Department of History
 

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