History Scholarship Established at UWG

The local chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution has given the University of West Georgia a $27,000 gift to establish an annual scholarship for history students.

March, the Casimir Pulaski chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution started a scholarship fund. Shortly afterward, the chapter received anonymous donations for the fund, including one for $5,000 and another for $20,000, said George Wheeless, the chapter president.

“We wanted to support the university,” said Wheeless, who earned his master of education and specialist in education degrees at UWG.

“The university has been a great source for speakers,” Wheeless said. “If they have anything to do with American history, they’ve come and spoken to us at least once, if not more.”

The first $1,200 scholarship will be awarded in 2012-13 academic year to an undergraduate or graduate student in history. The student should have a 3.5 GPA. Preference will be given to students whose research focus is American history and who have a demonstrated financial need.

“This will help students for generations to come. We are very grateful to the chapter for facilitating this gift and, obviously, to the anonymous donors,” said Randy Hendricks, the dean of the College of Arts and Humanities.

“But I think it’s also a sign of the good work that our history department has done for decades,” Hendricks said.

Pulaski was a Polish count fighting Russian and Prussian influence in Poland. He fled to Paris where he met Benjamin Franklin and volunteered to fight in the American Revolution. He is considered the “Father of the American Cavalry.” Pulaski was mortally wounded in the Battle of Savannah in October 1779.