Alumnus Establishes Scholarship in Honor of History Professor

David K. Robinson, professor emeritus of history, has been honored by former student John Thompson Jr. (right) with the creation of a new Truman State University Foundation Scholarship in his name.  
A new scholarship in support of history students has been established thanks to the gifts of a generous graduate.
 
Through a recent endowment-level gift, John Thompson Jr. (’92) has created the Dr. David K. Robinson History Scholarship to support history students while also honoring his former professor.
 
Robinson began at Truman in 1990. He has a bachelor’s degree from Harvard, as well as a master’s degree and Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. His teaching interests included: world civilizations; modern Europe; Germany; the history of science, medicine and technology; the history of art, music and architecture; and research methods. In 2000-2001, he taught in Ukraine as a Fulbright Senior Scholar at Kherson State Pedagogical University. Robinson retired from Truman in 2016 as professor emeritus of history.

“Valuable faculty interactions have such a tremendous impact, and I hope this scholarship honors Dr. Robinson’s strong record of both teaching and mentoring many Truman students,” Thompson said. “I am especially grateful for Dr. Robinson who, as my professor in several history courses, encouraged me to pursue both Rotary and Fulbright scholarships to study abroad and deepen my understanding of my history research at Truman.”

Taking Robinson’s advice, Thompson spent two academic years in Argentina and Uruguay upon graduation, which led to many other opportunities down the road.

The Dr. David K. Robinson History Scholarship has been created to financially support Truman history majors, with a preference given to first-generation college students. Anyone interested in supporting this scholarship in honor of Robinson can click here.

As the current president of Truman State University’s Foundation Board of Directors, Thompson is no stranger to the Foundation scholarship process. In 2012, he also established the Brenda Thompson Memorial Scholarship in memory of his mother.
 
Hundreds of scholarships are available to students through the Truman State University Foundation. Thanks to the generous support of alumni and friends, the Foundation is able to award more than $1.4 million annually.

For a complete listing if scholarships available through the Truman State University Foundation, and details on how to apply, click here.