2025 R&LHS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
The Railway & Locomotive Historical Society is proud to sponsor scholarships to promote the study, at a professional academic level, of railroad history and operations. The scholarships are named in honor of three individuals, George W. Hilton, Edward Myers and Bruce R. Ward, who generously bequeathed funds to the R&LHS. 2025 marks the sixth year of the program. In the program’s first five years, the R&LHS awarded scholarships to 22 highly qualified applicants.
Scholarships, each in the amount of $4,000 per academic year, may be awarded at the discretion of the R&LHS Scholarship Committee. Undergraduates (2nd, 3rd and 4th year) and graduate students may apply. Scholarship applicants must be enrolled at an accredited college/university in a degree-seeking program in the 2025-2026 academic year. Fourth year, graduating seniors are eligible if, by the application submission date, they have been accepted for graduate study.
The program is open to students majoring in history, transportation, transportation logistics, engineering, or other major where the student’s work has a demonstrated connection to railroad history, operations, engineering, or economics.
Timeline for Applications and Awards
- January 1- Applications may be requested.
- March 31- Applications due.
- May 31- Committee decisions due.
- June 30 – Notification to Scholarship applicants.
- August 1- Funds distributed. The award will be sent to the college or university to be applied to the student’s account to pay for educational expenses.
Application Procedures
- Application packets must include a 2025 Application Form that can be requested from scholarship@rlhs.org. Applicants will then receive the form as a Word document, which must be completed, signed, and included in the application packet.
- Complete application packets should be sent to scholarship@rlhs.org. Questions about the program can also be directed to this address.
- Packets must be received by midnight, Eastern Time, on March 31st
- Packets received late, or incomplete, will not be considered.
- The decisions of the committee are final.
Qualifications for undergraduate applicants in their 2nd or 3rd year at the time of application
- Enrolled in a regionally accredited college/university in a degree-seeking program and will have at least junior status at the time of the award.
- Enrolled in at least six credit hours of classes.
- Applicant must specify if enrollment is by the semester, trimester, or quarter.
- Minimum 3.0 GPA on the four-point scale.
- Undergraduate award recipients in their third year at the time of application may reapply for one additional year of funding for undergraduate studies, provided that all qualifications continue to be met.
Qualifications for undergraduate applicants in their 4th or senior year at the time of application who will be pursuing graduate studies
- Enrolled in a regionally accredited college/university in a degree-seeking program.
- Have been accepted to a graduate program and will start their graduate studies during the next academic year.
- Enrolled in at least six credit hours of classes.
- Applicant must specify if enrollment is by the semester, trimester, or quarter.
- Minimum 3.0 overall GPA on the four-point scale.
Required documents for undergraduate applicants
- Statement of Purpose – In 500 words (or two pages) the applicant must describe their interest in railroad history/operations, the connection between their academic studies and railroad history/operations, and outline their career goals. Applicants are invited to include documentation of coursework, research projects or other activities that would help illustrate their statement of purpose. (Such documentation is optional for 2nd and 3rd year undergraduate awards applications; however, it is required for 4th year award applications).
- Faculty Recommendation – The letter should describe the student’s previous work for/with the faculty member and provide a general overview of the student’s academic potential. The recommendation from a professor or faculty member should be sent directly as a separate document to rlhsscholarship@gmail.com by the faculty member.
- Character Reference – Applicant must provide a one-page statement about the applicant’s character from someone who knows the applicant well but is not an immediate family member.
- College Transcript — Registrar-issued, “unofficial” transcripts accepted.
- Fourth year undergraduates with plans to continue with graduate studies must submit some evidence of enrollment or acceptance in a graduate study program. This may be an acceptance letter from the institution.
Qualifications for graduate applicants
- Enrolled in a regionally accredited college/university in a degree-seeking program.
- Enrolled in at least six credit hours of classes or, if all coursework is completed, enrolled in thesis, dissertation, or continuation credits.
- Applicants must specify if enrollment is by the semester, trimester, or quarter.
- Minimum 3.0 overall GPA on the four-point scale.
- Past R&LHS scholarship recipients may reapply annually and be awarded funds up to three times, including any undergraduate awards. Past recipients must show progress toward completion of their degree to be eligible for additional scholarships.
- Unsuccessful applicants are invited to reapply for the next award cycle.
Required documents for graduate applicants
- Statement of Purpose – In 500 words (or two pages) the applicant must describe their interest in railroad history/operations, the connection between their academic studies and railroad history/operations, and outline their career goals. Applicants are expected to include documentation of coursework, research projects or other activities that would help illustrate their statement of purpose.
- Faculty Recommendation – The letter should describe the student’s previous work for/with the faculty member and provide a general overview of the student’s academic potential. The recommendation from a professor or faculty member should be sent directly as a separate document to rlhsscholarship@gmail.com by the faculty member.
- Character Reference – Applicant must provide a one-page statement about the applicant’s character from someone who knows the applicant well but is not an immediate family member.
- College Transcript — Registrar-issued, “unofficial” transcripts accepted.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV).
By submitting an application, the applicant grants the R&LHS permission for their name to be used to publicize recipients and develop promotional material for the scholarship award program.