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Scholarships for History Students
History students can compete for scholarships based on academic achievement and financial need, as well as awards for outstanding essays or historical research projects.
Scholarships from the Daughters of the American Revolution
The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution awards a number of scholarships to students majoring in history at accredited colleges or universities in the United States.
- The Dr. Aura-Lee A. and James Hobbs Pittenger American History Scholarship is given to a high school senior who will pursue a degree in American history and government. The scholarship is worth $2,000 per year and renewable for up to four years if the recipient is making suitable academic progress.
- The Enid Hall Griswold Memorial Scholarship is a $1,000 scholarship given to a junior or senior undergraduate history, political science, government, or economics major.
- The J.E. Caldwell Centennial Scholarship is awarded to a student who plans to pursue a graduate degree in the field of historic preservation. The scholarship is a one-time award of $2,000.
Contrary to popular belief, the DAR scholarship committee does not give preference to female applicants. All scholarships are awarded based on the applicant's record of academic achievement, professional promise, and financial need. Factors such as gender, race, and religion are not considered.
Applications for DAR scholarships must be sponsored by a local chapter of the organization. To learn more about application procedures, visit the scholarship section of the Daughters of the American Revolution website.
U.S. Institute of Peace National Peace Essay Contest
High school students planning to major in history can earn money for college by competing in the U.S. Institute of Peace National Peace Essay Contest. Students must submit a well-researched essay of 1,500 words or less on the U.S. response to conflict around the world.
First place winners from each state will receive college scholarships of $1,000 and advance to the national competition. They will receive an all expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. to visit various historical landmarks, visit with political figures from around the world, and attend seminars taught by some of the nation's leading history scholars. The top three national competition winners will receive scholarships of $10,000, $5,000, and $2,500.
To learn more about competing in the U.S. Institute of Peace National Peace Essay Contest, visit the organization's website.
Phi Alpha Theta Scholarships
Phi Alpha Theta, an honor society for history majors, offers a number of scholarships for outstanding undergraduate and graduate student members.
- The Graydon A. Tunstall, Jr. Scholarship is a $1,000 award for junior members studying Modern European history. The scholarship is based on both academic achievement and financial need.
- Phi Alpha Theta and the Western Front Association award a prize of $1,000 for an essay about the American experience in World War I. This competition is only open to undergraduate members.
- The Phi Alpha Theta/World History Association Paper Prize is a $400 scholarship given to the writer of an outstanding research papers on a topic related to the study of world history. Students who receive this scholarship may be eligible to have their papers published in the World History Association or Phi Alpha Theta academic journals.
To learn more about these scholarship opportunities, visit the Phi Alpha Theta website.
