Scholarships & Awards

The History Department is thrilled to provide undergraduatestudents with the opportunity to apply and be nominated for numerous scholarships and departmental awards.

Many of our awards and scholarships are funded by the generous donations of our alumni and supporters.Pleaseconsider supporting our undergraduate students bymaking a gift to one of our undergraduate funds.

Winning one of these awards may have implications for your total financial aid package, including eligibility for—and funding of—student loans and/or other scholarships. If you have questions or concerns, please contact the Office of Financial Aid to discuss your entire aid package.


Apply for scholarships

The Scholarship Committee particularly encourages underrepresented students in the History department to apply. Underrepresented students include those students from geographic areas and socioeconomic backgrounds who are historically underrepresented in the field of History, and/or students who have faced unusual adversity.

Carol J. Ehlers Scholarship

The Carol J. Ehlers Scholarship is a multi-year scholarship awarded to incoming first-year students with a major in History who display a strong interest in European History. Recipients will receive an annual award of at least $2,500 and up to $10,000 per year for up to four years. The award is merit based. Continuation of the scholarship is contingent upon remaining a History major and maintaining an overallGPAof 3.0 and History majorGPAof 3.3.

Award: $2500 annually for up to $10,000 maximum over four years.

Application Opens: November 1st

  1. Complete the
  2. Search for ""
  3. Complete the additional essays
    • Submit a short essay explaining your interest(s) in European history. (500 word limit)
    • Pick one or two European history courses you are particularly interested in taking and explain why. (300 word limit)

Application Deadline: March 15th
Students selected to receive theEhlers Scholarshipwill be notified by May 30.

Cliff and Carol Pearson Scholarship

The Pearson Scholarship in History, was established by CU alumni Cliff (HIST’82 and ENGR’82) and Carol (JOUR ’81) Pearson and provides a $2,500 undergraduate scholarship to a student enrolled in the College of Arts & Sciences who is pursuing a major in History. Preference will be given to students who are the first generation in their family to attend college and is limited to students with demonstrated financial need. The scholarship is for one academic year and past recipients are encouraged to reapply.

Award: $2500.00

Application Opens: November 1st

  1. Complete the
  2. Search for ""
  3. Complete the additional essay
    • Describe your academic and personal path, including any obstacles you have encountered along the way to becoming a history student at CU Boulder. Why does studying history interest you, and how do you see history fitting into your post-graduate plans? How can the Cliff and Carol Pearson Scholarship help you fulfill your goals?

Application Deadline: March 15th
Students selected to receive thePearson Scholarshipwill be notified by May 30.

Colton G. Erickson Scholarship

The Colton G. EricksonScholarship was established by the History Department with the support of Colton’s family, in memory of former student , who graduated in 2017 while living with brain cancer. The fund will provide undergraduate scholarship awards for students enrolled in the Department of History within the College of Arts & Sciences at CU Boulder. Recipients will have faced unusual adversity in their lives, while achieving excellence as determined by the scholarship application process. Scholarship recipients will also demonstrate financial need. Scholarships will be awarded for one academic year and previous recipients are encouraged to reapply.

Award: $1000

Application Opens: November 1st

  1. Review the""
  2. Complete the CU Boulder General Scholarship Application and the College of Arts & Sciences Scholarship Application.
  3. Demonstrate financial need as determined by the FASFA/CASFA.

Application Deadline: March 15th
Students selected to receive theErickson Scholarshipwill be notified by May 30.

The Virginia and Fred Anderson History Scholarship Fund

The Virginia & Fred Anderson Scholarship in History is given in honor of Emeritus faculty Virginia DeJohn Anderson and Fred Anderson. The fund shall be used to provide undergraduate scholarship awards for students based on financial need and academic merit who are enrolled in the Department of History. This year we encourage applications from students with a strong interest in studying American History.

Award: $1000

Application Opens: November 1st

  1. Review the“
  2. Complete the CU Boulder General Scholarship Application and the College of Arts & Sciences Scholarship Application.
  3. Demonstrate financial need as determined by the FASFA/CASFA.

Application Deadline:March 15th
Students selected to receive the Anderson Scholarship will be notified by May 30.

'History Matters' Scholarship Fund

The History Matters scholarship has been established by CU alumni Louise (Hist’78) and Mark (Hist’78) Bohe, who met in history classes. This undergraduate scholarship will provide awards for junior and senior level students enrolled in the Department of History. Scholarship recipients will demonstrate financial need. Awards are for one academic year and past recipients are encouraged to reapply.

Award: $1000 minimum

application Opens: November 1st

  1. Review the “
  2. Complete the CU Boulder General Scholarship Application and the College of Arts & Sciences Scholarship Application.You will be automatically considered based on your completed General Application.
  3. Demonstrate financial need as determined by the FASFA/CASFA.

Application Deadline:March 15th
Students selected to receive the History Matters Scholarship will be notified inearly April.

details pending

Katherine Jacob Lamont Scholarship

Established in the nameof Katherine J. Lamont, the Lamont Scholarship is $500 - $1000 awarded annually at the discretion of the Dean of the Division of Arts & Humanitiestostudents with a declared major in the Arts and Humanities Division in the College of Arts & Sciences.

  • Qualified students must be an incoming first year, current undergraduate, or current graduate student enrolled full-time with a declared major in the Arts and Humanities Division in the College of Arts & Sciences.
  • Review the
  • To be considered, complete theCU Boulder General Scholarship Application.

    Application Deadline: March 15


Charles R. Middleton Scholarship

is a former member of faculty in the History Department, and former Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. Through a fund established in his honor, the Department annually awards up to $1000 (or a portion of that total ifthe award is shared between two or more recipients) to a student undertaking research leading to an Honors Thesis in History. Application is restricted to students enrolled in the History Honors Seminar (HIST 3110) and studentswill be notified by the Honors Director of when and how toapply.

Robert C. Rogers Scholarship

The Robert C. Rogers Scholarship, established in memory of ,is awarded toincoming first-year, incoming transfer, or continuing undergraduate students with a declared major or minor in History. The scholarship is awarded for one academic year and past recipients are encouraged to reapply.

Priority is given to first-year and continuing students who apply by March 15; if funds remain, applications submitted after this date may be considered. Award offers are not guaranteed. Incoming transfer students may apply through the posted deadline of June 15.

Award: $1000

Application Opens: November 15th

  1. Complete the
  2. Search for ""
  3. Complete the additional essay
    • Why are you choosing to study history at the ? (300 word limit)
  4. Submit an unofficial copy of your transcript from your previous institution.

Application Deadline: June 15th
Students selected to receive the Rogers Scholarship will be notified inearly July.


Honors Thesis Award

The History Department sponsors an annual award of $500 for the best Honors Thesis written in History.All theses successfully defended during the academic year will be automatically considered by the History Honors Committee.


James Field Willard Award

The Award of $500 is annually awarded to aHistory major who has distinguished themself through service related to history. Faculty on the Undergraduate Committee will review all submissions. Detailson how to apply will be distributed by the department annually in the spring semester.


Philip Mitterling Paper Award

Philip Mitterling was a former professor in the Department of History. In his honor, the Department annually awards $500 for the best paper (excluding Honors Theses) written by a History major/minor for a history course at the . Papers will be judged by faculty on the Undergraduate Committee for presentation of historical arguments, evidence, and perspective.Detailson how to submit a paper for considerationwill be distributed by the department annually in the spring semester.