Awards and Scholarships

Undergraduate students are encouraged to apply for the awards below by completing the general undergraduate scholarship application found in the UARK AcademicWorks website. Applications are due on February 15th each year. Applicants should include information in their application that with help the anthropology scholarships committee screen for eligibility (e.g., major, GPA, what you plan to do with your degree, financial harship, etc.). Solicitations for travel and graduate awards will be distributed separately by the department. 

 

Arkansas Undergraduate Scholarship in Anthropology

This awards is a need-based scholarship is available to full-time junior or senior undergraduate anthropology majors. The scholarship is renewable for one year, as long as a 3.0 overall grade point average and 3.0 in anthropology courses is maintained.

Arkansas Graduate Fellowship in Anthropology

Awarded to a full-time graduate student in anthropology in support of research and academic work. The grantee is selected by the Admissions and Funding Committee in the Department of Anthropology. Funds must be used to support research and academic work toward the degree of the grantee for the academic year of the award.

Charles R. McGimsey, III Endowment 

Awarded to a full time or a part-time graduate student completing their thesis. Preference will be given to students pursuing greater knowledge of cultural resource management and working with the Arkansas Archeological Survey. The grantee is selected by the Survey Director and State Archeologist on a combined basis of student interest, Survey needs, and faculty recommendation. Funds must be used to support research and academic work toward the degree of the grantee for the academic year of the award.

Hester A. Davis Internship in Public Archaeology 

This award is available to graduate-level students who will intern with the Arkansas Archeological Survey. The internship must address a topic relevant to Public Archeology or Cultural Resource Management. The grantee is selected by the Survey Director and State Archeologist on a combined basis of student interest, Survey needs, and faculty recommendation. Funds must be used to support research and academic work toward the degree of the grantee for the academic year of the award.

Hester Davis was a leader in public archaeology and cultural preservation. She was the first State Archaeologist for Arkansas and Emeritus Professor of Anthropology. In 2015 she was inducted in the Arkansas Women's Hall of Fame. 

Justin M. Nolan Anthropology Excellence Endowed Award

This award is a need-based scholaring providing support for junior or senior level students interested in anthropology, sociology, or the humanities.  Eligible students must be enrolled full time and have completed 24 hours of coursework; preference will be given students in the AA or BS degrees in anthropology. The scholarship may be renewable, so long as the student maintains a 2.5 GPA.

Dr. Justin M. Nolan Memorial Endowed Undergraduate Fellowship in Anthropology

This award is given to an incoming freshman undergraduate student majoring in anthropology. Eligible students must maintain a 2.75 GPA and the award is renewable for three years. Graduates of El Dorado high school are especially encouraged to apply, as are graduates of other schools in Union County, AR, and other neighboring counties. 

Both Nolan awards were made possible by a generous gift from the family of Dr. Justin M. Nolan. Dr. Nolan was a faculty member in the Department of Anthropology from 2002 until he passed away in 2020. He was a notable biocultural anthropologist who worked with Native American and southern US cultures. His research especially focused on ethnobiology, medical anthropology, and the study of region-specific folkways and traditions. 

Kay Simpson Travel Award

The purpose of the award is to send undergraduate students, graduate students, and/or non-tenured faculty from the Department of Anthropology in Fulbright College to conferences with the only caveat being that one person cannot receive all the money.

Octa Norma High Anthropology Scholarship

This is a full tuition scholarship for a worthy anthropology undergraduate or graduate student. It is awarded on a semester by semester basis.

Robert L. Stigler, Jr. Memorial Fund

This award is given to an undergraduate or graduate anthropology student from Jefferson County, Arkansas. Students must interview and display character, scholarship, and financial need. This award is renewable.

The award was made possible by a trust from Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Stigler from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, in memory of their son, Robert L. Stigler, Jr., who received a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Columbia University, where he was employed from 1954 until 1962. The Robert L. Stigler Jr. Endowment also supports a lecture series in archaeology.

Samuel C. Dellinger and Margaret J.and Michael P. Hoffman Endowed Scholarship

This award is given to an outstanding anthropology undergraduate major interested in North American ethnology or archaeology.

Margaret Hoffman was Assistant Professor of Anthropology Emeritus and Associate Curator Emeritus of the University Museum at the University of Arkansas. Michael Hoffman was Professor of Anthropology Emeritus and Curator Emeritus of the University Museum at the University of Arkansas. Samuel C. Dellinger was a Professor of Zoology and Director of the University Museum at the University of Arkansas.