Willard Hughes Rollings (1948-2008), a distinguished scholar of Native American History and Ethnohistory, joined the UNL V History Department in 1989 and helped to build the department's Ph.D. program. In his nearly two-decade-long career at UNLV, Willard published two research monographs (The Osage: An Enthnocultural Study of Hegemony on the PrairiePlains and Unaffected by the Gospel: Osage Resistance to the Christian Invasion, I 67 3-1906: A Cultural Victory); wrote numerous articles; and was widely recognized as one of the university's truly outstanding teachers and mentors. Remarkably, and inspirationally, he accomplished so much while courageously fighting brain cancer for a decade and losing his beloved wife and companion, Barbara J. Williams-Rollings, in 2007. This scholarship is a fitting tribute to a man whose legacy includes training graduate students to become professional historians who learned to listen to Native American voices, and tell their stories.

The Willard Rollings and Barbara Williams-Rollings Scholarship in History shall be awarded to a student(s) meeting the following criteria:

  1. Student must be formally admitted to UNLV;
  2. Student must pursue a graduate degree in History;
  3. Preference to student with an interest/emphasis in Native American History through coursework and/or thesis/dissertation; and
  4. Student must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and may be part time or full time.

*Unless otherwise noted, all students who fill out a FAFSA or alternate need form and meet the criteria for the scholarship will be considered. No other application is needed.

*Selected award winner’s name is due to the College of Liberal Arts Dean’s office by December 1st.