History Alumni Undergraduate Scholars Awards are made possible through the generosity of history alumni, faculty, and friends. They are awarded in the fall and provide $1,000 toward tuition for the next spring. Eligible students may apply each year of their careers at JMU.  Eligible applicants must be full-time students and declared history majors who are making good progress toward completing their program of study. Students with financial need are given first priority.  To apply, please provide a letter and a 1,000-word essay. Address a letter of application to the Department of History Alumni Scholarship Fund, James Madison University, 951 Madison Drive MSC 2001 Harrisonburg, VA 22801, by September 30.  The letter should address each of the eligibility stipulations and provide your permanent address, local phone number, student ID number, and email contact. Your essay should explain how a book or assignment from a JMU History course has shaped your intellectual development or your understanding of history and the world.

The Michael Allain Scholarship in Classical Studies is awarded annually in the amount of $500 to a student from the Classics minor. The scholarship honors Dr. Michael Allain’s lifelong commitmen to teaching and scholarship in Classical Studies and his long and distinguished career at James Madison University.  To be eligible for this scholarship, a student must demonstrate, as a first priority, an outstanding record of academic achievement in the pursuit of a minor in Classical Studies. As a second priority, preference will be given to those students who demonstrate a need for financial assistance, as determined by the university’s Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships. A subcommittee of the Classics minor committee will approve the winner of the award.  Please send a brief letter of application and copy of unofficial transcripts to Dr. Stephen Chappell, Coordinator of the Classics Minor, Department of History, James Madison University, 951 Madison Drive MSC 2001, Harrisonburg, VA 22807. Your letter should address your commitment to Classical Studies. The scholarship will be awarded in April contingent on successful completion of the requirements.

The Lee Congdon Scholarship is awarded to a rising junior or senior History major who has maintained at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA. This scholarship may be renewable from the junior to the senior year. The award will be determined by the Academic Unit Head in the Department of History. The award is $900 per year. 

The Raymond C. Dingledine Scholarship is awarded to the Junior history major with the highest overall grade point average. This scholarship honors the late Dr. Raymond C. Dingledine for his many years as head of the History department.

The Clive R. Hallman History Undergraduate Scholars Award supports travel to research collections for a senior honor's thesis, a conference, or a paper for publication by a recognized undergraduate or professional journal.  Students are eligible to receive the award only once during their academic careers at JMU. Students need to submit an application for the award including a budget. They must submit receipts for reimbursement to the department. Applications may be made at any time and require a supporting letter from the faculty member supervising the project.

The Sidney R. Bland Scholarship is awarded annually to an undergraduate student majoring in History. This scholarship honors Dr. Sidney R. Bland for his many years as a distinguished and dedicated faculty member and innovative educator in the JMU history department.  To be eligible, an applicant must be a sophomore or junior who has completed a minimum of 12 credit hours in the history or social sciences curriculum, and holds a GPA of at least 3.25.  An applicant must submit the final written paper from HIST 395, History Seminar. The winning paper will be selected annually by a committee of the faculty established by the head of the department. The scholarship will be awarded in April to be applied to the following semester's tuition.

The Demetric Walker Memorial Scholarship will be awarded annually to an undergraduate History major in memory of Demetric Walker, a History alumnus of the Class of 2000.  The scholarship is intended to benefit a JMU undergraduate student majoring in History who is a U. S. citizen. To be eligible, applicants must demonstrate a financial need, have a current FAFSA application on file with the Office of Financial Aid, and hold a GPA of at least 3.0 or its equivalent. (High school records will demonstrate the GPA of high school seniors matriculating to JMU.) The scholarship is intended to help defray tuition. To apply, please submit:

1. A cover letter that summarizes the applicant’s service activities and the level of involvement in them.
2. A written essay (between 1000 and 1500 words) examining how the study of history helps the individual better understand the relationship between religion and society.

Applications should be addressed to The Demetric Walker Memorial Scholarship and mailed to the Department of History, James Madison University, 951 Madison Drive MSC 2001, Harrisonburg, VA 22807, and must be postmarked no later than 1 April to be considered. The student selected will be notified no later than 1 July.

The Donald E. Gardner Memorial Loan Fund is a short-term loan program named in memory of Donald E. Gardner, who served as university comptroller for nine years. The program provides students with a resource to meet short-term financial emergencies. These short-term loans, which range from $200 to $600, are available to undergraduate and graduate students who are currently enrolled, degree seeking, full-time or part-time (taking at least six hours of course work), making satisfactory academic progress, and can repay the loan within 90 days.  Tuition must be paid in full prior to applying for the Donald E. Gardner loan. Loan applications and other eligibility information may be obtained in the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.  The Short Term Loan Fund is similar to the Donald E. Gardner loan and was established to assist enrolled students with emergency expenses. The short-term loan has a maximum limit of $100 and must be repaid within 30 days. Students need not have their tuition paid to apply for a short-term loan.

The Mary A. Jackson Award is awarded to the Senior history major with the highest overall grade point average. It is designed to recognize achievement and encourage students to continue their education. 

The Carlton B. Smith Award is given to the best graduate history thesis submitted to the History Department during each academic year. Theses are judged according to their historical research, analysis and composition. The award is presented annually in late spring for theses from the previous spring, summer and fall. All students are encouraged to participate in the competition. A committee of the history department faculty judges entries presented in the form of one unbound copy to Dr. David Dillard, Wilson Hall 3004. Theses should be submitted as soon as possible prior to graduation.