicants will receive $2,500 to help defray research costs such as supplies and travel expenses or pay for living expenses so that they have time to conduct research in the UW Libraries and craft their papers. Research Fellowship Application (pdf)

• Recipients of the Davis / Gerstein Undergraduate Research Award

Kaplan Family Fellowships

Thanks to the generosity of our alumnus Harold Kaplan, the Department of History is proud to offer the Kaplan Family Fellowship in History.

The Kaplan Family Fellowships provides support for undergraduate students who wish to undertake a research project (a senior thesis, for example) in close collaboration with a faculty supervisor.  Scholarships are also available for students and faculty who propose a “research internship” that helps students acquire critical research skills.  Successful applicants will receive $1,000 in support that they can use for travel, research expenses and supplies. Research Fellowship Application (pdf)

• Recipients of the Kaplan Family Fellowships in History

Mosse Distinguished Research and Service Fellowship

Thanks to the financial support of the Mosse Program, the Department of History is pleased to offer the Mosse Distinguished Research and Service Fellowship.

The Mosse Fellowship ($2,000) is designed to reward majors who have demonstrated excellence in historical research and undertaken significant community service at the campus, local, national or international level.   The award funds students who need financial support to undertake significant community service oriented learning. Mosse Distinguished Research and Service Fellowship (pdf)

• Recipients of the Mosse Distinguished Research and Service Fellowship

Russian History Awards

The Department offers the Alice D. Mortenson Undergraduate Scholarship in Russian History.  We are grateful to our alumna, Alice Mortenson, for her generous support.  The Mortenson scholarships ($3,000) will be awarded to up to three students interested in Russian history, and at least one of the scholarships will be reserved for a student majoring in a discipline other than history. Alice D. Mortenson Research Award (pdf)

• Recipients of the Alice D. Mortenson Research Award

Margaret E. Smith Esther-Butt History Scholarship 

The Department awards one Margaret E. Smith-Esther Butt History Scholarship annually.  The award is designed for outstanding History majors. Margaret E. Smith Esther-Butt History Scholarship (pdf)

• Recipients of the Margaret E. Smith Esther-Butt History Scholarship 

The Orson S. Morse History Scholarship

The Orson S. Morse History Scholarship is given annually to an outstanding History major.  Mr. Morse received his degree in History from the College of Letters & Science in 1932 and established this bequest to support undergraduate history education. Scholarship Application (pdf)

• Recipients of The Orson S. Morse History Scholarship

The Willard L. Huson Scholarship

The Willard L. Huson Scholarship is awarded annually to a deserving student majoring in History at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The successful applicant will receive $250 during the fall semester and $250 in the spring semester. Only freshmen, sophomores, and juniors are eligible for this scholarship. Scholarship Application (pdf)

• Recipients of The Willard L. Huson Scholarship

History Department Scholarship

This scholarship is not being offered at this time.

• History Department Scholarship Recipients

University Scholarships and Prizes

The Letters and Science Undergraduate Scholarships Office is now accepting scholarship applications from sophomore, junior and senior students. Scholarships are awarded upon demonstration of a combination of the following criteria: academic achievement, creative accomplishment, force of character, financial need, diversity of background, and community service. Scholarships awarded at the junior or senior level tend to have an emphasis on academic achievement and merit.

We also urge our students to apply for the Wisconsin Hilldale Undergraduate/Faculty Research Awards that offer up to $4,000 of support for the student and $1,000 for the faculty sponsor.  The deadline for applications is usually early in the spring semester.  http://www.provost.wisc.edu/uaa/awards/hilldale.html

Wisconsin Idea Undergraduate Fellowships support undergraduates who work in partnership with a faculty/instructional staff member and a community organization to meet an identified community need. Fellowship recipients earn 3 credits while gaining hands-on experience and receive a stipend of up to $3000 for individuals or $5000 for a group. Deadline to apply is February 12, 2010. http://www.morgridge.wisc.edu/students/wif.html

Returning Adult Student Scholarships: These are scholarships awarded to newly admitted or currently enrolled UW-Madsion degree students. Some scholarships require a significant interruption in study, or have specific age and gender stipulations. Applications are accepted from December 1 to March 1.
http://www.dcs.wisc.edu/info/finanserv/RAS-scholars.htm

Single Parent Scholarships: These scholarships are available to newly admitted or currently enrolled UW-Madison degree students who are single parents; and scholarships provide $1,000-$2,000 in funding support per academic year. Applications are accepted from December 1 to March 1.
http://www.dcs.wisc.edu/info/finanserv/SP-scholars.htm

The college also offers other awards and prizes that can be used for research in history  http://www.provost.wisc.edu/uaa/campuswide.html

Finally, the honors program also offers research and travel grants as well as prizes for honors students. http://www.honors.ls.wisc.edu/

• University Research Award Winners

Other Prizes and Awards

• The Wisconsin Labor History Society offers the Frank Zeidler Academic Award ($500) for the best undergraduate research paper about Wisconsin labor and working class history. For details and deadlines see http://www.wisconsinlaborhistory.org
  
  
• The Gilder Lehrman History Scholars Program, based in New York City, is a competitive summer scholarship program for college sophomores and juniors. For details and deadlines please see: http://www.gilderlehrman.org/teachers/student2.html
  
  
• The Hirsch Family Award provides an incentive to explore the campus' academic and social environment, and take note of areas previously unnoticed.  It supports imaginative projects wherein undergraduates and faculty/instructional staff collaborate on a project which showcases and sheds a positive light on a UW-Madison initiative, department or division.
  http://www.union.wisc.edu/hirschaward/
  
  
• The annual Iwanter Prize provides an unrestricted $2,000 award to one graduating senior who, through a senior thesis and general academic distinction, demonstrates outstanding humanities-based scholarship of a broad and interdisciplinary nature. The award is made possible by a gift to the UW Foundation by Sidney E. Iwanter, an alumnus of the College of Letters & Science (BA History, 1971). Applications must be received by the Center for the Humanities by 5:00 pm on May 1, 2009.  For more information and eligibility requirements, please see the following document: Iwanter Prize for Outstanding Interdisciplinary Scholarship
  
  
• The Institute for Humane Studies is dedicated to helping bright undergraduate students interested in individual liberty to pursue their intellectual interests. Each year, Humane Studies Fellowships of up to $12,000 are awarded to outstanding undergraduate students exploring the principles underlying a free society. Fellowships are open to students who will be enrolled during the 2009-2010 academic year. The application and all supporting materials must be submitted online. For more information about this fellowship, please visit www.TheIHS.org/hsf.