Department of History Student Prizes
Dr. Martin J. Siegel Prize for Excellence in Student Research
The Martin Siegel Prize is awarded annually to the Kean University History Major who best exhibits excellence in Historical Writing and Research through achievement in the History Senior Seminar. Students are nominated by the History Faculty who then select the winning candidate. The Martin Siegel Prize was established by Adrienne Siegel in honor of her late husband, who taught in the Kean University History Department for 40 years.
The award is for an original work of historical scholarship by a student and will be awarded annually--See Dr. Elizabeth Hyde for details. ehyde@kean.edu
Winners
2018- Christopher Morrison (for his work on the study of human sacrifice as a pretense for the Conquest of Mexico)
2017- Jessica DiFranco
2016- Colin Scotti (for his work on the historiography of Thomas Jefferson)
2015- Michael Carter (for his work on the use of the term 'genocide')
2014- Abigail Petritsch (for her work on the historiography of Joan of Arc)
2013- Jonathan Lestrange (for his work on the historiography of the Holocaust)
2012- Joshua Robinson (for his work on the historiography of the sexuality of the composer Franz Schubert)
2011- Christina Santoro (for her work on the historiography of Feminism and the family unit)
2010- Kyle Dunich (for his work on the French Enlightenment)
2009- Cynthia M. Fragale, winner of the first Siegel Prize for Excellence in Researching and Writing
Mark Edward Lender Prize
For Best Student Paper Incorporating Original Primary Source Research
Winners
2019- Nicole Skalenko (for her paper "William Livingston's Revolutionary War Propaganda") and Christopher Thoms-Bauer (for his paper "Children's Crusade: History and Legend")
2018- Caleb Dagnall (for his paper entitled "Statehood and Sovereignty: A case Study of William Livingston from Philosopher to Federalist")
Marcus Ellis Award For Excellence in Teaching
The Department of History announces the Marcus Corey Ellis Prize for Excellence in Student Teaching. This award, offered by the Department of History, honors the memory of Marcus Ellis, a Kean University student, majoring in History with Social Studies Certification, whose life ended tragically on August 31, 2016. Marcus is remembered by his professors and classmates for his hard work in the classroom. He was dedicated to helping others through his leadership, volunteer and internship efforts, and ultimately by becoming a history teacher. This award will assist Kean History students and future teachers as they complete their student teaching and achieve the goals that Marcus pursued.
In remembering Marcus Ellis, the Department will honor one or more outstanding students majoring in History with Social Studies Certification and preparing to complete their student teaching experience (aka Senior Field) in AY.
Winners
2018- Connor Effenberger and Juliana Reents
2017- Caleb Dagnall
By Student Application only.
Please contact Jonathan Mercantini, Ph.D., jmercant@kean.edu with any questions.