Department of History Celebrates Honors Day

The Department of History recognized our outstanding undergraduate and graduate students on Friday, April 7, 2023 at ten Hoor Hall. Friends and family joined to show their support for their students, and the event showed the strong community formed within the department, as well as the exemplary accomplishments and dedication from our students.

The following awards and recognitions were bestowed by the department and university.

The 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 a graduate student of superior competence in American History. The recipients must be in residence at the time the award is used. Students are nominated by the Department of History faculty.

The 2023 recipient of this award: Tagen Haga

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 2023 recipient of this award: Stephen Boutwell

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 in 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 Department of History faculty. This award carries a monetary prize.

The 2023 recipient of this award: Jessica Brodt

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 2023 recipient of this award: Luke Voyles

The Outstanding Teaching by a Master’s Student Award

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

The 2023 recipient of this award: Katherine Friday

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 Department of History. The recipient may be anyone in the Department of History (undergraduate, graduate, faculty, staff), the University, the State, or the community.

The 2023 recipient of this award: Julia Brock

The Dr. Russell Bryant Endowed Scholarship

Established in 2020 by a former student of Professor Bryant, this award is given annually to an outstanding first-generation undergraduate majoring in History.

The 2023 recipient of this award: Bradley Fuller

The Charles Grayson Summersell Award
for Most Distinguished Undergraduate History Student

Established in 1974, this award is given annually to the most distinguished undergraduate student or students majoring in History.

The 2023 recipients of this award: Gavin Jones and Olivia Ricche

The Charles Grayson Summersell Memorial Scholarship

Established in 1988 by Frances S. Summersell in hon-or of her husband, Dr. Charles Grayson Summersell,
these scholarships are awarded to juniors and seniors majoring in history. Academic merit is the primary criterion.

The 2023 recipients of this award: Kara Hutchinson and Mary Payne

The Dr. Howard Jones Endowed Scholarship

Established in 2015 in honor of Dr. Howard Jones, University Research Professor of History Emeritus at The University of Alabama, Dr. Howard Jones, this award is given annually to undergraduate students majoring or minoring in History. The recipients of this scholarship are chosen by a standing scholarship committee of the College of Arts and Sciences.

The 2023 recipients of this award: Brooklynn Coleman, Sarah Jaggears, and Lewis Zannis

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 a bibliography. This award carries a monetary prize. Students must be nominated by the Department of History faculty.

The 2023 recipient of this award: JP Sollohub

The Alumni Student Award

The Alumni Student Award recognizes two students from the entire senior class who have consistently demonstrated exceptional achievement and personal character and whose contributions to the University exemplify the spirit of the UA tradition.

The 2023 recipient of this award: Olivia Ricche

The Lee David and Florence Weinberg Black Scholarships in History

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 Department of History faculty.

The 2023 recipients of this award: Mary Olivia Dudley, Nicholas Elwing, Lauren Hudson, William Smith

Undergraduate Historical Society

Kara Hutchinson, President; Cody Preston, Vice President; Teni Ciby, Treasurer; Teddy Molineaux, Secretary

Peer Mentors

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

Will Collins, Nicholas Elwing, Emily Evans, Chiara Fiandaca, Claire Holcomb, Jared Krivo, Josh Lockhart, Garrett Mayo, William Morris, Teddy Molineaux, Mary Payne, Kaylin Robinson, Bailey Tillman, Julie Widman, Christian Williams, and Olivia Womack

Phi Alpha Theta

Brooklynn Coleman, Mitchell Lynn, Teddy Molineaux, Anna O’Farrell,
Andrew Post, Maxwell Stults, Bailey Tillman, Tyler White, and Olivia Womack

Crimson Historical Review

Gavin Jones, Chief Editor; John French, Production Editor;
Kara Hutchinson, Chief Review Board Editor; Sarah Jaggears, Chief Copy Editor

Honors Thesis

Kara Hutchinson, Gavin Jones, and Garrett Mayo