Scholarships & Awards

The History Department is thrilled to provide undergraduate students with the opportunity to apply and be nominated for numerous scholarships and departmental awards. 

Many of our awards and scholarships are funded by the generous donations of our alumni and supporters. Please consider supporting our undergraduate students by making a gift to one of our undergraduate funds   .

Winning one of these awards may have implications for your total financial aid package, including eligibility for—and funding of—student loans and/or other scholarships. If you have questions or concerns, please contact the Office of Financial Aid to discuss your entire aid package.

Apply for scholarships

The Scholarship Committee particularly encourages underrepresented students in the History department to apply. Underrepresented students include those students from geographic areas and socioeconomic backgrounds who are historically underrepresented in the field of History, and/or students who have faced unusual adversity.

 

 

Scholarships

Carol J. Ehlers Scholarship

The *Carol J. Ehlers* Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship of $2,500-$10,000,. The Carol J. Ehlers Scholarship is provided through the Department of History and the University of Colorado Boulder. Recipients of the Carol J. Ehlers scholarship are awarded for the next academic year. This is renewable annually for up to four years, for History majors demonstrating a strong interest in Europe.
 
Requirements are as follows:
•     The scholarship is open to continuing and incoming students majoring in History.
 
The Scholarship Committee particularly encourages underrepresented students in the History department to apply. Underrepresented students include those students from geographic areas and socioeconomic backgrounds who are historically underrepresented in the field of History, and/or students who have faced unusual adversity.

Application Opens: December 1st.

To apply for consideration, you must:

  1. Complete the CU Boulder Scholarship Application
  2. Complete this application by the deadline.
  3. Complete the additional essays
    • Submit a short essay explaining your interest(s) in European history. (500 word limit)
    • Pick one or two European history courses you are particularly interested in taking and explain why. (300 word limit)
 
Renewal Criteria
 
To be eligible to renew this scholarship each year, recipients are required to:
  •  Enroll as full-time undergraduate students with a major in History
  •  Maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a GPA in the History major of 3.3 each academic year
  •  Students must take or be taking at least 3 credits in European History or in Global/Thematic History with a strong European component during the current academic year and
This scholarship is renewable for up to 4 years.

 Application Deadline: March 15th
   Students selected to receive the Ehlers Scholarship will be notified by May 30.

Colton G. Erickson Scholarship

The Colton G. Erickson Scholarship was established by the History Department with the support of Colton’s family, in memory of former student Colton G. Erickson (1994 – 2018), who graduated in 2017 while living with brain cancer. The fund will provide undergraduate scholarship awards for students enrolled in the Department of History within the College of Arts & Sciences at CU Boulder. Recipients will have faced unusual adversity in their lives, while achieving excellence as determined by the scholarship application process. Scholarship recipients will also demonstrate financial need. Scholarships will be awarded for one academic year and previous recipients are encouraged to reapply.

Award: $1000

Application Opens: December 1st.

  1. Review the  "Colton G. Erickson Scholarship in History"
  2. Complete the CU Boulder General Scholarship Application and the College of Arts & Sciences Scholarship Application.
  3. Demonstrate financial need as determined by the FASFA/CASFA.

  Application Deadline: March 15th
   Students selected to receive the Erickson Scholarship will be notified by May 30.

The Virginia and Fred Anderson History Scholarship Fund

The Virginia & Fred Anderson Scholarship in History is given in honor of Emeritus faculty Virginia DeJohn Anderson and Fred Anderson. The fund shall be used to provide undergraduate scholarship awards for students based on financial need and academic merit who are enrolled in the Department of History. 

Award: $1000

Application Opens: December 1st.

  1. Review the  “Virginia & Fred Anderson Scholarship in History”
  2. Complete the CU Boulder General Scholarship Application and the College of Arts & Sciences Scholarship Application.
  3. Demonstrate financial need as determined by the FASFA/CASFA.

  Application Deadline: March 15th
   Students selected to receive the Anderson Scholarship will be notified by May 30.

History Matters Scholarship Fund

The History Matters  scholarship has been established by CU alumni Louise (Hist’78) and Mark (Hist’78) Bohe, who met in history classes. This undergraduate scholarship will provide awards for junior and senior level students enrolled in the Department of History. Scholarship recipients will demonstrate financial need. Awards are for one academic year and past recipients are encouraged to reapply.

Award: $1000 minimum

application Opens: December 1st

  1. Review the  “History Matters Scholarship in History”
  2. Complete the CU Boulder General Scholarship Application and the College of Arts & Sciences Scholarship Application. You will be automatically considered based on your completed General Application.
  3. Demonstrate financial need as determined by the FASFA/CASFA.

 Application Deadline: March 15th
 Students selected to receive the History Matters Scholarship will be notified by May 30th.

 

Katherine Jacob Lamont Scholarship

Established in the name of Katherine J. Lamont, the Lamont Scholarship is $500 - $1000 awarded annually at the discretion of the Dean of the Division of Arts & Humanities to students with a declared major in the Arts and Humanities Division in the College of Arts & Sciences.

Charles R. Middleton Scholarship

Charles R. Middleton is a former member of faculty in the History Department, and former Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. Through a fund established in his honor, the Department annually awards up to $1000 (or a portion of that total if the award is shared between two or more recipients. 

Application opens December 1st.

  1. Complete the CU Boulder Scholarship Application
  2. Search for "Middleton Scholarship in History"
  3. Complete the additional essay
    • Describe your academic and personal path, including any obstacles you have encountered along the way to becoming a history student at CU Boulder. Why does studying history interest you, and how do you see history fitting into your post-graduate plans? How can the Cliff and Carol Pearson Scholarship help you fulfill your goals?

Application Deadline: March 15th
  Students selected to receive the Pearson Scholarship will be notified by May 30.

Cliff and Carol Pearson Scholarship

The Pearson Scholarship in History was established by CU alumni Cliff (HIST ’82 and ENGR ’82) and Carol (JOUR ’81) Pearson and provides a $2,500 undergraduate scholarship to a student enrolled in the College of Arts & Sciences who is pursuing a major in History. The scholarship is limited to students with demonstrated financial need, and preference will be given to students who are the first generation in their family to attend college. The scholarship is for one academic year, and past recipients are encouraged to reapply.

Award: $2500.00

Application Opens: December 1st

  1. Complete the CU Boulder Scholarship Application
  2. Search for "Pearson Scholarship in History"
  3. Complete the additional essay
    • Describe your academic and personal path, including any obstacles you have encountered along the way to becoming a history student at CU Boulder. Why does studying history interest you, and how do you see history fitting into your post-graduate plans? How can the Cliff and Carol Pearson Scholarship help you fulfill your goals?

Application Deadline: March 15th
  Students selected to receive the Pearson Scholarship will be notified by May 30.

Robert C. Rogers Scholarship

The Robert C. Rogers  Scholarship, established in memory of Robert C. Rogers, is awarded to incoming first-year, incoming transfer, or continuing undergraduate students with a declared major or minor in History. The scholarship is awarded for one academic year and past recipients are encouraged to reapply.

Priority is given to first-year and continuing students who apply by March 15; if funds remain, applications submitted after this date may be considered. Award offers are not guaranteed. Incoming transfer students may apply through the posted deadline of June 15.

Award: $1000

Application Opens: December 1st.

  1. Complete the CU Boulder Scholarship Application
  2. Search for "Robert C. Rogers Scholarship in History"
  3. Complete the additional essay
    • Why are you choosing to study history at the University of Colorado Boulder? (300 word limit)
  4. Submit an unofficial copy of your transcript from your previous institution.

  Application Deadline: June 15th
   Students selected to receive the Rogers Scholarship will be notified in early July.

Williamson Scholarship in United States History

The Jo Ann Williamson United States History Scholarship is a merit-based grant of $10,000 to support an undergraduate student with a demonstrably strong interest in the history of the United States. Requirements for recipients are as follows:

  • Must be an undergraduate History major.
  • Must have a GPA of at least 3.5 at the time the scholarship begins.

Must have completed 18 credits in United States History by the time the scholarship begins.

It will be awarded to 1 or 2 students in amounts of $5000-$10,000.

Application Opens: December 1st.

  1. Review the “Williamson United States History Scholarship"
  2. Complete the CU Boulder General Scholarship Application and the College of Arts & Sciences Scholarship Application. 
  3. Please list undergraduate courses in U.S. History that you have taken or are taking at the time of this application, including any AP, IB, or transfer credits.
  4. Demonstrate financial need as determined by the FASFA/CASFA.

  Application Deadline: March 15th
   Students selected to receive the Anderson Scholarship will be notified by May 30.

Honors Thesis Award

The History Department sponsors an annual award of $500 for the best Honors Thesis written in History. All theses successfully defended during the academic year will be automatically considered by the History Honors Committee. 

James Field Willard Award

The James Field Willard Award of $500 is annually awarded to a History major who has distinguished themself through service related to history. Faculty on the Undergraduate Committee will review all submissions. Details on how to apply will be distributed by the department annually in the spring semester. 

Philip Mitterling Paper Award

Philip Mitterling was a former professor in the Department of History. In his honor, the Department annually awards $500 for the best paper (excluding Honors Theses) written by a History major/minor for a history course at the University of Colorado Boulder. Papers will be judged by faculty on the Undergraduate Committee for presentation of historical arguments, evidence, and perspective. Details on how to submit a paper for consideration will be distributed by the department annually in the spring semester.