Rewarding academic excellence in History

University of Waikato history students will benefit from two new named prizes which will reward excellence in ‘Undergraduate New Zealand History’ and ‘Graduate History Research’. Both prizes have been sponsored by Bridget Williams Books (BWB), an award-winning New Zealand publisher.

Prizes for top history students

The History programme, part of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, has had a long tradition of awarding prizes to top undergraduate students and those studying towards graduate research work.

The Wellington-based publisher, BWB, has agreed to support the two awards with the handsome and generous prize of its new Tangata Whenua. This 544-page hardcover book is due to be released in November 2014.

Other prizes currently on offer through Waikato’s history programme include the ‘Taylor Prize for Excellence in History’, which is awarded to top third level students intending to enrol in graduate studies in history. The programme also supports excellent students at each level of study, and in specific areas of teaching including, Environmental History and United States History.

Support from BWB

Professor Catharine Coleborne, convener of the History programme, is delighted with the support shown by BWB and the ongoing relationship with the press.

“The History programme has a long and strong record of academic achievement in New Zealand history and graduate research, making this support from BWB noteworthy and important as we proceed into the future,” she says.

Coleborne said that a number of PhD history students had recently completed their theses, focusing on topics in New Zealand medical history, environmental history, histories of mental health and histories of gender and crime, all topics of interest to BWB.