Department of History

Scholarships

Please find in this page information on the scholarships and awards administered by the History Department. The deadline is February 18, 2013. Check this page frequently as details on awards and deadlines may change. Below you will find scholarship characteristics and requisites, frequently asked questions, and past winners.

John Schwarz Essay Award

Grants $100 to an undergraduate student who:
Is a rising sophomore or junior (check FAQ section below)
Submits an excellent history research paper

Jo Enger Arthur Scholarship for Study Abroad

Awards up to $1000 to an undergraduate student who:
Is a rising junior or senior (check FAQ section below) majoring or minoring in History, Integrated Social Studies, International Studies, or a European language
Has normally completed at least 12 credit hours of history courses
Carries a GPA of 3.2 or higher
Has been accepted into a structured study-abroad program in Europe. (Preference will be given to students bound for the United Kingdom.)
Agrees to submit a brief report of his/her study abroad experience

Stuart R. and Florence P. Givens Senior History Scholarship

Awards up to $1000 to a rising senior who:
Is a History Major
Carries a GPA of 3.2 or higher
Has been active in University-related activities, with preference given to applicants who have also engaged in professional or community service

Grover and Virginia Platt Memorial Scholarship

Awards up to $600 to a rising senior who:
Is a History Major
Carries a GPA of 3.5 or higher
Demonstrates financial need or will be the first member of his/her immediate family to graduate from college

Mary Ellen Keil Scholarship

Granted to an incoming Ohio-native female student who declared an interest in pursuing studies in history. All eligible candidates are automatically referred to the department by the enrollment office. There is no application for this scholarship. The department typically evaluates this grant during the summer.

Gwendolyn Pym Lougheed Scholarship in Canadian Studies

The Gwendolyn Pym Lougheed Scholarship in Canadian Studies offers financial assistance for tuition and other educational expenses to undergraduate students who are formally admitted to the Canadian Studies minor program at Bowling Green State University.

Outstanding Senior Award

All eligible candidates are automatically considered by the Awards subcommittee. No application is needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What does "rising" junior or senior status mean?

A. It means 60 and 90 credit hours by the end of the last term for junior and seniors, respectively.

Q. Do I need to be nominated by a faculty member?

A. No. Faculty members distribute information. But it is the student’s responsibility to apply for the grant.

Q. What exactly comprises a good reference? May I list History professors with which I have had particularly successful experiences?

A. History professors are good references. But you may also want to have more varied references, such as other professors, or people you work with. For example, for the Givens it would be good to have the reference of someone who can speak of your engagement in community/public activities. If you are applying for the Jo Arthur, it would be good to have the reference of a professor in the department that manages the study abroad program.

Q. Is the paper [for the Schwarz scholarship] only limited to primary substances? Can there be secondary sources used within the paper serving as support if much of the paper is from primary source documents?

A. Although they are not mentioned in the requirements, use of secondary sources is encouraged: a good history paper engages with previous research on the topic done by other historians.

Q. Is there a minimum page requirement?

A. No. As long as it is based on primary sources, your paper qualifies for the award.

Q. What does financial need mean in the Platt scholarship?

A. It is broadly defined. If this award releases you from work, or relieves you from taking loans, you qualify.

Q. Do you have any advice on preparing a good application?

A. All awards are competitive. To make your application stand out, work on your statements and polish the paper you're submitting. Remember, this is history. And in history we value good, persuasive writing. And by persuasive we mean that the statement articulates a position (e.g. why you deserve this grant) in a rational, coherent way that convinces the reader that the writer's point is superior to any alternative.

If you have more questions, please don’t hesitate to send them to Tina Thomas (tamos@bgsu.edu) and we will post the answers in this page. Thanks!