Scholarships
Each year the faculty of the department recognize the meritorious achievements of its majors by awarding financial assistance in honor of former faculty members. Students that have completed a minimum of 12 hours in history courses are eligible to apply for department scholarships. Application forms are available at the beginning of the spring semester in the history department (Henderson suite 311). Early in the spring, the department faculty reviews the academic performance of its current majors and recognizes one or more for their achievements within the department.
Gunnar Alksnis Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to students enrolled and in good standing, majoring in History at Washburn University, with demonstrated enthusiasm for scholarly activity in History.
John D. Bright - Ernest R. Bader Scholarship
Established in 1986, the Bright-Bader Scholarship goes to a currently enrolled history major recommended by the department chairperson. Drs. Bright and Bader were longtime chairs of the history department, and their former students created this scholarship. Indeed, Dr. Bright served as chair from the early 1940s until the mid-1950s, while Dr. Bader served as chair from the mid-1950s until the mid-1980s.
Donald F. Danker - Phi Alpha Theta Scholarship
Established in 1988, the Danker Scholarship goes to a currently enrolled history major recommended by the department chairperson. Famous for his hunter’s stew parties and card playing, Dr. Danker remains universally loved by all those fortunate enough to have studied with him. He was a wonderful storyteller, so much so that his students regularly forgot to take notes during his lectures.
Robert E. Davis Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to a history major at Washburn University who is pursuing a teaching licensure for secondary education with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Gilbert E. Galle History Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to a student properly enrolled and in good standing, pursuing a degree in History at Washburn University.
C. Robert Haywood Scholarship
Established in 1982, this award goes to a full-time undergraduate American citizen for outstanding accomplishments in "doing history," recommended by the full-time faculty of the department. Dr. Haywood was a longtime Dean of the College and Academic Vice-President who did much to save and modernize the university after the 1966 Tornado. He served as a role model for both faculty and students, who superbly balanced his administrative duties and academic pursuits.
Robert W. and James E. Mackey Scholarship
Mr. and Mrs. James E. Mackey established this award in memory of their son, Robert W. Mackey. This scholarship is awarded to qualified, full-time students who are enrolled for academic study at Washburn University in the Department of History.
Phil Morse Scholarship
The Phil Morse Scholarship is awarded to the first place winner of the senior paper category at the District Three History Day Competition should they decide to attend Washburn University upon graduating high school. Phil Morse graduated from Washburn in 1963 with a bachelors degree in History. After graduate school at Denver University and service in the Peace Corps, Phil and Lona Morse settled in Topeka. Phil built a career in business and community service. He believed that the skills learned through a liberal arts education, history in particular, were crucial to success in any profession. For a number of years Phil was a dedicated History Day judge for the paper category. For him the research, analytical, organization, and writing skills at the core of history education and History Day were tools essential for professional excellence. Phil and Lona endowed the Phil Morse Scholarship to honor the values integral to History Day, and to celebrate history and a liberal arts education.
The Mary S. Rowland Scholarship
Mary S. Rowland earned a Ph.D. in History from the University of Kansas and served as a longtime administrator at Washburn University. Her husband, Don Rowland, was a Professor of Law at Washburn University, and along with his family, he endowed this scholarship to support an incoming History major for four years of academic study. This competitive scholarship is available dependent upon the graduation plans of its current holder, for additional information one should contact Dr. Kim Morse, Chair of the History Department Scholarship Committee.
William O. Wagnon Scholarship
The newly created Wagnon Scholarship is designed to assist the preparation of those who desire to become high school history teachers. This scholarship honors the career of Dr. Bill Wagnon and his longtime interest in the preparation of outstanding high school educators.
Linda Wahl-Stoltenberg Scholarship
Established in 1999, this award goes to either full or part-time currently enrolled students, preferably non-traditional, doing excellent work in history. The scholarship honors Linda Wahl-Stoltenberg a former a student who blossomed as a history major at Washburn University.
Awards
The Charles H. Rehkopf Award
Charles H. Rehkopf endowed, in 1984, an annual prize awarded to the Washburn student with the most promising paper on a topic of Kansas history. The Reverend Rehkopf, a Topeka native and Washburn University alumnus, served as an Episcopal priest, Archdeacon of the Missouri Diocese, and curator of diocesan archives in St. Louis . Throughout his career he was a serious student of local history. Submission deadline for consideration is May 15th of each year. A panel of scholars outside the history faculty evaluate the entries and recommend to the department chairperson awarding the prize.
Funds
The Grace James Memorial Fund
The Grace James Memorial Fund for Study of Kansas History underwrites programs, lectures, study and research of Kansas history. Currently, income from the endowment is reserved to assist students conducting research on the history of the state at the Kansas History Center . Students enrolled in the capstone course, Historical Methods and Research (HI 399) may request financial assistance to cover research costs for topics on Kansas . Interested students should direct their applications to the department chairperson for authorization.
For additional information regarding any of these scholarships and awards, one should contact Dr. Kim Morse, Chair of the History Department Scholarship Committee.
