The History Department annually recognizes an outstanding junior or senior major working in the field of American history. Candidates for the prize are nominated by faculty on the basis of academic achievement and all nominees are required to submit a major piece of academic writing in being considered for the award. Intended to honor the academic achievements of a student who hopes to pursue a career in history or the public humanities, the prize was established in 2014 by UVM alumnus Arnie Goran '54 and his wife Mariel.

The History Department annually recognizes its outstanding graduating senior history major with the strongest academic record (as measured by overall grade point average and grade point average in History courses) with the Paul D. Evans Award for Excellence in History. Paul D. Evans had a distinguished career as a professor of history from the 1930s until his retirement in 1972. Consideration is also given to the level of difficulty of the courses taken within the major and preference accorded to those students doing a senor honors thesis in History.

The History Department annually recognizes an outstanding junior or senior history major or graduate student in U.S. History. Priority is given to students who demonstrate a commitment to the study of the political and/or intellectual history of the U.S. Constitution and U.S. form of government, or the diplomatic and military history of the U.S. Established in 2024 by Arthur H. Miller ’75 and Cindy Orns Miller ’78, the award honors two outstanding teachers and scholars in the UVM History Department: Professors Mark A. Stoler and Samuel B. Hand.

• Junior or senior standing
• 15 or more UVM credit hours in History (5 courses)
• 3.6 GPA in History
• 3.4 overall GPA

• 15 or more UVM credit hours in History (5 courses)
• 3.75 GPA in History

Further details are available from the Phi Alpha Theta faculty advisor, Professor Sean Field. Additional information about the National Honor Society is available on the Phi Alpha Theta National website.