Thelma Sara Biddle Scholarship

Established in memory of Thelma Sara Biddle, Ph.D., who taught in Richmond area public schools and then in the VCU Department of History for two decades before being named assistant professor emeritus, the Thelma Sara Biddle Scholarship is given to a rising full-time junior or senior-level student majoring in history with the intention of teaching at the middle, secondary or college level.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

  • Applicants must be Junior or Senior history majors who plans to teach
  • Must have a minimum of 12 hours of History courses at VCU, with 6 hours in upper-division courses.
  • Must have a minimum 3.0 GPA overall.

REQUIRED MATERIALS AND ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:

  • Eligible applicants should submit a statement of no more than 250 words explaining their interest in teaching. This statement will be used to assess other essential qualities of the Thelma S. Biddle Scholar, including writing skills, ability to articulate historical concepts, historical mindedness, imagination, and engaging personality.
  • Also, applications should request and obtain two letters of recommendation from VCU History faculty, uploaded to the scholarship portal. Faculty assessments of the student’s writing skills, ability to articulate historical concepts, historical mindedness, imagination, and engaging personality will also be considered.

Award
Varies
Scopes
College of Humanities and Sciences, VCU Foundation
Deadline
03/31/2025
Supplemental Questions
  1. Submit a statement of no more than 250 words explaining your interest in teaching.
  2. Have you completed 12 hours of history courses at VCU including 6 hours in upper-division courses?
  3. Please provide the name and email address of a VCU History faculty member to write a letter of recommendation on your behalf.
  4. Please provide the name and email address of a second VCU History faculty member to write a letter of recommendation on your behalf.