Pinderhughes Graduate Research Award

The Department of African American Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign invites applications from graduate students for the Fall 2022 Prof. Dianne Pinderhughes Graduate Research Award. The award winner will receive a $500 stipend to help defray costs for research or conference travel. The funds can be used for expenses accrued during the Fall 2022, Spring 2023, or Summer 2023. Applicants from a broad range of disciplines will be considered, provided they work on a topic related to African American, African, or African Diaspora Studies. Applicants should send their current CV along with a 1-page, single-spaced proposal explaining their research project and how they will use these funds. Applications should be sent to Awards Committee chair John Meyers (meyersjp@illinois.edu) by November 15, 2022. We expect to award additional funds during the Spring 2023 semester.

William Warfield Creative Expression Award

This award was established to honor the contributions of William Warfield to the Champaign-Urbana, national and world communities. The purpose of the award is to recognize the active involvement and accomplishments of an Illinois undergraduate or graduate student in promoting African American cultural and/or artistic life.

Doris Hoskins and John Lee Johnson Community Linkage Award

This award was established to honor the contributions of Doris Hoskins and John Lee Johnson to the Champaign-Urbana community. The purpose of the award is to recognize the outstanding service, leadership, and innovation of a UIUC student to improve the campus or broader community with respect to issues around racial equity and social justice.

Richard and Mildred Barksdale Academic Excellence Award

This award honors the multiple contributions of Richard and Mildred Barksdale to African American Studies at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and to the broader university and community. The award recognizes excellence in academic achievement by an undergraduate student in the field of African American Studies.

Winners of the above awards will be announced at the Annual African American Studies Year-End Reception to be held in late April. The recipients will each receive a personalized award, recognition at the reception, and have their names placed on plaques displayed in the African American Studies conference room.

Outstanding Undergraduate Research Paper

The program will award two prizes for research papers completed by an undergraduate student from any college at Illinois.  Award revisions are occurring with more details coming soon.