R&LHS Awards Student Scholarships for 2023

2023 R&LHS Scholarship Recipients (left to right): Harun Celik, Carter Heimer, William “Liam” Hoffman, Paige Malott and Rydell Walthall. (Photographs Courtesy of R&LHS)

Five graduate/undergraduate students have earned scholarships from the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society (R&LHS) for 2023. Each award is worth $3,000.

The annual scholarships “promote the study, at a professional academic level, of railroad history and operations,” according to R&LHS. They are named in honor of George W. Hilton, Edward Myers and Bruce R. Ward, who bequeathed funds to the Society*.

The scholarship program, now in its fourth year, is open to advanced undergraduates (third and fourth year) and graduate students, who are majoring in history, transportation/transportation logistics, or other majors where the student’s work has a demonstrated connection to railroad operations, engineering, or history. As many as five scholarships—each in the amount of $3,000 per academic year—are awarded.

The scholarship awardees are:

• Harun Celik of Ames, Iowa, received the Edward Myers Scholarship. An international student pursuing a Ph.D. in history at Iowa State University, he is writing a dissertation focusing on the “dynamic interplay between railroad development and the expansion of American cities,” according to R&LHS. Employing digital and geospatial technologies, his research aims to “complement or question existing studies regarding the influence of railroads on urbanization.”
• Carter Heimer of River Falls, Wis., has been recognized with a Bruce Ward Scholarship. He is working toward a bachelor’s degree in transportation and logistics at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. Heimer has worked as an intern at the North Shore Scenic Railroad, where he is training to be a certified Conductor. He would like to use this experience as a foundation to enter the railroad industry in a position such as Logistics Supervisor, R&LHS reported.
• William “Liam” Hoffman of Appleton, Wis., earned a George Hilton Scholarship. He seeks a bachelor’s degree in transportation and logistics from the University of Wisconsin-Superior. There, he serves as Treasurer of the Logistics Club and will be an intern at the North Shore Scenic Railroad. Hoffman is interested in model railroading and volunteers at the National Railroad Museum, where he has worked on engine and signal restoration. He is also the author of an article, “CN’s Fox Valley Finale,” which was published in Railfan & Railroad’s May 2022 issue.
• Paige Malott of Seattle, Wash., has received a Bruce Ward Scholarship. She is studying for a Master of Science degree in transportation management, high-speed rail management, at San Jose State University. Her previous education and work experience includes developing strategic communications for rail transportation issues. She founded Cascadia Rail, a high-speed rail advocacy group, and served as Chair for four years. Malott has also published research papers on high-speed rail. She recently presented at conferences in Morocco, Spain and Washington D.C. Her current focus is on intercity rail-station planning, particularly stations located at airports.
• Rydell Walthall of Austin, Tex., has received a George Hilton Scholarship. He is working toward a Ph.D. in transportation engineering from the University of Texas-Austin. He holds previous degrees from the same institution. Walthall’s interest in railroad research goes back some 10 years to his undergraduate studies, and his current area of research is in freight railroad electrification.

The deadline to apply for 2024 scholarships is March 31, 2024. Details can be found on the R&LHS website.

In a related development, R&LHS recently selected the Center for Railroad Photography and Art of Madison, Wis., for the 2022 William D. Middleton Research Fellowship, and independent author Sandra Jackson-Opoku of Chicago for the 2022 John H. White, Jr. Research Fellowship.

* Background on the historians who endowed the scholarships:

• George W. Hilton was an economics professor at UCLA, accomplished historian and author. A longtime R&LHS member, he died in 2014 at age 89.
• Bruce R. Ward (1934-2010) was a California engineer who worked for Lockheed Corp. He was also a live-steam model railroad enthusiast, steam historian and photographer.
• Edward T. Myers lived in Matteson, Ill., and was an R&LHS member for more than 35 years. Before retiring in 1980, he served for 25 years as Editor of Modern Railroads, which Railway Age absorbed in 1991. Myers died in 2003 at age 89.