Northern Illinois University
Medieval Studies
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

The David L. Wagner Fund was established by Prof. David L. Wagner, one of the founding faculty members of the medieval studies concentration, in order to support undergraduate study of the Middle Ages. This endowment funds scholarships, an annual essay prize, undergraduate engagement opportunities and occasional speakers.

Scholarships

The David L. Wagner Scholarships in Medieval Studies support undergraduate research in medieval studies. The medieval studies coordinators accept applications from medieval studies concentration students the semester before they enroll in IDSP 425 Seminar in Medieval Studies. Applicants must submit a prospectus detailing their proposed research project by the 12th week of the semester. The medieval studies coordinators judge these projects on their quality and award between one and five scholarships per semester depending on available funds. The value of each scholarship is $200.

David L. Wagner Scholarship recipients:

• 2014: Anne Davis
• 2015: Sarah Repking
• 2016: Jeanette Volintine and Jesse Ercolani
• 2018: Claire Spahn
• 2019: Lucy Johnson

Essay Prize

The David L. Wagner Medieval Studies Capstone Prize is awarded to the best IDSP 425 paper for each calendar year. Students and faculty may nominate papers. They are due each February to the medieval studies coordinators. The prize consists of $100 and a book on a medieval topic.

David L. Wagner Capstone Prize recipients:

• 2014: Jennifer Wegmann-Gabb and Matthew Baker (tie)
• 2015: Anne Davis
• 2016: Sarah Repking
• 2017: Timothy Brandner
• 2018 (no prize awarded)
• 2019: Claire Spahn

Engagement Opportunities

Funds from the David L. Wagner Fund are available to offset the costs of conference attendance and other engaged learning experiences for undergraduate medieval studies students. Students may apply for such funds on a rolling basis or medieval studies faculty may nominate students for such funding. Applications should be directed to the coordinators of medieval studies.

Speaker Series

The fund also supports the David L. Wagner Lecture in Medieval Culture which takes place every two to three years, as well as occasional lectures and class visits by medieval studies faculty from outside NIU who come to campus in connection to an undergraduate class focused on the Middle Ages. All of these talks are meant to appeal to undergraduates and are open to the public.

David L. Wagner Lecture in Medieval Culture:

• Robert Berkhofer, Western Michigan University
• Johanna Kramer, University of Missouri