Awards
ACADEMIC AWARDS, HONORS, AND PRIZES FOR STUDENTS STUDYING HISTORY
IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY, VIRGINIA TECH
In the following list, "H" designates an opportunity sponsored
by the Department of History, "C" by the College of Liberal
Arts and Sciences, and "U" by the University. the main
contacts in the Department of History are Associate
Chair Mark
Barrow (barrow at vt.edu) and Academic Advisor Janet
Francis (jafranci at vt.edu) .
H. James W. and Martha N. Banks Award. This award
is given to a graduating senior to recognize his or her exceptional
academic record and interest in early American history. The award consists
of a certificate and $500. Deadline, late March.
H. History Prize. Phi Alpha Theta and the Department
of History administer an essay contest (6-20 pages on any historical
subject). The winner receives a certificate and $100 in scholarship
funds or in cash if the student is a graduating senior. His or her
name is engraved on a plaque in the department. Deadline, late March.
H. Curtis Award. Another departmental essay contest
(6-20 pages), but restricted to history majors and to essays on topics
related to the American Civil War and the History of Virginia. The
award consists of a certificate and $100 in scholarship funds or in
cash if the student is a graduating senior. Deadline, late March.
H. History Web Prizes. The history web prizes (one
for undergraduates and one for graduate students) is awarded annually
to a student research project completed by a history major in any class
or by any student in a history class, which demonstrates significant
use of internet resources and presents the results as a series of informative
and visually creative web pages. The prizes may be awarded to one individual
or to groups of students who worked cooperatively to research and create
web pages. The award consists of a certificate and $50. Deadline, late
March.
H. Phoenix Award. The Phoenix Award is given to a
student who has dramatically improved academically after overcoming
adversity during their undergraduate years. The recipient is awarded
a certificate and $100.
H. The Charles J. Dudley Award. Funded by an
anonymous donor, and named for the director of the University Honors
program, the Charles J. Dudley Award is presented to a graduating senior,
majoring in history, in recognition of some combination of outstanding
accomplishments in scholarship, teaching, and outreach. The recipient
gets a check and a certificate.
H. Phi Alpha Theta. This is the history honorary society,
with induction ceremonies in both fall and
spring semesters. For membership details, contact
faculty advisor Dean
O'Donnell (odonnell at vt.edu). (The department also sponsors
a related History Club.)
H. Marshall Scholar. The Marshall is awarded to two
students every year and usually goes to history seniors who have shown
both a strong QCA and the ability to work on their own. The scholarship
offers access to the George Marshall collections on the campus of Washington
and Lee University and a small stipend to cover the cost of travel
to Lexington, VA.
H. History Department Valedictorian. In March of each
academic year, the department selects its top senior in the graduating
class--the history major (or double major) with the highest QCA--for
the honor of departmental valedictorian. Department officials invite
this honoree to make brief comments at the department's May commencement
exercises, The Valedictorian receives an engraved medallion.
C. "Outstanding Senior." During
the spring semester of each academic year, departments nominate candidates
and a college committee selects the outstanding senior for that year.
All departmental nominees also receive a certificate.
U. "Phi Beta Kappa." Phi Beta Kappa is
an academic honorary society open only to students who have completed
at least 90 hours in the liberal arts at Va. Tech. To become a member
as a junior, one needs a grade-point average of over 3.8; admission
as a senior takes at least a 3.6. The levels fluctuate, though, because
the total number of students elected cannot exceed 5% of the junior
class or 10% of the senior class in the College of Liberal Arts & Human
Sciences that year; thus, no particular grade point average below 4.0
is a guarantee of election. Usually five seniors or so from the history
department are elected to PBK each year and sometimes a junior.
U. "Wilson Essay." Sponsored by Phi Beta
Kappa, this contest recognizes excellence in undergraduate writing.
The selection committee will award a prize of $500 for the best essay
and honor the winner at the annual PBK initiation ceremony in May.
Deadline is usually in early April. Contest rules and entry forms are
on line at www.cs.vt.edu/~pbk/.
For additional information on scholarship opporutnities in the College
of Liberal Arts and Sciences, please consult the College's online
resources.http://www.clahs.vt.edu/UAAO/OpportunitiesAndServices/Scholarships/index.html