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Scholarships

The Department of History grants several scholarships and awards to students each year. The amount and number of awards is dependent upon the income generated by the endowment of the scholarships.

Applications are not available for any of our history scholarships and awards. Only eligible students will receive an email inviting them to apply. Contact Trish Gudeman at pmgudem@ilstu.edu with questions.

Schorlaships List

  • Darrel A. Sutter Scholarship

    In August 2009, Darrel Sutter made a gift to establish this endowed fund, providing support to students majoring in history-social studies education. Sutter graduated from ISNU in 1960 with a degree in social science education and taught at Roanoke-Benson High School until 1995. Having to work many hours every week during college, it was difficult for him to focus on studies. It is his hope that this scholarship will free students from that worry.

    This scholarship requires a student to have a financial need to be eligible to receive the scholarship. In order to establish financial need, a student must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

    To be considered for this scholarship you must:

    • Establish financial need
    • Be accepted and enrolled as a full time student in good standing majoring in history-social sciences education.
    • Have completed two courses in sociology or economics
    • Have a minimum GPA of 2.75
    • Complete an application and essay
    • Have one letter of reference

  • Gleynafa T. Ray Award for Students in Teacher Education

    The endowment was established in 1990 by Gleynafa T. Ray for the purpose of recognizing and providing scholarship to support history education majors. Ray attended Illinois State Normal University from 1926-1930 with majors in history, english, and education.

    Assets of this endowment are invested in the Illinois State University Endowment Investment Pool. Awarded each spring, this award is intended for those in the History department who show great potential as teachers and intend to pursue a career in teaching.

    To be considered for this scholarship you must:

    • Be a junior, senior, or master's student in the history department.
    • Be majoring in history-social science teacher education or on track to complete a history-social science teacher certification.
    • Have completed 60 hours of coursework at Illinois State.

  • Harmon Recruitment Scholarship

    This endowment was established in 2003 by Sandra and Paul Harmon. Sandra received her master and doctor of arts degrees in history from Illinois State, where she later continued her career. Paul served as mayor of Normal, general counsel and secretary of the Illinois Agricultural Association and Country Insurance.

    The purpose of this scholarship is to attract outstanding students from underrepresented groups to the Department of History. Endowment assets are invested in the Illinois State University Foundation's long-term investment pool.

    This scholarship requires a student to have a financial need to be eligible to receive the scholarship. In order to establish financial need, a student must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

    To be considered for this scholarship you must:

    • Establish financial need
    • Be majoring in a major within the History department
    • Have a minimum ACT score of 24
    • Write an essay
    • Write an essay

  • James Todd Wilborn Scholarship for Sophomores

    This endowment was established in 1986 as a memorial of James Todd Wilborn by his family. The scholarship is awarded by the Department of History to a sophomore student majoring in History. Assets of this endowment are invested in the Illinois State University Endowment Investment Pool.

  • The Lawrence McBride Award

    The History - Social Sciences Education program awards the Lawrence McBride award during the 391 closing ceremony for a student who had a distinguished portfolio and outstanding student teaching experience.

  • Louis E. Miglio Scholarship

    This fund was established by Louis E. Miglio. He maintained a close relationship with the University and felt these funds were a way to make a small payment for the good education he received at Illinois State. Each candidate for this fund must be admitted as a student at Illinois State University with a declared major of history education and demonstrate a financial need. Assets for this endowment are invested in the Illinois State University Endowment Investment Pool.

    This scholarship requires a student to have a financial need to be eligible to receive the scholarship. In order to establish financial need, a student must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

    To be considered for this scholarship you must:

    • Establish financial need
    • Be a student enrolled in history-social sciences education
    • Have completed 60 course hours at Illinois State
    • Have a minimum high school and undergraduate GPA of 3.0

  • Lucy Lucile Tasher Scholarships

    The Lucy Lucile Tasher Endowment fund is established through a request from the estate of Lucy Lucile Tasher for the purpose of awarding scholarship support for upper-class students at Illinois State who major in history. This award is the highest department award given out each spring.

    To be considered for this scholarship you must:

    • Be a senior undergraduate or master's student in the history department
    • Be majoring in history or history-social science teacher education, or on track to complete a teacher certification
    • Have a minimum GPA of 3.40
    • Be a student at Illinois State for a minimum of two years

  • Mark Wyman Scholarship

    This endowment was established in 2004 in honor of Mark Wyman by family, friends, and colleagues. The scholarship is awarded to a student beginning his/her second semester majoring in history. Assets of this endowment are invested in the Illinois State University Endowment Investment Pool. Qualified students will be invited to apply early in the spring semester.

    To be considered for this scholarship you must:

    • Be a non-traditional student in the history department starting his/her second semester at Illinois State
    • Be enrolled in good standing and majoring in history
    • Write an essay
    • Demonstrate strong academic potential

  • Sessions Honors Scholarship in History

    This endowment was established in 1999 by the Sessions family, friends, and colleagues. The scholarship is awarded to a student in the honors program in the Department of History. Assets of this endowment are invested in the Illinois State University Endowment Investment Pool.

    To be considered for this scholarship you must:

    • Be a junior history major
    • Have completed 60 hours of coursework at Illinois State
    • Write an essay
    • Have a minimum 3.5 GPA in History and 3.3 GPA overall

  • William Howard Scholarship in History

    The William E. Howard Scholarship is in honor of Bill Howard, ISNU classes of 1947 (BSE) and 1953 (MSE) who loved and taught history for over 30 years. This fund rewards student scholarship in History, with preference to excellent student research or writing related to World War II.

    To be considered for this scholarship you must:

    • Be a sophomore, junior, senior, or master's student majoring in history
    • Have completed a minimum of 30 course hours at Illinois State
    • Enrolled in good standing at Illinois State
    • While an Illinois State student, produced a paper or papers deemed of high quality by the history faculty on a some aspect of World War II (including the home front) or American history

Additional Scholarship Opportunities

Students in history can also review scholarships in the following areas: