Prize Day is the History Department’s annual awards ceremony recognizing outstanding undergraduate and graduate students for their academic excellence, research, teaching, and contributions to the discipline of history. Sponsored by the History Department, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the UConn Foundation, the event celebrates student achievement through a variety of scholarships, fellowships, and prizes made possible by the generosity of alumni, faculty, and donors.
Graduate Prizes
Albert E. & Wilda E. van Dusen Scholarship
Albert E. Van Dusen served as a UConn history professor from 1949 until 1983. A professor of Connecticut history as well as American colonial and revolutionary history, Professor Van Dusen was appointed Connecticut State Historian in 1952. An exemplary and devoted teacher and scholar, he helped establish the department’s Ph.D. program. In the words of a former colleague he was “widely admired for his gentle humor, legendary field trips, matchless integrity, and solid professionalism.” In 1983 Professor Van Dusen and his wife Wilda established the Albert E. and Wilda E. Van Dusen Scholarship Fund to support meritorious graduate students studying in any field of history.
Price Recipients
2026 – Tim Brown
2025 – Lincoln Hirn and Yusuf Mansoor
2024 – Alex Keuny and Nicole Weatherwax
2023 – Constance Holden and Zhengyuan Ling
Bruce M. & Sondra Astor Stave Prize in Recent American History
Professor Stave served as a UConn history professor from 1970 until 2002. Over the course of an extraordinary career, he established himself as one of the leading scholars of modern United States urban history. Professor Stave served as Department Chair from 1985 until 1994, was named Director of the Center for Oral History, and retired as a Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor. He published a history of the University of Connecticut (1881-2006). The Bruce M. and Sondra Astor Stave Prize is awarded to an outstanding full-time graduate student in CLAS. Preference is given to candidates who have conducted their own oral history projects, employed oral history sources in their work, or demonstrated achievement in the study of urban history.
Price Recipients
2026 – Robert Dubovy III
2025 – Nicole Weatherwax
2024 – Katrina Martinez
2023 – Nicole Weatherwax
Connecticut Celebration 350th Scholarship
At the conclusion of the State of Connecticut’s 350th Anniversary Celebration in 1987, the organization in charge of the commemoration established an annual award for the purpose of providing a scholarship for an upper-division undergraduate history major, or a fellowship for a graduate student in history with a concentration in American history.
Price Recipients
2026 – John Guthrie and Ava Mitchell
2025 – Karen Lau and Katherine King
2024 – Kymberly Roberts and Lillian Stockford
2023 – Ayane Reis Da Conceicao and Madie Peladeau-Ruel
Graduate Student Teaching Excellence Award
Established by the history department in 1999 this award is presented each year to one of the department’s graduate lecturers who has, for at least two semesters, demonstrated excellence in teaching. The award recipient is selected on the basis of student evaluations, syllabi, and faculty recommendations.
Price Recipients
2026 – Zhengyuan Ling
2025 – Katherine Beene
2024 – Alex Beckstrand
2023 – Kathryn Angelica
Hamill Graduate Scholarship in Latin American History
Hugh M. Hamill served as a UConn history professor from 1964 until 1994. Professor Hamill was an innovative, dedicated, and revered teacher. In the words of a former colleague “he excelled as a teacher and scholar, and one could not find a kinder and more generous colleague.” As a distinguished and renowned scholar he played a crucial role in creating the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies and for ensuring that it would continue to grow as an internationally renowned center within the field. To this credit many of his former students pursued distinguished academic careers in Latin American history. Candidates for the Hugh M. Hamill Scholarship, established in March 2000, are students enrolled in the department’s Latin American or Caribbean History graduate program. The candidates include incoming M.A. and Ph.D. students.
Price Recipients
2026 – Javier Castillo
2024 – Skyler Hodell and Nadia Scott
2023 – Katrina Martinez
Harry J. Marks Fellowship
Harry J. Marks served as a UConn history professor from 1946 until 1978. In the words of a former colleague he was “respected, admired, and beloved by both his students and his colleagues.” He is still remembered for his collegiality, sense of humor, and dedication to teaching. A scholar of European history, he contributed significantly to strengthening the history department. The Harry J. Marks Fellowship, offered since 1991, is awarded to one or two outstanding graduate students, preferably specializing in European social and intellectual history.
Price Recipients
2025 – Katherine Beene
2024 – Zhenguan Ling and Avery McGraw
2023 – Katherine Beene and Kristen Engel
Michael L. Dunphy Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship was established in memory of Michael L. Dunphy, a graduate student in the department of political science. The Dunphy scholarship rotates yearly between the political science, history, and sociology departments. It is given to a graduate student with outstanding intellectual ability, financial need, and strong interest in American government, society, history, or culture.
Price Recipients
2026 – Yusuf Mansoor
Thomas G. Paterson Graduate Fellowship in the History of U.S. Foreign Relations
Thomas G. Paterson, distinguished professor emeritus, served as a UConn history professor from 1967 until 1997. One of the most widely read and respected scholars, Professor Paterson appeared numerous times on radio and television to discuss foreign affairs. A highly popular teacher of undergraduate courses, many of his students became lawyers, teachers, Peace Corps volunteers and members of the business community. The Thomas G. Paterson Fellowship is awarded to an outstanding graduate student majoring in the history of U.S. foreign affairs.
Price Recipients
2025 – John Albert
2024 – David Evans
2023 – Grace Easterly
Undergraduate Prizes
Allen M. Ward Prize in Ancient History
Allen M. Ward served as a UConn history professor from 1969 until 1997. His scholarly reputation and expertise enriched the study of ancient history within the university and the field itself. As an educator, Professor Ward was known for his dynamism, dedication, and breadth of knowledge as a teacher and scholar, and for having inspired generations of students. The Allen M. Ward Prize is awarded to an undergraduate who possesses demonstrated interest and outstanding achievement in the field of ancient history.
Price Recipients
2025 – John Guthrie
2024 – Abby Rodriguez
2023 – Claire Dobbins
Albert E. and Wilda E. Van Dusen Award for Undergraduate Study and Travel in the Fields of Ancient Greco-Roman History and Classical Languages Scholarship
This scholarship was created to provide support for a student in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with demonstrated academic achievement and engagement in the study of or research involving specified languages, requiring travel.
Price Recipients
2025 – Maggie Settje
2024 – Hailey Strom
2023 – Calvin Eppinger, Madeline Plumb, and Ella Wanzer
Heather A. Parker Award for Excellence in Historical Writing
This award was created by undergraduate advisor Heather Parker to recognize a current undergraduate student majoring in History for excellence in writing.
Price Recipients
2026 – Elyssa Hume
2025 – Alyssa Brown
2024 – Chris Lindsay
2023 – Melissa Cisija
Karl Z. Trybus Undergraduate Award for Exceptional Work in Modern European History
This award was created in the memory of Karl Z. Trybus. Mr Trybus graduated in 1965 from the University of Connecticut and spent thirty-two years teaching history in Connecticut. He strongly believed in the rewards associated with hard work in education. Awards given from this fund express his support of both history and learning. The Trybus Undergraduate Award is given to a graduating senior majoring in history, with a concentration in modern Europe.
Price Recipients
2026 – Gwyneth Smith
2025 – Alessandro Portolano
2024 – Avery McGraw
2023 – Biatris Gazaryan
Maddalena and Joseph Perrella Scholarship
The Maddalena and Joseph Perrella Scholarship Fund was established in 1987 by the estate of Vera C. Perrella. The scholarship is awarded to an academically successful student majoring in a discipline related to the study of Italy or its people, including Italian history, culture, arts, language, and economies.
Price Recipients
2026 – Olivia Esparza-Finsmith and Gianluca Latina
2025 – Mauricio Lepe-Zepeda
2024 – Rebecca Douglas
2023 – Maria Brennan
Roger N. Buckley Award
Roger N. Buckley served as a UConn history professor with research and teaching interests in the history of the British Empire and Commonwealth, Europe, and Asia. In 2012 he established the Roger N. Buckley Award to provide a scholarship for high-achieving undergraduate students who demonstrate an interest in Asian history and Asian American Studies.
Prize Recipients
2026 – Adam Thiesen
2025 – Benjamin Pitruzzello
2024 – Aaron Hinze
2023 – Lucas Ruiz
Sandra Rux Award
Established in 2021 by Sandra Rux ’69 to recognize undergraduate or graduate students, majoring in History, with academic achievement and financial need, pursuing a University-approved internship or research project in colonial American history or the broader Atlantic history field.
Price Recipients
2026 – Everett Pedro
2025 – Maggie Settje
2024 – Logan Williams
2023 – Timothy Brown and Kiely Hine
Undergraduate History Excellence Award
Established by the History Department in 1981, this award is presented each year to one or two top history majors. The candidates should have completed at least four history courses above the 1000-level, possess a GPA of at least 3.5 in those courses, and have at minimum a 3.0 overall.
Price Recipients
2026 – Jacob Flinchbaugh
2025 – Kaitlyn Hiis LaRose, Kamara Nyahuma, and Jenna Ulizio
2024 – Noel Fagan and Sahithi Mettu
2023 – Christopher Tyburski