The Department of History is delighted to announce the latest recipients of the Nancy Bylan Bratman Excellence in Writing Awards. These prizes recognize the promising work of entry-level majors in the “Doing History” class (History 202) and more accomplished projects by History juniors and seniors enrolled in the History colloquia 496 and 497.  

Fall 2017 Prizes

  • Natalie Brennan won first prize for her History 496 paper “The Election of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in Post-Conflict Liberia: The Interplay of Leader and Movement.” 
  • Colby Collier won second prize for his History 496 paper “Pan-Africanism: The Vision of Kwame Nkrumah.”
  • Noah Cicurel was recognized for his History 202 paper “Operation Provide Comfort: An Opportunity for Kurdish Autonomy.”

The Bratman prizes were established in 2016 by a generous gift from brothers Ben and David Bratman to honor their mother, Nancy Byland Bratman, who earned her U-M History BA in 1951. Last winter term’s winners were Kathryn Schubert (History 202), Patrick Mullen-Coyoy (second place, History 496/497), and Matthew Sehrsweeney (first place, History 496/497).