UT Tyler Students Awarded History Scholarships

June 7, 2001

University of Texas at Tyler seniors Silvia S. Rainwater of Mabank and Jill Oliver of Buffalo are recipients of history scholarships, Dr. Patricia A. Gajda, professor of history, has announced.

Rainwater is the recipient of the Edwin Morgan Smyrl and Frank H. Smyrl Endowed History Scholarship Award for 2001. Oliver is the recipient of the Phil Stacy Jackson History Scholarship Award for 2001.

The scholarships are awarded to declared history majors in recognition of their excellent academic performance and for the purpose of encouraging the study of history at UT Tyler.

The Smyrl Award also honors the memory of Edwin Morgan Smyrl and Dr. Frank H. Smyrl. The founding department chair and dean of the School of Liberal Arts, Dr. Frank H. Smyrl was the first historian to join the UT Tyler faculty. Edwin Morgan Smyrl, his older brother, also was an historian.
The Jackson Award honors the memory of historian Phil Stacy Jackson, who was a distinguished history graduate of UT Tyler.