PURPOSE: This annual award was established by Drs. Michael J. and Meredith Arms Bzdak to provide financial assistance to undergraduate students for the study and/or research of Art History in Milan, Italy. The purpose of the travel award is to acquaint students with early Christian, medieval, and Renaissance art and architecture in Milan as well as the Milan as a contemporary capital of design, style, and fashion. In some cases, study in another Italian city will be supported. 

CRITERIA: The Bzdak Endowed Travel Award for Study in Milan shall be awarded based on merit to a full-time undergraduate junior or senior majoring in Art History at Rutgers-New Brunswick planning to travel to Milan, Italy.  Examples of qualified students include: undergraduates who will be undertaking an Art History honors thesis that focuses on Italian art, contemporary design, or architecture, and who wish to travel to Milan to undertake research; students who are planning to pursue an M.A. or Ph.D. in Art History and wish to study informally in Milan to further their knowledge of Italian art; and/or students who are participating in a study abroad program that does not go to Milan and want to use Bzdak Endowed Travel Award monies to travel to this city. Monies may not be used to offset expenses associated with a formal study abroad program in Milan.  If there are no qualified students during a given year, funds may be awarded for travel to another Italian city. 

The award amount is approximately $2,900.

SELECTION PROCEDURE: Selection will be made by a committee advisory to the undergraduate program director. Only one award may be given each year, based on the availability of funds.

HOW TO APPLY: The application consists of 4 parts
1) Cover sheet listing your name, RUID, major(s), minor(s), GPA, and class year. 
2) Un-Official Transcript
3) Research Statement: a statement of research plan and goals, not to exceed 1000 words. 
4) Recommendation: one letter of recommendation from a professor or instructor.  This letter may be delivered to the Undergraduate Director via email.  

Parts 1, 2 and 3 should be combined into a single PDF and submitted to the Undergraduate Program Director via email. 

DEADLINE: usually in late January.   The deadline in 2024 is March 1, 2024 at 5PM.