Provided by Phi Alpha Theta
Phi Alpha Theta awards six annual paper prizes for outstanding historical research papers by student members. Awards include two $500 prizes (one for best graduate paper, one for best undergraduate paper) and four $400 Nels Andrew Cleven Founder’s Paper Prizes (two undergraduate, two graduate). Entries must be submitted by email and follow formatting rules.
Award amount
$500
Number of awards
6 awards available
Frequency
Annually
Deadline
July 1, 2026
Time to apply
60+ min
Essay
May be required — check provider
Must be a member of Phi Alpha Theta (membership will be verified by the National Office)
Undergraduate papers compete in undergraduate category (Lynn W. Turner Prize and Nels Andrew Cleven undergraduate awards)
Graduate papers compete in graduate category (George P. Hammond Prize and Nels Andrew Cleven graduate awards)
Entries must be original historical research on significant subjects, based on source material and manuscripts if possible
Entries should demonstrate good English composition and superior style
Only one submission per student is allowed
Entries must be received by July 1, 2026
Only email submissions will be accepted
Submit essay as an MS Word document or PDF attachment (do not paste essay into email body)
Email subject line must follow the specified format (2026 PAT Paper Prize UNDERGRADUATE submission (UG) OR 2026 PAT Paper Prize GRADUATE (GR))
Email body must include: Name; College Affiliation; Paper Title; Mailing Address; Phone Number; Email Address; College/University where you joined Phi Alpha Theta; Year inducted
Title page should include only the title (do not include name or college affiliation)
Remove headers/footers bearing the student’s name; pages must be consecutively numbered
Papers should not exceed 25 double-spaced typewritten pages (excluding bibliography); a bibliography must be included
Failure to follow submission formatting will invalidate the entry
Confirm eligibility
Review the scholarship eligibility information on this page and on the provider’s official instructions to confirm you qualify before you invest time in an application.
Gather required materials
Collect transcripts, test scores, essays, letters of recommendation, portfolios, or any other items the program lists as required.
Submit through the official program
Complete the application using the provider’s published process—often an online form or portal—and submit before the stated deadline. Keep a copy of your confirmation when available.
Important
Deadlines are set by the scholarship provider. Always confirm dates and instructions on the official site. TuitionCovered does not process applications for external scholarships.
Join thousands of students who have found scholarship opportunities that fit their goals.
Surface scholarships aligned with your background, major, and timeline.
See what is closing soon so you can prioritize high-impact applications.
Explore more awards beyond this page in minutes, not hours of searching.
Stop searching blindly. Get personalized scholarship matches based on your profile and qualifications.
Scholarships similar to this one