Honors and Awards
The History Department offers several awards to graduate students, and our graduate students have been successful in winning university awards as well.
The History Department recognizes outstanding scholarship at the masters and doctoral level. Faculty, the Director of Graduate Programs, and the Director of Public History often nominate graduate students for a number of university, state, and national awards.
Outstanding Thesis and Dissertation Awards
Sponsored by the North Carolina State University College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Thesis and Dissertation Award program is designed to reward outstanding scholarly research at the graduate-level. Students may not apply directly for these awards. Graduate Programs may submit a maximum of two nominations. The two nominations chosen by the department will receive a certificate during the history department graduation ceremony. At the college level, one thesis and one dissertation will be chosen to receive the college award/recognition and the authors will each receive a cash award. Depending on the number of nominations that may be forwarded to the university thesis and dissertation awards committee, the winners and the next highest ranked theses and dissertations will be nominated for the next level award.
Award Winners
Blake Grasso, M.A. History, '21
Sarah Billheimer, M.A. History, ‘17
C.J. Rice, M.A. History, ‘16
Jeff Guilford, M.A. History, ‘14
Mike Mortimer, M.A. History, ‘13 (Under the direction of Dr. Craig Thompson Friend)
Rachel Trent, M.A. Public History, ‘12 (Under the direction of Dr. Craig Thompson Friend)
Jessica Gillespie, M.A. History, 10 (Under the direction of Dr. Craig Thompson Friend); also received the 2011 Conference of Southern Graduate Schools Master’s Thesis Award in Humanities and Fine Arts
Thesis Distinction
An award of “distinction” for the M.A. thesis recognizes History and Public History graduate students who excel in the preparation of their thesis. A thesis earning distinction explores significant historical questions, demonstrates mastery of the relevant historiography, advances a sophisticated argument, supports that argument through insightful interpretation of primary sources, and exhibits exceptional writing. Members of the student's advisory committee decide upon thesis distinction at the oral exam.
2018-2019 Awards of Distinction
Andrew
Sperling,
European
History (Under
the
direction
of
Noah
Strote)
Andrew
Collins,
British
History
(Under
the
direction
of
Megan
Cherry)
Kevin
Shuford,
Medieval
History
(Under
the
direction
of
Julie
Mell)
2015-2016 Awards of Distinction
Melanie
Burkett,
British
History
(Under
the
direction
of
Dr.
Brent
Sirota)
Sarah
Billheimer,
Early
20th Century
US
(Under
the
direction
of
Dr.
Katherine
Mellen
Charron)
CJ
Rice,
Ancient
History
(Under
the
direction of Dr.
S.
Thomas
Parker)
2014-2015 Awards of Distinction
Ashley
Jones,
Ancient
History
(Under
the
direction
of Dr.
S.
Thomas
Parker)
Jesica Lewis,
Ancient
History
(Under
the
direction
of Dr.
S.
Thomas
Parker)
Sarah
Wenner,
Ancient
History
(Under
the
direction
of Dr.
S.
Thomas
Parker)
Kelsey Zavelo,
Modern
American
Diplomacy
(Under
the
direction
of Dr.
Nancy
Mitchell)
Graduate Awards More Stories
Outstanding Teaching Award
The Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Awards serves as the primary university-level forum for recognizing exceptional contributions made by Graduate Teaching Assistants to the educational excellence of the University. The Director of Graduate Programs typically announces a call for nominations for the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Awards in early January. Faculty are encouraged to nominate students they believe exemplify the values of an outstanding TA. In late January, the DGP nominates the department level award recipients (usually two) for the UGSA Outstanding Teaching Assistant Awards. The nominations are reviewed by the Teaching Effectiveness Committee, and those evaluated as winners will be announced at a luncheon attended by the nominees during Graduate Education Week. Departmental winners will receive a certificate during the history department graduation ceremony.
Past Award Winners
2016 AWARDS WINNERS
Mandy
Benter, M.A.
Public
History, ‘15
CJ
Rice,
M.A.
History,
‘16
(Recognition
for
Excellence
in
Mentorship)
Jordan
Karlis,
M.A.
History,
expected
‘17
(Recognition
for
Excellence
in
Mentorship)
2015 AWARDS WINNERS
Sarah
Billheimer,
M.A. History,
‘16
Samantha
Vandermeade,
M.A.
Public
History,
‘15
2014 AWARD WINNERS
Jeff Guilford, M.A., History, ‘14
2013 AWARD WINNERS
Kelsey Zavelo, M.A., History, ‘15
Public History Award
The Public History Award is given to a graduating MA student who exemplifies the enterprising spirit of public history. The Director of Public History requests nominations from the Public History faculty in April. The winner is announced at graduation and receives a certificate during the ceremony.
Past Award Winners
2019 Award Winner
Hanna Howard, M.A. Public History, '19
2018 Award Winner
Gillian Mahoney, M.A. Public History, ‘18
2017 AWARD WINNER
Marie Nicole Coscolluela, M.A. Public History, ‘17
2016 AWARD WINNER
Abigail Jones, M.A. Public History, ‘16
2015 AWARD WINNER
Samantha Smith, M.A. Public History, ‘15
2014 AWARD WINNER
Rachel Moore, M.A. Public History, ‘14
Graduate Capstone Project Award
The purpose of the Graduate Capstone Project Award is to recognize outstanding capstone/culminating projects completed in non-thesis Master's degree programs. The Director of Graduate Programs announces a call for nominations in late September. Nominations are student initiated. Capstone projects qualifying for the award include research articles, internships, research/grant proposals, and research exhibits. Selected student nominations at the department level are sent for review by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences committee. Winners are announced at the end of the fall semester.