Scholarships & Prizes

The History Department recognizes Undergraduates for their academic performance, knowledge of history, and community service through a variety of awards and scholarships.  Some awards require an essay or application to be considered, while others are based on academic performance.  Please refer to each listing for details on eligibility. 

Questions regarding any of the awards or scholarships should be emailed to history@udel.edu.

Essay submissions for the “Old Home”, Alumni Undergraduate, and Thomas J. Craven Essay Prizes should be 8-12 pages in length, formatted as follows: double-spaced, 1-inch margins, 12-pt font, paginated in standard citation with a cover page containing UD ID # and UD email address only - no names should be listed. Essays should be submitted as an attachment (no links) to history@udel.edu.​​​

William Purnell "Old Home" Essay Prize

Award Amount: $400

Awarded for the best undergraduate essay submitted to the History Department on the history of Delaware or the Eastern Shore (Delmarva). Essays should contain a cover page containing student ID# and UD email address only and sent as an attachment to history@udel.edu.

Submission Deadline: Spring 2023 - date to be determined​

Alumni Undergraduate Essay Prize

Award Amount: up to $600

Awarded for the best essay(s) on a non-US history topic. Up to two (2) essays may be chosen. Total award amount determined by number of essays selected. Total award amount determined by number of essays selected. Essays should contain a cover page containing student ID# and UD email address only and sent as an attachment to history@udel.edu.​​

Submission Deadline: Spring 2023 - date to be determined​​

Thomas J. Craven Essay Prize

Award Amount: up to $1,800

Awarded for the best essay(s) on any topic in Delaware history, or on the "constitutional or political phases of American history in the U.S. national period" (Jefferson to Jackson). Multiple winning essays may be chosen. Total award amount determined by number of essays selected. Essays should contain a cover page containing student ID# and UD email address only and sent as an attachment to history@udel.edu.​

Submission Deadline: Spring 2023 - date to be determined​​

Joseph Donald Craven Essay Prize

Award Amount: $1,000

The Joseph Donald Craven Prize is awarded each year for the best essay submitted on what changes should be made in the Constitution of the United States and/or the economic systems of the United States to further the interest of democracy and make the government more responsive to the will of the people. Suggested length is about 1,000–2,000 words or about 5 pages. All Political Science, International Relations and History majors are encouraged to submit entries. This prize was established in 1985 by The Honorable Joseph D. Craven, former Attorney General of the State of Delaware.​ Essay should be submitted to: Award-Submissions@udel.edu and list “Craven Essay” in the subject line. **Please include your UD ID NUMBER on correspondence.​

Submission Deadline: Spring 2023 - date to be determined​

William E. Meakin Memorial Award

Award Amount: up to $2,500

Awarded to a junior or senior history major who meets the scholarship criteria of academic performance and a distinguished record of community service. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required to apply. Up to four (4) winners may be chosen. Total award amount determined by number of winners selected. ​​

Submission Deadline:​ Spring 2023 - date to be determined​

Alumni Undergraduate Awards in History

Award Amount: up to $500

Awarded to undergraduate history majors for excellence in academics.  Three (3) winners from each of the defined levels will receive this monetary award.

Senior – projected to graduate in Spring or Summer 2023

Junior – completing third year at UD but not graduating in Spring or Summer 2023

Sophomore – completing 2nd year at UD with at least one (1) FULL year on the Newark campus.

Eve Holst Clift Award

Award Amount: $2,000

Awarded to a graduating history major for outstanding academic performance.  In choosing between candidates of roughly equal qualifications, preference is given to students specializing in fields other than American History.

William H. Williams Scholarship in American History, 1607-1865

Award Amount: up to $2,000

Awarded to undergraduate history majors demonstrating outstanding scholarship in the field of American History from 1607 to 1865.  Multiple winners may be chosen.  Total award determined by number of winners selected.  Award is distributed as a scholarship unless presented to a graduating senior, in which case award will be given as a monetary prize.

Arts & Humanities Scholarships

Award Amounts: approx. $200 to $500

Recipients must meet the scholarship criteria of academic performance and financial need as determined by department faculty and the Office of Student Financial Services.  Preference given to Delaware residents.

Berwyn Fragner Memorial Scholarships

Award Amounts: approx. $200 to $700

Awarded to undergraduate history majors meeting the scholarship criteria of academic performance and financial need as determined by department faculty and the Office of Student Financial Services.

​The Delaware Valley Education Consortium HA​​NNAH AMGOTT MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP is a scholarship created to reward students exhibiting excellence in the pursuit of careers as K-12 educators. $2500 toward Fall 2023 tuition.​

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