Scholarships & Awards in History & Political Science

The History and Political Science Department is proud to present three scholarships and awards to students based on academic achievement and success. To be eligible, students must demonstrate financial need by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and a UIndy application for financial aid by March 10. They must also meet any other noted criteria.

• Donald F. Carmony Award
• Roland T. Nelson Award
• Dwight L. Smith Award
• UIndy Law Scholar
• Mary L. Cannon Scholarship
• George A. Marshall Scholarship

The Donald F. Carmony Award for Excellence in History and Politics

Graduating from Indiana Central College (now known as the University of Indianapolis) in 1929, Donald Carmony went on to earn his PhD in History from Indiana University. After receiving his PhD, Dr. Carmony taught at Indiana Central until 1939 and then at IU until retiring in 1980. He served in a variety of administrative roles at IU, which led to directing the extension center that is now IU-South Bend. Considered a leading expert on Indiana history, he published his first book in 1941 and his last in 1998, just seven years before his death.

The recipient of the Carmony Award, an endowed scholarship, also receives the George and Ruth Hagelskamp Memorial Scholarship. The awards are given at the end of the academic year to the student with the highest grade point average among history, political science and international relations majors in the junior class, to be applied to his or her senior year costs. The amount of the award varies depending on available funds.

The Roland T. Nelson Scholarship

Earning his PhD from the University of Chicago, Roland T. Nelson specialized in American intellectual and religious history. He joined the faculty of Indiana Central (the University of Indianapolis) in 1959 and served as the Department of History and Political Science chair from 1964 to 1981, which is when he retired. While teaching at Indiana Central, Dr. Nelson founded the Honors program and helped further the cause of international studies and cross-cultural understanding on campus.

The Nelson Scholarship is awarded at the end of every academic year to a sophomore student with the highest grade point average among history, political science and international relations majors, to be applied to the cost of his or her junior year. The amount of the award varies depending on available funds.

The Dwight L. Smith Award for Excellence in Research and Writing

After graduating from Indiana Central (the University of Indianapolis) in 1940, Dwight L. Smith went on to receive his PhD in History from Indiana University. Dr. Smith taught at Ohio State from 1949 to 1953. He then taught at Miami University of Ohio until he retired in 1984. Originally focusing on the Old Northwest, Dr. Smith later became an expert on the American West and an early advocate of studying Native American and African American history.

The Smith Award is given annually to a student demonstrating excellence in research and writing. The authors of the best student papers in the entire department receive prizes of up to $500.

University of Indianapolis Law Scholar

The University of Indianapolis has partnered with the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law to create the University of Indianapolis Law Scholar. Each year, one student or alumnus will be nominated for the award and will receive: 

1. A minimum half-tuition scholarship throughout their studies at IU McKinney
2. A guaranteed experiential learning opportunity of either an externship in the Indianapolis Bar or a research assistantship at IU McKinney

The program is designed to assist students financially and experientially when they matriculate to IU McKinney and to encourage students to consider IU McKinney for their legal studies.

Eligible candidates must have completed an application to IU McKinney by March 1 of the year in which they are applying to law school as well as complete their award application by the same date. The University of Indianapolis Law Scholar Committee will then select and submit its nomination to IU McKinney by April 1. The awardee will be notified shortly thereafter.

Read full article: "University of Indianapolis partners with IU McKinney School of Law for new scholar program"

Mary L. Cannon Scholarship

The Mary L. Cannon Scholarship is awarded to a senior majoring in History or Political Science.

George A. Marshall Scholarship

The George A. Marshall Scholarship is available to history majors who have maintained satisfactory academic progress and have demonstrated financial need.