Giandoni Scholarship in History
Jayden Hughes
Jayden Hughes is a Virginia native born in Lynchburg. He currently resides in Norfolk working on his Bachelor’s degree in History with a minor in Political Science. Jayden’s love and appreciation for history has guided him towards pursuing a degree in History at ODU. Jayden is very thankful and honored to be a recipient of the Giandoni Scholarship which has helped him pay for his education while pursuing his studies. Jayden plans on continuing his education with ODU pursuing a Master’s in Public Administration as he hopes to work in local government within the Hampton Roads region.
Zach Myers
Zach Myers grew up in Chesapeake, Virginia and has lived there his entire life. Three things that describe Zach would be Music, Nature, and History. Zach will become a history teacher and teach middle school or high school. The Giandoni Scholarship has given Zach the opportunity to focus on school because he did not have to get a job to pay for his classes. The scholarship allowed him to focus on school work, relax, and pursue his interests and hobbies. Zach likes to spend his free time gardening, in nature, walking a trail, listening to music, playing musical instruments, or learning about the past.
Will Shults
William Shults was born and raised in Virginia Beach and is currently a senior at ODU ending the stretch of his academic path to become a high school history teacher. Before his studies at Old Dominion University, he attended Tidewater Community College, where he graduated with his Associate's Degree and then immediately transferred to Old Dominion afterward. As a future educator, I realize that the overwhelming majority of students do not care about history, especially when compared to myself. Due to this reality, I will ensure that my method of educating students will be as engaging and participatory as possible instead of directing them towards reading textbooks that I love, but they are not interested in. The Giandoni Scholarship will help me considerably regarding the cost of higher education. Being a recipient of this scholarship motivates me further to be the best educator I can be since I have been fortunate enough to be a winner of this selective program.
Ty Singleton
My name is Ty Singleton and I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Due to my mothers nomadic tendencies, I found myself in Virginia. I went to Highschool in Richmond and now I’m looking for permanent residence in the 757 to start my teaching career. This comes with a lot of finacial risks that the Giadonni Scholarship helped me alleviate. I am currently on track to graduate in fall 2025 and this scholarship has essentially increased the chances of me graduating college and going right into the workforce.
Giandoni Study Abroad Scholarship
Ethan Carter
I am currently enrolled in the ODU graduate program of history. I have been focusing on social and cultural history, specifically on the formation of identity. In America, I have often looked at the construction of identities along the lines of race, ethnicity, class, and gender. On a more personal note, my family and I are ethnically Greek and have thought of that as our primary ethnicity all my life. My great-grandfather came from Greece and married the daughter of two Greek immigrants, and that identity has remained within my family ever since. However, I recently took a DNA test and discovered that we actually have very little Greek blood in us, though that has not stopped us from going to Greek festivals and continuing to use our 'authentic' recipes. The Giandoni Award is going to help me go to Greece where the construction of a modern Greek identity is an ongoing political phenomena, just like me and my family. So, this award will help me to go to Greece--not to find my roots--but to figure out why I have imagined them there in the first place.
Faith Grant
I’m Faith Grant, a senior and triple major in History, IT, and Marketing. Though my majors are varied, my interest in history has been lifelong. I’ve always been captivated by not just the lives of those who came before us, but the means by which the history of those lives is passed down. The Giandoni Study Abroad scholarship will allow me to take to the streets of London for the “Table For One: Travel Writing in England” program. There I’ll be able to dive deeper into the intricacies of historical narratives, not confined to textbooks but experienced firsthand through travel and exploration.
Logan Hamilton
Logan Hamilton was born in Houston, Texas and currently lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia with their fiancée and two cats. From a young age, they have been fascinated by history. Logan graduated Old Dominion University with a major in History and a minor in Religious Studies. Logan is currently working on a Masters in history at ODU and hopes to use their education to work with public history.
Giandoni Study Abroad Scholarship winners not pictured:
Haley Walters
Giandoni Internship Scholarship
Roland Davis
I am Roland Davis, and I am currently a junior at Old Dominion University, majoring in history. I was born and raised in Virginia but spent my youth in two cities: Richmond and Norfolk. Both cities’ rich histories instilled in me a deep appreciation for American and African American history at a very young age. My appreciation for history is still evident as an Old Dominion University student, as I strive to continue my education towards a doctorate. I plan on becoming a history professor focusing on African American history and starting a nonprofit organization that inspires youth to pursue a career in history. I also hope to innovate the field of history by encouraging the embrace of Internet technologies in historical analysis and research through the use of online exhibitions.