History majors at California State University, Bakersfield will soon be able to receive more financial support as they work toward earning their degree.
San Jose State University (SJSU) alumnus Ryan Stinson has donated $25,000 to CSUB to establish an endowment that will fund the university’s first history scholarship, to be named the Ryan Stinson History Scholarship. The endowment will support one undergraduate student per year starting in the 2026-27 academic year.
“I want to make it easier for students to get an education for those in financial need,” Stinson said. “I hope this history scholarship will provide intellectual betterment for its recipients and give them knowledge to navigate the historic times we live in.”
Students will be able to apply for the scholarship starting in January 2026. To qualify, students must be a history major at sophomore level or above, have a minimum 3.0 GPA and be able to demonstrate financial need.
“I’m tremendously grateful to Ryan Stinson for his support of our hard-working students,” said Dr. Alicia Rodriquez, dean of the College of Arts and Humanities. “We have an exceptionally strong history program, and this new scholarship will provide critical support that will help students complete their studies, which will in turn help transform their lives.”
Stinson has established two other scholarships in the CSU system, one for history students at Sacramento State and the other at the East Bay campus for political science majors. In choosing where to create the scholarships, Stinson said he wanted to focus on colleges in less affluent areas of the state.
“I feel by prioritizing schools in areas like this that I will be able to have the greatest impact. I want to use my money to help make this world a better place,” he said. “My hope is that by helping others afford an education, that those students retain the knowledge and experiences gained in it and treasure that their whole life. An education can better entire families and their descendants because that educated person can help friends and family do well in school, thus opening opportunity for those persons.”
Stinson understands that firsthand, being a second-generation college graduate himself. To his knowledge, Stinson’s father was the first in the family to earn a college degree and encouraged his son to follow in his footsteps. Stinson went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in history at SJSU, with the history of ancient civilizations being among his chief interests.
“I must have been inspired to go into history by hearing tales of my maternal grandfather, a World War II officer who defended the Philippines and was a prisoner of war to the Japanese,” he said.
Stinson said he appreciates history not only because of it preserves the factual record but also because it provides lessons that we can learn from as a society to create a better future.
“History is not just the story of what happened and when — it’s the story of what-ifs. It’s the story of our families’ individual heritage,” he said. “It’s the study of how peoples and societies can overcome great obstacles and persevere, as well as mistakes we must avoid repeating.”
Dr. Douglas Dodd, professor and chair of the History Department at CSUB, believes the endowment will have a significant impact on the history students who receive it in the future.
“Mr. Stinson’s generous gift is an important confirmation of history as a useful and worthwhile major that prepares students for a wide variety of careers through its emphasis on critical thinking, historical perspective, and effective writing,” he said.
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