We reached out to Nicole to learn more about how this scholarship will impact her, and also to learn more about the process of finding and applying for scholarships.

What does this scholarship mean to you?

I’m both thrilled and honored to receive this scholarship. The financial support is amazing, but it's also just incredibly affirming to see how much others believe in the value of my research, especially on a national scale. It feels like a culmination of years of research, opportunities and hard work.

How did you learn about this opportunity, and what was the process to apply?

I learned of this opportunity through the WashU fellowships page. To apply I had to first apply to

 be nominated, as WashU could only put forward one candidate for the scholarship. The application included an essay, transcript, and letters of recommendation. After I was selected, I worked with the fellowship office to hone the application and then sent it forward to the organization.

My areas of interest center on 19th-century American social reform, particularly institutions like the New York House of Refuge built to manage street children and juvenile delinquents. Through a microhistorical approach, I am interested in examining how race, disability and religion intersected in these spaces in surprising ways, and how these institutions shape our current systems today.

How will this scholarship impact you?

This scholarship will be invaluable in graduate school. The funding will open additional opportunities that wouldn't be otherwise accessible, such as travel for research or academic conferences. It also gives me a network of Beinecke scholars to connect with and draw from, which is exciting. I plan on applying for my PhD in History, studying 19th-century social reform topics. My research focuses on regions near New York City, so I hope to find a university in that area.

What advice would you give others who are looking for scholarships?

Put yourself forward, even if you think it's the longest shot in the world. If you visit the Fellowships Office, they can provide many resources and amazing advice.

The Beinecke Scholarship seeks to encourage and enable highly motivated students in their junior year of college to pursue opportunities available to them and to be courageous in the selection of a research- or creative focused course of graduate study in the arts, humanities, or social sciences (Beinecke Program Announcement). 

Spangler has conducted archaeological field work in Austria and Greece and archival research at the Winter Park History Museum. In 2024, Spangler was selected as a WashU Living History Scholar, completing an independent research project on Deaf history and the politics of Deaf education.