SCHOLARSHIPS & EDUCATIONAL AWARDS

The Congressional Seminar Essay Contest is a major project of The NSCDA as part of the Washington Workshops Foundation, a private nonprofit educational program in American government for high school students. Each year students from around the country submit essays concerning a particular and current question. 

Winners spend an entire week in Washington, D.C. attending meetings of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Supreme Court, and become acquainted with other governmental offices and institutions. They are entertained at Dumbarton House. Reports from participants reveal they gain a heightened interest in our history and government, excitement about experiencing government in action, and a deepened patriotism.

In September of each year, the Patriotic Service Committee will distribute the title for the essay, the entry forms, and other information to history/government teachers, English teachers, and/or guidance counselors in local high schools. 

The question for 2021 was: 

The Electoral College was established in the U.S. Constitution as the election process for the President and Vice President. Support retaining the Electoral College, or propose and support another system to operate in its place. 

   

American Indian Nurse Scholarships – AL contributes $500 to the National Indian Scholarship. 

From the national site: 

American Indian Nurse Scholarship Program

The American Indian Nurse Scholarship Award Program (AINS) was started by the NSCDA in 1928 to give students of American Indian descent the opportunity to pursue careers in nursing. The students are expected to return to work among their people to help improve health care. Some students work on reservations, and others find employment in hospitals in areas largely populated by American Indians. Intended originally to benefit females only, the program has expanded to include males and the career goals now include not only nursing careers, but jobs in health care and health education, as well.

The current goal is to grant a $1,500 scholarship each semester, as long as the student remains in academic good standing. The scholarship money is restricted to tuition and specific academic expenses. To meet the financial demands of their education, many students seek additional government grants and subsidies and maintain part-time jobs.

Learn more about the AINS scholarship HERE

Also, the Annie Wheeler Indian Nurse Scholarship is a local award given and supported by Alabama’s Tennessee Valley Town Committee to a nursing student at Calhoun State College.  

In 1996 the Tennessee Valley Town Committee began awarding the Annie Wheeler Indian Nurse scholarship to a nursing student of American Indian descent at Calhoun Community College in Decatur, AL. The recipients are chosen by the Calhoun Foundation and receive a $2,000 scholarship. Members of our Town Committee attend the Scholarship Recognition Ceremony at the college every fall and meet our recipient. The scholarship is named for General Joe Wheeler’s daughter, Annie Wheeler, who served as a Red Cross Volunteer nurse in three wars. Miss Annie lived in the family home at historic Pond Spring in Lawrence Co. AL until her death in 1955. She was a member of the NSCDA, Alabama number 471. – written, submitted, by Shirley McCrary – Tennessee Valley Township Chair

August 31, 2020

 

Colonial History Research Awards 

The Alabama Society annually awards $500 scholarships to graduate and/or undergraduate students who complete research papers on topics related to the American Colonial Period. In recent years awards have been made to students at Troy University, the University of Alabama at Huntsville, the University of South Alabama, the University of Alabama, and Auburn University. The schools select the winners. 

Local Research Scholarship Awards:

Birmingham –  American Independence Awards are given annually to Samford University students researching in the field of American Colonial History. The purpose of these awards is to promote academic excellence and an appreciation for the Colonial period of American History through research using original source material.  A panel of independent judges read the papers and select the winners.  The winning essays are bound each year and are housed in the archives at Samford University.  

Each year the Birmingham Dames contribute ($5,000 to $6,000) for these awards going to ten to fifteen students.  

**Since 1956 the Birmingham Town Center has annually presented the American Independence Awards to undergraduate students at Samford University for original research in Colonial History. In 2017 Birmingham and the Alabama Society hosted a Jubilee Celebration honoring Birmingham’s SIXTY year commitment to this program. Samford University committed $30,000 to the Jubilee and the Birmingham Dames committed $30,000.

 

Auburn/Opelika – Annie White Mell American Independence Award (following Birmingham’s model) is awarded annually to an Auburn University graduate student for original research in the field of American Colonial History. This award ($1,000) is selected by a panel of Auburn University history professors. 

Submitted by Emily Sparrow: 

Annie White Mell American Independence Research Award

The Auburn-Opelika Town Committee – Colonial Dames of America

 The Annie White Mell American Independence Research Award, established in 2016 by the Auburn-Opelika Town Committee – Colonial Dames of America In the State of Alabama, is designed to encourage scholarly and independent research in the field of American Colonial History. The award will be made to the graduate student who submits the best original research paper in the field of American Colonial History broadly considered, including the Atlantic World, with preference given to papers in the period prior to 1783.  Papers should be a minimum of 15 pages in addition to endnotes and bibliography.  The winning work will be selected by a committee of Department of History faculty. Award recipients are expected to make a presentation of their research findings at an Auburn-Opelika Colonial Dames’ meeting during the first week of May following receipt of the award. The submission may be made by the student directly or as a result of a faculty nomination. Papers should be submitted, with clear indication of the purpose of the submission, to the Department Chair, History Department, 310 Thach Hall, Auburn University, AL 36849. The award includes a stipend of $1,000.

   This award is given in honor of Annie Rebecca White Mell, the wife of Dr. Patrick H. Mell, Jr., who was a professor of geology and botany at Auburn from 1878 to 1902. Annie White Mell was active in many areas, but especially in promoting both educational opportunities and voting rights for women in Auburn and across the state of Alabama.

*Mrs. Mell was one of the original Founders of the Colonial Dames in Alabama and established the first local Dames organization in Auburn.

Montgomery –

*The Margaret Kohn McCall American Independence Award (following Birmingham’s model) is awarded bi-annually to a history student at Auburn University at Montgomery. This scholarship began in 2017. At present the award amount is $500.00. 

*The Hortense Batre Scholarship goes to an outstanding upperclassman majoring in history at Huntingdon College in Montgomery. This scholarship has been ongoing since 1938 and was created in honor of Hortense Batre, the founder of the Colonial Dames in Alabama.

The 2019/2020 recipient is Joslynn Dill from Auburn, Alabama. She received $1897.00 going towards her tuition.  She plans to go into teaching.

Shoals – The American Legion Boys State week in Tuscaloosa on the campus of the University of Alabama is one of the highest honors granted to Alabama high school students from across the state. Students are chosen based on their demonstration of leadership, hard work, strong morals, and motivation in school and community activities. The Shoals Center sponsors a winning delegate from their area to Boys State each year. 

Tuscaloosa – The Tuscaloosa Center has established The American Independence Award (following Birmingham’s model) for students who have completed primary research on Colonial History at the University of Alabama.