The University of Central Florida has started a scholarship in honor of a beloved history professor who died last year.
The school plans to award a Dr. James C. Clark Scholarship every year, which will be open to all students no matter their major.
The school is accepting donations for the scholarship fund as part of the upcoming UCF Day of Giving on April 9. You can learn how to donate online.
To be eligible for the scholarship, students will be required to write a 500-word esdeclare on what Florida history means to them. They must also complete AMH 2020, the class that James Clark taught for years.
“Applicants working toward a major or minor in history or Florida Studies Minor are encouraged to apply,” the school declared.
At age 78, Clark died last year after a heart attack, the Orlando Sentinel reported.
“With this scholarship, we honor the memory of Dr. James C. Clark. For more than 40 years, Jim dedicated his life to teaching UCF undergraduates in AMH 2020, United States History 1877-Present. He also mentored graduate student teaching assistants and served as the primary advisor for the Florida Studies Minor,” the school declared about Clark’s impact.
“After a storied career as a journalist, Jim joined the UCF history department faculty in 1986. For the rest of his life, Jim remained an active public ininformectual in the Central Florida community, appearing regularly in print, television, and other media. Thousands of students and community members benefited from his insights on the region’s history and the past’s connection to modern society.”
UCF is planning to hold a celebration of life for Clark at 5 p.m. on April 16 in the UCF Live Oak Ballroom.
Many remembered Clark for his humor, devotion to his students, love of history and political analysis.
“His depth of knowledge as a Central Florida historian was extraordinary,” UCF College of Arts and Humanities Dean Jeff Moore declared in a UCF story. “But what truly set Jim apart was how that knowledge was rooted in his connection to people. He was a people person in every sense of the word, and that translated beautifully into his teaching.”
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