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Department of HistoryGiandoni Awards


The Department of History is grateful to former ODU history major Will Giandoni for his generous support of a series of programs designed to benefit our students.

The Giandoni Awards in History will enhance and support

  1. Undergraduate scholarships to attract majors to the history program;
  2. Undergraduate and graduate participation in study abroad trips;
  3. Intensive undergraduate research with faculty members; and
  4. Graduate student research


Giandoni Awards in History


Important Deadlines

  • Study Abroad Scholarship due date: January 26, 2024
  • Scholarship application due date: April 1, 2024
  • Undergraduate Research Award due date: Friday, May 3, 2024
  • Graduate Research Award due date: Friday, May 3, 2024

*Applicants must spend the funds within six months of notification of the award.

If you have any questions, please email history@odu.edu.


Giandoni Scholarships in History

The competitive scholarships will encourage excellent undergraduate students to major in History at Old Dominion University by defraying the costs of undergraduate tuition.

Learn more and apply

  • A maximum of $30,000 will be granted during each academic year.
  • All Award monies will be used for the payment of undergraduate tuition.
  • The Giandoni Awards Committee will evaluate all applications for overall academic merit, prior performance in the History Department and continuing promise as a History student.
  • Applicants must be rising sophomores or higher, who are enrolled as History majors or minors with a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher, and who have taken at least 12 credit hours in the ODU History Department OR completed 9 credit hours in the ODU History Department plus 3 credits in History at another institution, and are making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), as defined by the Office of Student Financial Aid.
  • Students must be enrolled for 12+ credits during the semester(s) in which they are to receive the award.
  • Recipients who have not previously taken HIST 201: Historical Methods will be required to take the course during the scholarship semester.
  • Applicants may apply for either one or two semesters of support. Awards will typically be in the amount of $2500 to $5000 but the size and number of awards will be decided at the committee's discretion.
  • Applicants may reapply in future semesters but priority will be given to excellent students who have not yet received the Award.
  • ODU's Office of Student Financial Aid will administer the Giandoni Scholarships in History.
  • Accepting a Giandoni scholarship will not affect your Pell grant eligibility


Applications for the Giandoni Scholarship in History for the Fall Semester are due by April 1, 2024 If you have any questions, please email history@odu.edu.

 Application
 Faculty Recommendation Form



Giandoni Study Abroad Scholarships

The support will significantly defray the cost for Department of History undergraduate or graduate students for their participation in Study Abroad programs.

Learn more & apply

  • Awards offer financial assistance in the amount of $1,000 to $5,000 per study-abroad engagement.
  • A maximum of $10,000 will be granted during each academic year.
  • Award monies will be used for tuition costs, travel expenses, or other fees related to study-abroad. Students will not receive financial assistance to exceed the full cost of a study-abroad engagement, and cannot combine awards with the Center for Global Engagement or other funding sources when the total financial assistance would exceed the full cost of a study-abroad engagement.
  • The Giandoni Awards Committee will evaluate all applications for overall academic merit, prior performance in the History Department, and the stated benefit of study abroad for the student's current study of history and anticipated career trajectory.
  • Applications may include proposals for the student to participate in short-term study abroad, semester-long study-abroad, or year-long study abroad programs overseen by the Center for Global Engagement.
  • Applicants must be an undergraduate student enrolled in the BA program as a History Major or Minor with a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher, or a graduate student enrolled in the MA program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, making Satisfactory Academic Progress as defined by the Office of Student Financial Aid.
  • Applicants may only receive one Study Abroad Award.
  • ODU's Office of Student Financial Aid will administer the Giandoni Study Abroad Scholarships.
  • Accepting a Giandoni scholarship will not affect your Pell grant eligibility

Applications for the Giandoni Study Abroad Scholarship for the Fall Semester are due by January 26, 2024. If you have any questions, please email history@odu.edu.

 Application
 Faculty Recommendation Form



Giandoni Undergraduate Research Award

The support will provide a payment to both undergraduate students and their faculty advisors who participate in the Department of History Undergraduate Research Program.

Learn more and apply

  • Awards offer financial assistance in the amount of $1,000 to $3,000 per research proposal.
  • Each award will include a $750 stipend for the full-time faculty member advising the student research, deducted from the total amount of the award.
  • A maximum of $9,000 will be granted during each academic year.
  • Award monies will be used for tuition costs for independent research (HIST 497, or a similar course), travel expenses, database access, photocopying costs, and other research-related expenditures.
  • The Giandoni Awards Committee will evaluate all applications for overall academic merit, prior performance in the History Department, faculty advisor approval, and the strength and feasibility of the proposed research project.
  • Applications may include proposals for student research to be conducted in a single semester, including summer.
  • Applicants must be an undergraduate student enrolled in the BA program as a History Major or Minor with a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher making Satisfactory Academic Progress as defined by the Office of Student Financial Aid.
  • Previous Undergraduate Research Award winners may reapply with a subsequent research proposal, but priority will be given to excellent students who have not yet received the Award.
  • ODU's Department of History will administer the Giandoni Undergraduate Research Awards.
  • Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until a final deadline at the end of the semester.
  • Applicants must spend awarded funds within six months of notification of the award.
  • Accepting a Giandoni scholarship will not affect your Pell grant eligibility

Applications for the Giandoni Undergraduate Research Award for the Fall Semester are accepted on a rolling basis with a final deadline of Friday, May 3, 2024. If you have any questions, please email history@odu.edu.

 Application
 Faculty Recommendation Form



Giandoni Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award

The support will award $500 annually to the History Major with the overall highest GPA.

Learn more

  • The award winner must be an undergraduate History Major.
  • The Giandoni Awards Committee will issue this award to the History Major with the overall top GPA in the undergraduate program at the end of each academic year once Spring grades are submitted. The committee will also take into consideration the number of courses the History Major has taken in ODU History Department.



Giandoni Graduate Research Award

The support will enable advanced graduate students in the M.A. program to progress on the research and writing of a M.A. thesis in collaboration with a faculty member.

Learn more and apply

  • Awards offer financial assistance in the amount of $500 to $3,000 per research proposal.
  • A maximum of $6,000 will be granted during each academic year.
  • Award monies will be used for travel expenses, database access, photocopying costs, and other research-related expenditures.
  • The Giandoni Awards Committee will evaluate all applications for overall academic merit, faculty advisor approval, and the strength and feasibility of the proposed research project.
  • Applicants must be enrolled in the History M.A. program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Students without a demonstrable ODU GPA must request a recommendation form from a second ODU faculty member and approval from the Graduate Program Director.
  • ODU's Department of History will administer the Giandoni Graduate Research Awards.
  • Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until a final deadline at the end of the semester.
  • Applicants must spend awarded funds within six months of notification of the award.
  • Accepting a Giandoni scholarship will not affect your Pell grant eligibility

Applications for the Giandoni Graduate Research Award for the Fall Semester are accepted on a rolling basis with a final deadline of Friday, May 3, 2024. If you have any questions, please email history@odu.edu.

 Application
 Faculty Recommendation Form







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