Scholarships and Awards

Full-time history majors who have compiled outstanding records in history are eligible to apply for a Plesur Scholarship (also called the History Department Scholarship), named after Professor Milton Plesur (1927-1987). Professor Plesur devoted his career to teaching, and bequeathed his estate to the university for the continued of support UB students. Awards will be made to students who can demonstrate the most serious interest in and commitment to history as evidenced by academic record, extra-curricular activities, and career plans.  A sophomore awardee who continues to compile an excellent record in his or her junior year may reapply for a second year of support for the senior year.

History majors who are residents of Niagara or Erie County and full-time students in their junior or senior year and working at least part-time who have compiled an over-all grade point average of at least 3.0 are eligible for the Bryan G. Argo Memorial Scholarship. Applicants should submit a letter of reference from a current professor or civic or spiritual leader and write a personal statement as described in the application. The scholarship awards demonstrated family values, integrity, and personal achievements. This award is made each year through the generosity of the family and friends of Bryan Argo, a History student who was devoted to family and friends, believed strongly in continuing education, and whose promising life was tragically cut short. 

Full-time history majors from underrepresented minorities, with good academic credentials and personal characteristics (attitude, personality, citizenship, and leadership) are invited to apply for a Milligan Scholarship.  Awards are made to rising juniors and seniors annually.  This scholarship is made available through the generosity of John D. Milligan, a long-time Department of History faculty member, his late wife Joyce who served the Department as a secretary, their daughter Jacqueline, a dedicated teacher of English as a Second Language at UB, and two other daughters, Elizabeth and Polla, both residents of Buffalo. Preference will be given to African-American students from Western New York who have financial need. The junior award is renewable in the senior year at the discretion of the chair of the Department of History.

We are excited to support students who can demonstrate that they contribute to the diversity of the student body, especially those who can show that they have overcome a disadvantage or other impediments to success in higher education. The Department will award up to eight Undergraduate Diversity Scholarships for students entering their Sophomore, Junior, or Senior year, each in the amount of $3,500 (roughly equivalent to one semester of tuition). 

The Department of History believes firmly in the value of experiential learning and public history as fundamental to the experience of our majors. The Department offers scholarships for students enrolling in the Department’s Internship course, HIS 496. The Department’s Public History Internship course allows our students to explore the many and diverse ways in which history is put to work in the world, complementing their class work with valuable, hands-on experience in museums, historical societies, cultural or preservation organizations, and non-profits. The Department of History Internship Scholarship recognizes the value of the internship by establishing a competitive award of $1,000 for students engaging in projects with particularly strong public history merit, payable at the completion of the course. In addition to the General Application applicants will also need to submit a letter of recommendation, a personal statement, and a brief description of the merit of their intended project. 

Each year the Department of History awards study abroad scholarships to qualified History majors enrolling in a recognized summer, semester, winter intersession, or year-long study abroad program. The department holds a competition in the fall for spring semester study abroad and one in the spring for summer, fall, and full academic year programs.

Each Spring the Department awards a prize for the best honors thesis or substantial research paper written in that academic year. The prize is awarded in honor of Professor Patricia Mazón, a historian of Germany who retired from the department in 2017.  The author of the winning paper will receive a cash prize and will be recognized at graduation. 

History majors in their senior year who have written an outstanding paper relating to the U.S. Constitution are invited to apply for the Curvish Paper Prize. The Edward L. Curvish, Jr. Award was established in 2000 by Edward L. Curvish, Jr., who received a BA in the Department of History. He went on to receive a Master’s in Education and taught high school for many years.

As of 2022, each winter the department gives out awards to undergraduate students who have demonstrated an exemplary commitment to historical writing and research in a HIS 301 Seminar or a 400-level History Seminar during the previous fall semester, as demonstrated in an outstanding seminar paper. Faculty may nominate one student per seminar; self-nominations or applications are not possible. Both History Majors and Minors may be nominated, and there is no preference for a particular group of students or particular topics. These Early Recognition Awards do not include a financial compensation or scholarship. Recipients are recognized through a certificate and an announcement on the department’s website and social media.

The College of Arts and Sciences also maintains a list of scholarships and awards made available to undergraduate students within the College.

• Read the scholarship descriptions carefully
• Gather required documents (personal statements, letters of recommendation, project descriptions)
• Submit your application online

Ready to take the next step? Apply below and let your passion for history take you further. 🚀