Winfield L. Foote Award for Academic Excellence

Stratham Historical Society

Thesis/Dissertation Award for Graduate Students

Purpose: It is the purpose of the Stratham Historical Society, Inc., a non-profit organization, to establish a program of educational awards, with monies received from the investment of the Winfield L. Foote Endowment Fund. These scholarships and awards shall be known as “The Stratham Historical Society Winfield L. Foote Award for Academic Excellence.” The criteria for awarding these monies shall be in keeping with the stated mission of the Society –“to promote the study of the prehistoric and historic past of Stratham, New Hampshire, and of communities and cultures related to that history.”

Award: The Society will make one or more awards to graduate students for thesis or dissertation support on a topic related to the mission of the Historical Society. Proposals from history, sociology, or anthropology are encouraged. Other fields or disciplines will be considered. The amount and number of awards will be based on the payout from the Winfield L. Foote Endowment and the number of qualified applicants.

A minimum of one $2500 award will be made annually to qualified applicants. The award will be announced on or about May 1 each year and will be paid directly to the awardee. The decision of the committee is final.

Award Criteria: Proposals will be evaluated based on the overall quality of organization and written expression, the appropriateness of the research methods to the research question, and the fit with the mission of the Society.

Priority will be given to:

• Topics specifically related to Stratham and Seacoast New Hampshire
• Stratham residents of any accredited college

Non-Stratham residents shall be limited to graduate students attending a New Hampshire college/university.

Application Process: The due date for the application shall be March 1. The application shall include the following:

1. Cover letter stating the applicant’s professional goals and a brief explanation of the fit between the research and the criteria for the award.
2. Research proposal (3-5 pages) including the purpose of the research, specific research goals, and research methods.
3. Two letters of recommendation attesting to the applicant’s qualifications to conduct this research. One letter shall be from the chair of the applicant’s thesis or dissertation committee documenting committee approval of the research proposal.
4. Budget for requested funds with justification
5. Curriculum vitae

Report to the Society: The awardee will present his or her research findings at a meeting of the Society the year following the granting of the award.