Kate Burkhart Scholar Endowment Fund
This scholarship, given in honor of Kate Burkhart Daniel and in recognition of her interests in archaeology, is open to all applicants with the following qualifications, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, or veteran status: 1) Shall have been accepted into or currently enrolled as an undergraduate at SIU Carbondale. 2) Shall be majoring in Anthropology with a specialization in Archaeology. Applications are reviewed by a committee of all Archaeology Faculty in Anthropology. This scholarship was first awarded in 2008. Starting in 2012, we have been able to award at least two Burkhart scholarships each year, thanks to the exceptional generosity of the late Kate Burkhart Daniel and her husband, Joseph Daniel.
- Burkhart Award Information (PDF)
- Burkhart Award Application (PDF)
Elizabeth Robinson is the Burkhart Scholarship winner for 2018-19.
"I have always had a love for learning about the past and other cultures. Ever since I was little I loved listening to stories about the Native Americans and I would come up with theories of my own as to how the Native people might have used things I saw around me. My fascination was not confined to Native Americans; documentaries of every sort, from ancient Rome to Neanderthals, are my go-to form of entertainment.”
Coupled with her love for working outside with her hands she thought anthropology, especially archaeology, would be the perfect field for her. In summer 2018 she took the field school with Dr. Wagner working at Fort Kaskaskia and Millers Grove, and describes it as "one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life thus far."
Elizabeth anticipates going on to graduate school and ultimately obtaining a doctoral degree.
Lauren Austin one of three Burkhart Scholars for 2014-15, has been interested in Archaeology for as long as she can remember
“I honestly feel so lucky to be here at SIU. My experience in the department has been so positive.”She has worked at the Center for Archaeological Investigations since Fall 2013, where she has gained applied experience in lithic and artifact analysis, data collection, and curation.
Lauren's minor is in history, which has contributed to a greater love for historic archaeology in the United States. After graduation in December 2015, she plans to enter graduate school here at SIU to further her anthropological education.
Jessica Bromund, from Plainfield, IL is one of three Burkhart Archaeology Scholars for 2014-15.
When she was very young, Jessica's grandparents introduced her to the 1944 movie The Mummy’s Curse, starring Lon Chaney, Jr., and she instantly became fascinated with Ancient Egypt. From there, she read books and watched documentaries on Ancient Egypt and ancient Greece. Once she began attending community college and took her first anthropology class she was hooked.
Her passion only grew as she took more classes, and further affirmed when she attended the Czech American Bioarchaeological and Archaeological Field School in Breclav-Pohankso during the summer of 2014. After SIU Carbondale, Jessica plans to pursue a PhD in Classical Archaeology.
Angela D'Ambrosio, from Waukegan IL, is a junior majoring in anthropology and one of three Burkhart Scholars for 2014-15.
Having originally become interested in archaeology via studying the history of ancient Egypt, she has since become engrossed in the study of medieval Europe and pursuing gender issues and the roles of women in past societies.
Intent on developing a working understanding of archaeological field technique, Angela intends to participate in the field school at Kinkaid Mounds, IL, during the summer of 2015.
Dylan A. Maughn, from Watseka, IL, is the sixth Burkhart Scholar, awarded for 2013-14.
Dylan is a bright, exuberant junior majoring in anthropology. She states that she has always held an interest in history and past peoples and cultures, a love that ultimately led her to SIU. She explains, "Since I can remember, I have always been fascinated with archaeology. I would spend copious hours watching documentaries about archaeological finds, reading history books and daydreaming about finding hidden treasures. As I have gotten older, my future aspirations have only heightened."
These aspirations came to a peak as she attended the 2013 archaeological field school at Kincaid Mounds and participated in excavations of the Bridges Tavern Site, an archaeological site located on the infamous Trail of Tears in Johnson County, IL. Dylan was an integral part of these excavations, leading to archaeological confirmation that this site indeed was a general store where Native Americans stopped for supplies while on the Trail.
Dylan hopes to pursue many more digs and expand her knowledge of archaeology in the future. After graduating, she plans to move to Wyoming, where she expects to begin a Master's program and continue her path to becoming a professional archaeologist.
Rosemary D. Bolin, from Sauk Village, IL, is the fourth Burkhart Scholar; one of two for 2012-13.
Rosemary is majoring in both anthropology and animal science with a specialization in pre-veterinary medicine. She is interested in zooarchaeology and has been working in the Center for Archaeological Investigations analyzing prehistoric and historic artifacts.
Rosemary says archaeology has interested her since grade school and that she was “hooked” on the subject after learning about the archaeology of Egypt in a history class. Rosemary was able to attend our Anthropology's Summer 2012 Archaeological Field School at Kincaid Mounds, IL, thanks to this scholarship.
Dale A. Pearce, from Marion, IL, is the fifth Burkhart Scholar, one of two for 2012-13.
Dale is a mature, thoughtful non-traditional student majoring in anthropology and minoring in history. He has had a life-long fascination with the sciences and only relatively recently focused his studies on archaeology.
Dale explains that he was attracted to archaeology because of the "questions asked...and the critical thinking required to approach the answers [which are] both challenging and refreshing." Dale is committed to the conservation of our heritage and culture, and he is particularly fascinated by the integration and application of scientific methods and concepts to resolve archaeological puzzles. He believes "[k]nowledge of humanity's past is a crucial part of proceeding wisely into the future."
Thanks to the Burkhart scholarship, Dale was able to attend our Anthropology's Summer 2012 archaeological field school at Kincaid Mounds, IL, and eventually intends to pursue graduate studies in anthropology.
Seth M. Russell was our third Burkhart Scholar, 2010-2011. Seth is from Carterville, IL, and is a member of the Tohono O’odham Tribe.
Seth has a deep interest in the lifeways of his own peoples, as well as those of all ancient inhabitants of America. He is also drawn to studies in ancient religion, the organization and structure of complex societies, and semiology and the variety with which symbols occur.
Currently exploring cultural memetics as applied to both material and non-material culture, Seth is working alongside SIU's Dr. Izumi Shimada on archaeometry. Seth hopes to pursue a future career in archaeology.
Nina Fuscaldo hails from Lockport, IL, and was the second Burkhart Scholar, awarded in 2009-10.
Nina attended the Southern Illinois University Carbondale Archaeology Field School at Kincaid Mounds, Illinois in the summer of 2007 (Pictured on site at the Kincaid Field School).
Nina will be completing her undergraduate studies in anthropology this year, and she is enthusiastic about and dedicated to the field of archaeology.
Sada C. Stearns was the first Burkhart Scholar, 2008-9. She used part of her scholarship to support working on Dr. Balkansky’s SIU Carbondale Tayata Archaeology Project in Oaxaca, Mexico (see picture) and part to work on an archaeological project in Japan. While in Mexico, Sada studied pottery that is 3000 years old, using an innovative method she helped develop with Dr. Croissier to reconstruct ancient production technology.
Sada is now a co-author of a paper with Drs. Balkansky and Croissier documenting this study, called “Multicrafting in Prehispanic Oaxaca,” that appeared in a volume on craft production. Sada is shown in the photo washing ancient pottery in the Mexican field lab. Typically, she has a book opened in front of her.