Foundation Scholarships

Butterfield American History

The Butterfield American History Scholarship will be awarded annually to a junior or senior history major and Wisconsin high school graduate interested in continuing graduate work in American history, who has demonstrated intellectual curiosity, academic effort, personal character, and both scholarly potential and an in-class aptitude for likely success in graduate school. If the recipient is a senior, he/she must have at least one semester of study at UW-Eau Claire remaining to receive the scholarship. The purpose of this award is to recognize, support and encourage an exceptional U.S. history student interested in pursuing a Ph. D. or Master’s degree.

The American history-focused faculty members would select the recipient. Applicants must be nominated by an American history faculty member or talk to one of them and subsequently receive their recommendation to apply. Applicants must compose a 2-3 page essay outlining why they chose UW-Eau Claire, how they became interested in American history, why they are interested in attending graduate school, their expectations of grad school, what they hope to accomplish and why they believe they will be a successful graduate student. The essay also should include the subject and period of study they expect to concentrate on in graduate school. At the beginning of their essay, they should include the name of their Wisconsin high school, their UWEC GPA and the names of grad schools they have already investigated or ones they might be interested in attending.

The deadline, method of notification and specific application and review procedures shall be determined by the History Department's scholarship selection procedure. The form should be returned to the History Department office by March 5.

Before the end of the Spring Semester

The department chair will complete and submit a “Scholarship Award Form” to the Financial Aid Office in order for the scholarship to be paid.

Interested applicants may wish to contact the scholarship donor, Shane Butterfield, a 2002 UW-Eau Claire history graduate now in graduate school at the University of Rochester (Rochester, NY), to obtain his insights and advice. He also is interested in visiting with the applicants regarding graduate school issues. He may be contacted at brfd@mail.rochester.edu.