Each April, the Department of History salutes the achievements of its students, recognizing their commitment to excellence and high academic and personal standards.  The faculty of the Department of History extends our heartfelt congratulations to the families and friends of the students honored today.  On this Honors Day, please know that we share your pride in the hard work demonstrated by your honoree and look forward to the many further contributions he or she will certainly make, both to our university and to the larger world.

Charles Grayson Summersell Memorial Scholarship Award

The 2016 recipients of this award:

Brant Biddle
Miriam Biffle
Jacob Dunlap
Hudson Kelley
Hanna Merrell

The Charles Grayson Summersell Memorial Scholarship
for Most Distinguished Undergraduate History Student

The 2016 recipient of this award

Kevin McPartland

Undergraduate History Honor Students

The 2016 recipients of this award:
Jacob Dunlap:  Advisor, Dr. Lawrence Kohl,
Kevin McPartland:  Advisor, Dr. Lawrence Kohl
Adam Seltzer:  Advisor, Dr. Margaret Peacock
Edward Woodall: Advisor, Dr. Margaret Peacock
Trever Chidester:  Advisor, Dr. Erik Peterson
Jessica Hauger:  Advisor, Dr. Erik Peterson

Lee David Black and Florence Weinberg Black Memorial Scholarship Award

Established in 1981, this fund provides several awards each year to undergraduate history majors. Academic merit is the primary criterion. This prize carries a monetary award. Students must be nominated by faculty.

The 2016 recipients of this award:

Alexander Fries
Jian Gao
Jessica Hauger
Lucas Lowry

Peer Mentors

Established in 2013, the Peer Mentor Program recruits twelve advanced undergraduates to enroll in a one-credit hour leadership course focusing on learning strategies. The mentors use these skills throughout the year to tutor their fellow students.

The 2016 Peer Mentor recipients of this award:

Devon Corbitt
Matthew Culver
Malloray Diamond
Gracie Engle
Sarah Forland
Alex Fries
Hilary Jones
Kaitlyn Kilday
Savannah Martin
Oliver Reed
Charlotte Watters
Heather Wilhite

The Gary Bernard Mills Endowed Dissertation Support Fund

The Gary Bernard Mills Endowed Dissertation Support Fund was established in 2002 in memory of Gary, who was a long-time professor of the Department of History. Begun with a donation from the Mills family, the fund supports dissertation research for graduate students working in areas to which Gary’s own research contributed: the pre-20th-century South with an emphasis on African American, Native American, and Creole history, and family life. The recipient of this award must be nominated by History Department faculty. This award carries a monetary prize.

The 2016 recipient of this award: Lindsay Smith

The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Alabama Essay Award

Established in 1925, the National Society of Colonial Dames of America in the State of Alabama each year presents an award to the writer of an outstanding essay dealing with some aspect of the history of the colonial period, which is defined as American history up to 1815. The essay must be at least five typed pages and must include footnotes and bibliography. This award carries a monetary prize. Students must be nominated by the faculty.

The 2016 recipient of this award: Daniel Burge

The Christopher G. Swindle Graduate Teaching Award

This award was established in 2011 by the Swindle and Owsley families in memory of Christopher, who was a doctoral student and Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Department of History. The recipient is that Graduate Teaching Assistant who best exemplifies the attributes Christopher possessed, including intellectual curiosity, respect for students, and a love of teaching. The award carries a monetary prize.

The 2016 recipient of this award: John Young

The Master Student Teaching Award

Established in 2016, this award recognizes outstanding teaching by a Master’s student.

The 2016 recipient of this award: Jackson Prather

Frank Lawrence Owsley Memorial Scholarship

Established in 1960 by friends, colleagues, and students of the late Professor Owsley, this monetary award is given each year to graduate students of superior competence in American History. The recipients must be in residence at the time the award is used. Students are nominated by the History Department faculty.

The 2016 recipient of this award: Ian Yunker

The Albert Burton Moore Memorial Award

Established in 1969 by friends and students of the late Dean Moore, this award is given each year to an outstanding graduate student in European, Latin American, or Asian History. The recipient must be in residence at the time the award is used.

The 2016 recipient of this award: Tom Crosby

The Ruth Marshall Kibbey Award

Established in 1995, this award is given annually to an individual who has performed dedicated and outstanding service to the History Department. The recipient may be anyone in the History Department (undergraduate, graduate, faculty, staff), the University, the State, or community.

The 2016 recipients of this award: Dr. John Ratliff