Scholarships

Schorlaships List

• Harmon Scholarship in History (for incoming students*)

  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 Harmons are committed to assisting talented students from underrepresented groups gain access to the high quality history and history education programs provided by the Department of History.

  The purpose of this scholarship is to attract outstanding high school or transfer students to the Department of History by providing scholarship support. The scholarship will renew up to four years if the recipients maintain a cumulative GPA in History of 3.0, be a full-time student in good standing each semester and must remain enrolled as a student majoring in History or History Education. Endowment assets are invested in the Illinois State University Foundation's long-term investment pool.

  To be considered for this scholarship you must*:

  • Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Priority will be given to students who demonstrate financial need.
  • Be an admitted, incoming freshman or transfer student majoring in the History department.
  • Have a minimum ACT score of 24, a comparable SAT score (1160), or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. 
  • Submit a 250-500 word essay explaining why history or history education was chosen as a major. 
  • Provide a letter of recommendation from a high school teacher or, if a transfer student, a letter from a faculty member at the prior college.  
    
    Amount: $1000 annually up to four years
    
    *Admitted, incoming freshman or transfer students who meet eligibility criteria will receive an invitation to apply for the Harmon Recruitment Scholarship. 

• Mark Wyman Scholarship (for 2nd semester freshman or transfers*)

  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 may apply here January 1- March 1.

  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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
    Amount: $1500

• 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 who demonstrates leadership abilities. Assets of this endowment are invested in the Illinois State University Endowment Investment Pool. *Only eligible students will receive an email inviting them to apply.
  
            Amount: $300

• William Howard Scholarship in History (for excellence in research and writing*)

  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. *This award is chosen based on class writing samples.

  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
    
    Amount: $500

• 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 juniors or greater in the History department who show great potential as teachers and intend to pursue a career in teaching. *Chosen by committee; no application necessary.

  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.
    
    Amount: $2000

• Lucy Lucile Tasher Scholarships (for upperclassmen and graduate students*)

  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. *Chosen by committee; no application necessary.

  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
    
    Amount: $2000

• Sessions Honors Scholarship in History (for juniors in the honors program*)

  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. *Only eligible students will receive an email inviting them to apply.

  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
    
    Amount: $400

• Darrel A. Sutter Scholarship (for Students in Teacher Education*)

  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. Priority will be given to students who demonstrate financial need. *Qualified students may apply here November 1- March 1.  

  
  

  To be considered for this scholarship you must:

  • Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Priority will be given to students who demonstrate 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
    
    Amount: $500

• Louis E. Miglio Scholarship (for Students in Teacher Education*)

  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. Priority will be given to students who demonstrate financial need *Qualified students may apply here November 1- March 1.

  To be considered for this scholarship you must:

  • Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Priority will be given to students who demonstrate 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
    
    Amount: $1000
    
    

• Russell P. Strange Memorial Endowed History Scholarship

  This scholarship is highly variable but gives preference to students from southern Illinois (defined as the area south of Springfield, IL). 

  Amount : variable

• John Freed Student Research Fund

  This fund established by Professor Emeritus of History, Dr. John Freed, has been established to broadly support student research in the Department of History for such things as conference attendance and travel expenses for research and other related costs.  Priority will be given to undergraduate research but can also be used for graduate student research. * Interested students may apply here November 1- March 1 or email pmgudem@ilstu.edu at any time, noting that this is a first-come, first-served opportunity within each fiscal year.

  Amount : variable

• Study Abroad Scholarship

  The department encourages study abroad opportunities and will support such at their discretion. * Interested Students may contact Dr. Ron Gifford at rmgiffo@ilstu.edu at any time, noting that this is a first-come, first-served opportunity within each fiscal year with preference to History Ed student teaching abroad experiences.

  Amount: variable

 HIS 390 awards

• The Lawrence W. McBride Award

  The History - Social Sciences Education program awards the Lawrence McBride award during the HIS 390 closing ceremony for one to two students who have a distinguished portfolio and outstanding student teaching experience.  No application necessary.
  
  Amount: $500

• Darrel A. Sutter Student Teaching Award

  The History - Social Sciences Education program awards the Darrel A. Sutter Student Teaching Award during the HIS 390 closing ceremony for one to two students who have a distinguished portfolio, outstanding student teaching experience, and who exhibit passion for teaching. No application necessary. 
  
  Amount: $200

• Howard Romanek History Scholarship

  The History - Social Sciences Education program awards the Howard Romanek History Scholarship during the HIS 390 closing ceremony for one to two students who have a distinguished portfolio and outstanding student teaching experience. No application necessary. 
  
  Amount: $200

 History Graduate Program 

• The Helen M. Cavanagh Graduate Student Awards

  The Helen M. Cavanagh Awards for Best Master's Degree Student and Best Master's Theses in American History and Outside American History were established in 1990.  They are made possible by an endowment in the Illinois State University Foundation under terms of the will of the University Distinguished Professor Helen M. Cavanagh, emeritus deceased, in continuation of her commitment to high quality graduate studies in History at ISU, to which she dedicated over nearly thirty years of teaching. No application necessary. 
  
  Amount: variable