Every year the History Department celebrates the top students in each class year, as well as a small group chosen via application for specific prizes. Although we had to cancel our Honors and Scholarship Ceremony, we are still very proud of all you have achieved!

Althea Stoeckel Memorial Scholarship Award for a Freshman HIST or SST major: Makenna Poindexter

Named in honor of Dr. Althea Stoeckel, who taught Colonial American History at Ball State until 1978, this award is presented to the freshman student who has the highest overall Grade Point Average.

Merrill Rippy Memorial Scholarship Award for a Sophomore HIST or SST major: Samuel Steck

Named in honor of Dr. N. Merrill Rippy, who taught Latin American History at Ball State until 1981, this award is presented to the sophomore student who has the highest overall Grade Point Average.

Lester Schmidt Memorial Scholarship Award for a Junior HIST or SST major: Lauren Latham

Named in honor of Dr. Lester F. Schmidt, who taught American social and intellectual history until 1979, this award is presented to the junior student who has the highest overall Grade Point Average.

Robert A. LaFollette Memorial Scholarship Award for a Senior HIST or SST major: Claire Enk, Gwyneth Harris, and Sophia Hoffert

Named in honor of Dr. Robert A. LaFollette, who was head of the Social Science Department at Ball State from 1921 to 1961, this award is presented to the senior student who has the highest overall Grade Point Average.

Lawrence Birken Memorial Scholarship Award for an History MA student: Paul Ross and William Connelly

Named in honor of Dr. Lawrence Birken, who taught German history at Ball State from 1989 to 2003, this award is presented to the Master’s student who has the highest overall Grade Point Average.

Childress Fellowships: Kaylea Kyle

Through the generosity of Dr. Clifford Childress and the Childress Family Fund, this fellowship helps History majors pursue their educational and vocational goals.

Morton and Linda Rosenberg Scholarship: Ty Sheahan

This scholarship assists students who have exhibited substantial volunteerism and community engagement, both on campus and in the wider community.

Jack Walker Scholarship: Lauren Latham and Madeleine Mills-Craig

Established to celebrate Dr. Jack Walker’s lifelong interest in the study of History and the founding of the United States, this scholarship is awarded to a student who has demonstrated skill in this area.

John and Therese Weakland Scholarship: Kathryn Knight

Through the generosity of Mark Raby and Martha Em, this scholarship commemorates the contribution of Dr. John and Therese Weakland, who taught in the History and Modern Languages Departments at Ball State University. This scholarship celebrates excellence in advanced History majors.

Dwight W. Hoover Scholarship: Cory Balkenbusch

Sponsored by Dr. John R. Crise, and established by Dr. JoAnn and Dr. Richard W. Kixmiller, this scholarship honors Professor Emeritus of History, Dwight W. Hoover, who taught in our department from 1959-1991. This fund for graduate studies in History supports outstanding students who show a special interest in and/or potential for research in the United States or abroad.

Carter G. Woodson Prize

Fall 2020: Amanda Robinson
Fall 2019: Cheyanne Wims

This prize honors the great contribution that Dr. Carter G. Woodson made to African-American History as a professor, scholar, and founder of the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History, as well as his unswerving commitment to intellectual honesty and academic excellence. This prize is awarded to the student who earned the highest grade in History 210 (African-American History) during the previous year and thus follows the tradition of Carter G. Woodson.

Seager Prizes

Paper Prize: Sophia Hoffert
Creative Project Prize: Haley Biggerstaff, Elizabeth Dupire, and Lauren Latham

Through the generosity of Dr. Sharon Seager, an historian of American history who taught in our department, these prizes celebrate the best essay and creative project from Ball State University investigating the history of women, gender, and/or sexuality. These prizes are not confined to the History Department.

Certificate of Special Achievement in Introductory American History:

  • Cailyn Gonzalez
  • Bradley Hamilton
  • Hunter Heacock
  • Kaya Hill
  • Savannah Jordan

Certificate of Special Achievement in Introductory World History:

  • Virginia C. Carter
  • Sydney Collis
  • Marianna Guerra-Uribe
  • Makenna Poindexter

Certificate of Special Achievement to Outstanding Pre-Service Social Studies Teachers:

  • Robert Good
  • Alayna Marusiodis
  • Alyssa Muhvic
  • Tori Treash

Congratulate your friends and classmates on History’s social media platforms (@ballstatehist)! And don’t forget to apply for these awards next year!