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Resources and Awards

In addition to a number of awards for graduate student funding, each and every year the Department honors its students and faculty through a series of awards.

The Shirley Bill Award Heading link

Shirley A. Bill joined our faculty in 1947, when the University was still located at Navy Pier. One of Professor Bill’s undergraduate students has endowed a teaching award in her name to honor her memory and achievement. The wishes of the donor are that the award be given each year to a faculty member chosen by vote of faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate history majors.

Peter R. D’Agostino Memorial Scholarship Fund Heading link

An annual award for graduate study with preference given to those whose research concentration is in the areas of religious, immigration or transnational history. (Approximately $1,100)

Deena Allen Memorial Fellowship Heading link

An annual award for Ph.D. candidates who plan research in Europe.  Open to those in Modern European History with preference to those students in British history.  The award is to be used to enable the awardee to take advantage of cultural opportunities while abroad. This award does not carry a tuition and fee waiver. (Approximately $1,000)

Bentley Brinkerhoff Gilbert Fellowship Heading link

An annual fellowship to Ph.D. candidates in European history (including Great Britain, Ireland and the territory of the former U.S.S.R.).  The fellowship is to be used for travel for research purposes and personal support during the writing of the dissertation. The awardee may hold other university and departmental awards but may not hold a teaching assistantship.  This fellowship carries a tuition and fee waiver. (Approximately $4,900)

Robert V. Remini Scholarship Heading link

An annual award to Ph.D. candidates in American history who are researching and/or writing a dissertation in that field. This award does not carry a tuition and fee waiver. (Approximately $4,250)

John B. And Theta Wolf Fellowship Heading link

An annual for Ph.D. candidates whose dissertation is in the field of European, Mediterranean or Middle Eastern history (includes continental Europe, Great Britain, Russian and North Africa). The award is to defray research and travel expenses.  This award does not carry a tuition and fee waiver. (Approximately $2,000)

Polish National Alliance Research Award Heading link

An annual award to a graduate student in any field who has completed at least one course in Polish history.  The award requires that the student do an appropriate amount of research in Polish history during the term of the award. This award carries a tuition and fee waiver. (Approximately $5,000) This Award may not be awarded every year. 

History of Poland Scholarship Heading link

An annual award to a graduate student or undergraduate majoring in history who has taken or is taking course work related to the History of Poland and has at least a 3.0 grade point average. This scholarship carries a tuition and fee waiver. (Approximately $13,000) This award may not be awarded every year. 

Polish Resistance (AK) Foundation Scholarship Heading link

An annual award given to a graduate or undergraduate student of Polish history. This award does not carry a tuition and fee waiver. (Approximately $1,200)

Marion S. Miller Dissertation Fellowship Heading link

Two annual dissertation fellowships open to Ph.D. candidates in all fields to be used for either research and/or writing of the dissertation. While all Ph.D. candidates are encouraged to apply, in recent years the preference has been given to applicants who are in the last stages of dissertation completion.

The Leo Schelbert Prize for Best Dissertation Heading link

An award is given annually to recognize the best UIC History dissertation completed during that time period. (Approximately $1,000)

The Leo Schelbert Prize for Graduate Student Teaching Heading link

An award given to a Ph.D candidate in any field who has demonstrated exceptional interest and skill in teaching. When applying, please include a brief (1-2 page) statement on your teaching philosophy and accomplishments.

History Graduate Internship Award Heading link

Awards $5,000 to a History graduate student who has secured a summer internship and who has applied for but not won a Provost’s Graduate Internship Award (PGIA).  Because the Provost’s Award is routed through the DGS’s office, all who apply for the PGIA will be automatically considered for the History Graduate Summer Internship Award.  The GAC will determine a winner each year.

Undergraduate Resources and Awards Heading link

The Department of History also offers the following undergraduate awards and resources. For more information on eligibility for these awards, please contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

The Richard S. Levy Undergraduate Research Award Heading link

The Richard S. Levy Undergraduate Research Award, given for the best paper written in the Department of History’s most advanced undergraduate research seminar (currently HIST 440) in an academic year.  Special but not sole attention will be paid to papers in the areas of Prof. Levy’s research, namely the history of antisemitism and the Holocaust; and in the histories of discrimination, persecution, and minoritized populations more broadly. Selection is made through a process of faculty nomination and a vote of the prize committee. Beyond the distinction of the award itself, the award furnishes $400 to the winner and $250 to the runner up.

The Richard S. Levy Pathway to History Award Heading link

The Richard S. Levy Pathway to History Award honors the late Professor Levy’s commitment to undergraduate history education by encouraging students to consider a future in history. The award recognizes the best freshman or sophomore student in each of the Department of History’s large classes, currently defined as a course capped at larger than 60 students. Winners are selected by the instructor of record for each class in consultation with the teaching assistants. Beyond the distinction of the award itself, winners receive $100.

The David Stahl and Karol Weigelt Endowed Scholarship Heading link

The David Stahl and Karol Weigelt Endowed Scholarship is awarded to a History or Teaching of History major demonstrating financial need.  Underrepresented minorities and students of color are strongly encouraged to apply.   Preference will be given to applicants who can demonstrate academic ability and/or achievement.  Students may submit a sample of their academic work of no more than five pages.  Students may also supply a letter of support from an instructor within the Department.  Neither is required. Graduating seniors are ineligible to apply.  The annual award is $750.  Fill out the following form to apply.

The Adeline Barry Davee and Ruth Dunbar Davee Scholarship Heading link

The Davee Scholarship provides full cost of attendance at UIC from entry through graduation for up to five years.  Recipients must enter UIC with, and maintain, at least a 3.0 GPA.  It is given to a student majoring in History (usually an incoming freshman).  One award is typically given each year.  Students need not apply for this award.  All eligible applicants will be considered by the award committee.

The Gordon Lee Goodman Award for Distinction in Undergraduate Studies Heading link

The Gordon Lee Goodman Award for Distinction in Undergraduate Studies was endowed by friends and relatives of the late Gordon L. Goodman, associate professor of British History at UIC.  It is given annually, by vote of the history faculty, to the student (or, on occasion, students), near senior standing, who most demonstrates excellent scholarship.

The Deirdre N. McCloskey Prize Heading link

The Deirdre N. McCloskey Prize recognizes the top two papers written by a History major in History 300. Selection is made through a process of faculty nomination and vote of the prize committee. Beyond the distinction of the award itself, the award furnishes $250 to the winner, and $150 to the runner up.

The UIC Cheryl Ganz History Undergraduate Student Award Heading link

The UIC Cheryl Ganz Undergraduate Student Award, endowed by Cheryl Ganz, is meant to help finance research for undergraduate history projects. It is currently administered through the LAS Undergraduate Research Initiative.

The Lillian Edinger Scholarship For Undergraduates Heading link

The Lillian Edinger Fund provides a scholarship for undergraduates  pursuing a B.A. in history at UIC.  The winner is decided by the history faculty in coordination with the Dean of LAS

The Department of History Emergency Fund Heading link

The Department of History Emergency Fund, graciously funded by the David Stahl and Karol Weigelt Endowed Scholarship Fund, provides small (less than $150), one-time emergency funds to History majors at UIC.  Awards are given on a first-come, first-served basis.  To apply, students should submit a request for funding to the Undergraduate Advisory Committee, courtesy of the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

*Since the awards are dependent on interest rates, the stipend will vary from year to year. Amounts given are approximate and can vary according to the frequency with which the Award is made.