Scholarships and Awards
The College of Humanities and Sciences offers more than 100 scholarship opportunities to currently enrolled students annually. The system features a searchable database of opportunities and details the requirements for each. The application process opens early January and closes late February.
Of the scholarships and awards in the College of Humanities and Sciences database, those listed below are offered to undergraduate students through the history department. The majority of them are supported by, or endowed in honor of, former members of our faculty, in a tangible representation of their deep commitment to VCU and to history as discipline. If you have a question about your scholarship or scholarship application status, please email hsscholarship@vcu.edu.
The Alan Vance Briceland Scholarship was established by Alan Briceland, Ph.D., professor emeritus of history. The scholarship will be awarded to a male student (open to all students who identify as male and/or non-binary) majoring in history who has, within the previous calendar year, received an 'A' in History 300, Introduction to Historical Study. The scholarship will be awarded to the student demonstrating the greatest degree of "historical mindedness," that is, a realist view of how historical processes work, of what in the past is significant and what is parochial, and evidence of a sense that a knowledge of history is a useful and practical tool for improving people's quality of life in the 21st century.
Students do not apply for this scholarship. All nominations and selections are by History Department faculty and committees. Non-binary students are eligible to be considered for the Alan Vance Briceland Scholarship and the Penelope Warren Briceland Scholarship.
Congratulations to Cooper Tsow, recipient of the Alan Vance Briceland Scholarship for 2022-23!
Named for the department's first chairman, whose service at the University extended from the 1940s to the 1970s. This book award is presented for the best paper written in Honors History or Independent Study during the previous academic year. Students and faculty can submit papers to Professor Joseph Bendersky at jbenders@vcu.edu.
Congratulations to David Hayter, recipient of the Albert A. Rogers Undergraduate Essay Award for 2019-20!
Named for an associate professor who served in the department from the 1950s until the 1980s. The book award is presented to the student writing the best class paper or completing the best project for any history course other than Independent Study during the previous academic year. Students and faculty can submit papers and projects to Professor Joseph Bendersky at jbenders@vcu.edu.
Congratulations to Kathleen Shingleton, recipient of the Alden G. Bigelow Undergraduate Essay Award for 2023-24!
This scholarship was established by Craig Kennedy, husband of the late Susan Estabrook Kennedy, Ph.D. Two scholarships are awarded annually. Both undergraduate and graduate students majoring in history are eligible. One scholarship shall be awarded based on merit to a recipient with a GPA of 3.5 or higher and one shall be awarded based on merit and need to a recipient of 2.5 and higher.
Congratulations to Harlee Johnson and Mary McLean, recipients of the 2022-23 Craig Kennedy Scholarships!
Named for Dr. Jordan, who taught in the History Department at VCU from 1969-1984. The scholarship is awarded to a student who demonstrates the qualities Dr. Jordan inspired in his students and advisees - academic excellence, a passion for the study of history, leadership, and integrity. Students do not apply for this scholarship. All nominations and selections are by History Department faculty and committees.
Congratulations to Rachel Hollinger, recipient of the 2022-23 Daniel P. Jordan Jr. Scholarship!
Distinction awarded to students with a 4.0 GPA. Students do not need to apply for this award.
Congratulations to Evan V. Clarke, Daniel J. Dawson, Thomas J. Dorsey, Kelly L. Lipford, Paul M. Nordvig, Ashley E. Perry, and Brandon S. Seal, recipients of the Dean's Scholar Award for 2015-16!
Named for a department chairman in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This book award is presented to the graduating senior history major with the highest grade point average in seven or more history courses taken at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Congratulations to Alexandra Pabon, recipient of the F. Edward Lund Award for 2023-24!
Established in 2012 by Emeritus Professor Harold Greer and his wife Laura Greer. For several decades, Professor Greer was an award-winning teacher of Latin American history at VCU. The scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate history major with the highest average in history courses and who has completed at least two courses in Latin American history. The recipient may be a full-time or part-time student, provided they remain in good academic standing. This scholarship is renewable. Students do not apply for this scholarship. All nominations and selections are by History Department faculty and committees.
Congratulations to Cindy Buezo-Sanchez, recipient of the Harold and Laura Greer Scholarship for 2022-23!
The Marc Noble Scholarship in the History of Technology is endowed through a gift from Marc Noble, a VCU history major who made a successful career in the field of information security, to be awarded to a graduate or undergraduate history major with a demonstrated interest in ethical perspectives on technology and its uses, past and future.
Congratulations to John Carney, 2022-23 recipient of the Marc Noble Scholarship in the History of Technology!
The Penelope Warren Briceland Scholarship is established in her memory by her husband, Alan Briceland, Ph.D. For over 20 years, Penelope Briceland taught as an adjunct faculty member. The scholarship will be awarded to a female student (open to all students who identify as female and/or non-binary) majoring in history who has, within the previous calendar year, received an 'A' in History 300, Introduction to Historical Study. The scholarship will be awarded to the student demonstrating the greatest degree of "historical mindedness," that is, a realist view of how historical processes work, of what in the past is significant and what is parochial, and evidence of a sense that a knowledge of history is a useful and practical tool for improving people's quality of life in the 21st century.
Students do not apply for this scholarship. All nominations and selections are by History Department faculty and committees. Non-binary students are eligible to be considered for the Penelope Warren Briceland Scholarship and the Alan Vance Briceland Scholarship.
Congratulations to Alexandra Pabon, recipient of the Penelope Warren Briceland Scholarship for 2022-23!
Honors the History Department's former chair and distinguished teacher, scholar, and administrator. It is awarded to an undergraduate history major based on merit.
Congratulations to Kade McGrail, recipient of the Susan E. Kennedy Memorial Scholarship for 2022-23!
Named for an assistant professor who served in the department from the 1960s until the 1980s, the scholarship is awarded to an advanced student who plans to teach.
Congratulations to Patrick Hirschfeld, recipient of the Thelma S. Biddle Scholarship for 2022-23!
The Victor Humberto Narro Scholarship will provide scholarship support to College of Humanities and Sciences students with majors in the Department of Political Science and/or the Department of History and are in good academic standing. To qualify, applicants must be a part of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (or future name of such program), and/or who are interested in migration studies, and/or who are involved in work or volunteerism at an organization with a mission to serve immigrant communities. Preference shall be for applicants who are rising sophomores.
Congratulations to Zachary Hodgen, recipient of the 2022-23 Victor Humberto Narro Scholarship!
Identifies and encourages a promising African American undergraduate to pursue graduate work in history. This award is presented as part of the "Black History in the Making" celebration sponsored by the Department of African American Studies. Student receives a copy of Du Bois' 1903 classic The Souls of Black Folks and another book prize. Students do not apply for this award. All nominations and selections are by History Department faculty and committees.
Congratulations to Nichole Harper, recipient of the W.E.B. Du Bois Award for 2023-24!
This scholarship honors William E. Blake, Ph.D., who taught in the department for 25 years before being named professor emeritus upon his retirement. Blake joined the university, then the Richmond Professional Institute, in 1965. He was named associate professor in 1969 and became a full professor in 1977. This merit-based scholarship is awarded to a full-time advanced undergraduate or graduate student majoring in history with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher and a demonstrated interest in the history of Medieval, Renaissance, Reformation and history of Christianity.
Congratulations to Kade McGrail, recipient of the 2022-23 William E. Blake Scholarship!
Visit the Scholarship and Award Archives to view the names of past scholarship/award recipients.
Scholarships and Awards Contact
Karen Rader, Ph.D.
karader@vcu.edu