Student Opportunities

Scholarships

Through the generosity of our alumni, we offer special awards that provide unique financial support to our outstanding history majors.

In the junior year, Alma history majors can apply for the Jean Fox Abruzzino Award, which recognizes academic excellence and provides additional financial support for study in the last year at Alma.

In the senior year, history honors majors may apply for the James C. Mitchell and the M.J.J. Smith Scholarships. Each scholarship offers up to $25,000 toward graduate or professional school tuition. Virtually no college or university offers such support for students to attend graduate school, and the award reflects the historic commitment of our program to support our majors.

Scholarship Requirements

Jean Fox Abruzzino Memorial Award

Eligibility:

1. Restricted to candidates who have declared an Alma College history major no later than March 15.
2. The award will be given each spring to a student who will return to Alma College for the Fall Term.
3. Candidates must have completed a minimum of 20 history credits in the Alma College History Department; or they must be enrolled in courses that, by the end of the Winter Term, will result in completion of 20 history credits in the Alma College History Department.
4. Among the minimum of 20 credits taken (or being completed by the end of the winter term of the scholarship year) in the Alma College history department, a minimum of 8 credits must be from two of the following groups: (a) History 323, 325, 326, or 380 (4 credits U.S. topic); (b) History 331, 335, or 380 (4 credits; European topic); (c) History 353, History 360, or History 380 (4 credits; Non-Western topic); (d) History 400-level seminar.
5. Eligible candidates must have completed, or be in the process of completing by the end of the Winter term in which the award is made, history course work from at least two full-time members of the Alma College faculty who regularly teach 50 percent or more of their courses in the Department of History.
6. Eligible candidates must demonstrate a superior academic ability in coursework taken outside and inside the Alma College History Department. The minimum overall grade point average for candidates is 3.25; the minimum History Department grade point average is 3.4.

If you wish to be a candidate for the Jean Fox Abruzzino Memorial Award, please submit the following to the department chairperson by March 30:

1. A transcript of your college work (including courses taken at other colleges or universities) through the Fall term.
2. Two copies of at least one research paper written for a history course taken at Alma College. (You may, if you wish, submit copies of more than one research paper.)
3. A one page up-to-date résumé of yourself.
4. Any additional supporting materials you care to supply. Please note: Do not request letters of recommendation from any current full or part-time members of the Alma College History Department faculty.

The History Department review panel will assess each candidate in terms of the following:

• Written and oral communication skills
• Analytical and problem-solving skills
• Research skills
• Intellectual curiosity
• Intellectual creativity
• Reliability, honesty, and integrity

M.J.J. Smith Scholarship

If you are a history major who graduated in December or expect to graduate in April, May or August with honors in the department of history, to apply for a Smith Society Scholarship you must provide the department chair with the following:

1. An unofficial transcript of your academic record at Alma College and other colleges/universities where you completed academic work;
2. Your academic résumé;
3. Photocopy documentation providing that you have been accepted into a “non-quicky quacky” graduate or professional school degree program.

If you did not or will not graduate with honors in history, you must submit 1 through 3 immediately above and one copy of a research paper completed for a history course at Alma College and presented (or soon to be presented) at a regional or national professional conference.

The deadline for submission of your application materials to the department chairperson is March 30.

James E. Mitchell Scholarship

Candidates for the Mitchell Scholarship must complete the requirements for graduation at the end of either the Fall or Winter term.

In addition, they must have:

1. earned a 3.3 overall grade-point average and a 3.5 average in the history major by the end of the Fall term;
2. evidenced serious interest in graduate study and have been accepted by a graduate or professional school for work leading to the Ph.D., J.D., M.D., M.B.A., M.P.H., etc.;
3. had their senior history honors thesis approved for final revisions and for inclusion in the April commencement program by both their first and second readers;
4. taken and performed well on the Senior History Department Comprehensive Examination, prepared and administered by the Alma College History Department; and
5. demonstrated evidence in their academic work at Alma College of intellectual honesty, creativity, reliability, initiative, an unusual degree of self-discipline, and outstanding potential for success in graduate or professional school.

To apply for the scholarship, you must

1. answer the questions on the form below;
2. submit photocopy documentation providing that you have been accepted into a graduate or professional school degree program; and
3. submit a brief essay in which you present evidence of your intellectual honesty, creativity, reliability, initiative, and unusual degree of self-discipline, and outstanding potential for success in graduate or professional school.

Although you may feel reluctant to promote yourself in your essay, please do not be shy in discussing evidence of your qualifications for the Mitchell Scholarship. You may want to mention some of the following if they apply to your case: Is there evidence that others have recognized your initiative and creativity by selecting you for membership in honorary (but not social) societies, such as Phi Alpha Theta or Phi Beta Kappa? How have you demonstrated self-discipline? By the timely submission of papers and other assignments, by accelerating your progress toward graduation, by double-majoring, by combining a heavy academic load with a job, or by participation in unusual intellectual or creative activities? How did you fare in science and humanities courses? Have you given papers at regional Phi Alpha Theta meetings, the Michigan Academy, or Honors Day? Have you been accepted for submission by a quality graduate or professional school?

There is, however, no need to summarize your senior history honors thesis, since at least two members of the department will have read it. Deadline for receipt of this form, photocopy documentation of your acceptance into a graduate or professional school degree program, and your essay is March 30.

To apply for the James E. Mitchell Scholarship, please complete the application form and email it to the department chair along with your support materials by March 30.