Scholarships & Financial Aid
Get Involved in History!
There are great opportunities to get involved while you're a student in history, including events, clubs, collaboration research projects with faculty, study abroad, career-building opportunities, and more.
Departmental Awards
Each year, the Department of History proudly awards a number of scholarships on a competitive basis. These are listed below and are open to all students who have declared History as a major. That includes both first year students and transfer students, as well as all other currently enrolled History majors. Students do not have to apply for federal or state financial aid to be considered for these awards.
For questions about the application process, please email an academic advisor at history@utah.edu or contact the History Department at 801.581.6121.
- Harvard David Hanks Scholarship
- J. William Gordon Scholarship
- James H. & Mary Ann Gardner Scholarship
- John William James Family Scholarship
- Susannah Topham Memorial Scholarship
- Jeff C. Herring Undergraduate Scholarship
Harvard David Hanks Scholarship
The Harvard David Hanks Scholarship provides up to $8000 for the academic year (fall and spring) for a University of Utah student majoring in history with a focus in American history. The student must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours, a sophomore, junior, or senior in the year that funding is received, carry a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher, a US citizen, and no prior history of the use or sale of illegal drugs. Preference will be given to non-resident students from Idaho. If no qualified applicants satisfy this condition, preference will be given to non-residents from other states outside of Utah.
In addition to the application material described above, applicants to the Harvard David Hanks Scholarship should include a one-page personal statement that explains why the student chose to major in American history at the University of Utah.
To Apply, click HERE.
J. William Gordon Scholarship
The J. William Gordon Scholarship provides $2,000 for the academic year (fall and spring) for a University of Utah undergraduate majoring in history. The student must be enrolled for a minimum of 12 credit hours, a junior or senior in the year that funding is received, carry a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, and a US Citizen.
In addition to the application material described above, applicants to the J. William Gordon Scholarship should include a one-page personal statement explaining the student's area of strongest interest within the discipline of history.
To Apply, click HERE.
James H. & Mary Ann Gardner Scholarship
The James H. and Mary Ann Gardner Scholarship provides up to $6000 for the academic year (fall and spring) for a University of Utah undergraduate student majoring in history. The student must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours, a junior or senior in the year that funding is received, and carry a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. Preference will be given to applicants who are preparing for graduate training in business, law or medicine.
In addition to the application material described above, applicants to the James H. and Mary Ann Gardner Scholarship should include a one-page statement explaining how the study of history helps to prepare one for a career in the fields of business, law or medicine.
To Apply, click HERE.
John William James Family Scholarship
The John Williams James Family Scholarship provides up to $8000 for the academic year (fall and spring) for a University of Utah undergraduate majoring in history. The student must be enrolled for a minimum of 12 credit hours, a junior or senior in the year that funding is received, carry a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher, and a US Citizen.
In addition to the application material described above, applicants to the John Williams James Family Scholarship should include a one-page personal statement explaining the student's area of strongest interest within the discipline of history.
To Apply, click HERE.
Susannah Topham Memorial Scholarship
The Susannah Topham Memorial Scholarship provides up to $6000 for the academic year (fall and spring) for a University of Utah undergraduate student majoring in history. The student must be enrolled for a minimum of 12 credit hours, a junior or senior in the year that funding is received, and carry a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate interest in historical archaeology or environmental history, are Utah high school graduates, and who are female.
In addition to the application material described above, applicants to the Susannah Topham Memorial Scholarship should include a one-page personal statement explaining the student's area of strongest interest within the discipline of history.
To Apply, click HERE.
Jeff C. Herring Undergraduate Scholarship
An annual scholarship supporting Humanities students with a preference for History majors.
How to apply:
- Awards: 1-2 students annually (for the academic year – fall and spring)
- Amount: $1,000 scholarship each (up to $2000 a year)
- Preference will be given to applicants who are History majors
Donate to the Jeff Herring Undergraduate Scholarship for Humanities students
Donate to The Jeff Herring Scholarship
About Jeff C. Herring:
After graduating from the University of Utah, Herring earned an MBA with an emphasis
in Human Resources from the University of Phoenix and a law degree from California
Western School of Law in San Diego, CA. His career has taken him from working as an
attorney focused on labor and employment law all the way back to the University of
Utah, where Herring has served as the Chief Human Resources Officer since 2013. He
sees direct parallels between his undergraduate education in history and his career.
“The idea of understanding history provides a context for almost everything that happens
in the world, past, present, and future,” he reflects. “I think that critical thought
and understanding provides a great foundation for understanding how societies work
and how we can interact to solve some of the great challenges of our time and the
future.”
Upon receiving the 2024 Donald E. Dickason award for service from the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources, Herring chose to use the monies towards a scholarship for history students. “I received my History degree in the College of Humanities at the U; it was such a transformative part of my life and career, and I wanted to give back in some small way,” he says.
For students who are currently studying history and contemplating career choices (or perhaps fending off well-intentioned but irritating relatives who underestimate the power of a history degree), Herring offers advice: “Keep yourself open and receptive to any doors that might open. As a humanities major you know why we are human. That will serve you well in any industry where you deal with people. You might not know where those paths are right now, but if you stay open you will have the skills to walk them when they do."
Other Department Awards
Additional Scholarship Opportunities
In addition to departmental scholarships, financial support and opportunities are available from these campus partners.
How to Apply
All applications for Department scholarships require a one-page personal statement tailored to the requirements of the award for which the student is applying. Students who wish to apply simultaneously for more than one award do not need to write multiple personal statements. Instead, they must submit a one- to two-page statement that addresses their qualifications for each of the scholarships in question.
Required application materials include: a statement of purpose, a degree audit or unofficial transcripts if you are a transfer student, and three letters of recommendation. The application system will only require the name and email adress of the recommender.
For advice on how to ask for letters of recommendation, click HERE.
High school seniors should submit a copy of their latest high school transcript, which must include ACT scores. Letters of recommendation should come from high school teachers and at leas one of them should come from a history teacher. Students who accept the award must declare History as their major.
Transfer students with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher should submit a copy of their unofficial college transcript and three letters of recommendation from their college professors, preferably from one or more History professors.
For advice on how to ask for letters of recommendation, click HERE.
Currently enrolled History majors with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher should submit a copy of their unofficial University of Utah transcript or degree audit and three letters of recommendation from professors, preferably from one or more History professors.
For advice on how to ask for letters of recommendation, click HERE.
Annual Department of History Essay Contest
The Department awards a prize annually to the best paper produced in HIST 4990 by a major or minor in History.
The prize is awarded to the best Senior Seminar paper produced in HIST 4990 during the past calendar year (January-December). For example, for the 2021 year, the pool of eligible papers would include those produced in 4990s in Spring 2021, Summer 2021, and Fall 2021. The award would be presented in April 2022.
Nominations for the award come from the instructors of 4990.
Annual Scholastic Achievement Awards
Each year the Department presents two academic achievement awards.
The Hans Morrow Junior Award honors the most outstanding junior.
The Senior with the Highest GPA Award honors the graduating senior with the highest
cumulative GPA.
Gregory C. Crampton Memorial Scholarship
The Gregory C. Crampton Memorial Scholarship provides up to $3000 for the academic year (fall and spring) for a University of Utah undergraduate student majoring in history. The student must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours, a junior or senior in the year that funding is received, and carry a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher.
In addition to the application material described above, applicants for the Gregory C. Crampton Memorial Scholarship should include a one-page personal statement explaining the student's area of strongest interest within the discipline of history.
To Apply, click HERE.
