The Department of English offers a variety of scholarships and awards for students enrolled in our degree program. Specific scholarships and awards are listed below, along with eligibility requirements. The specific amount for each scholarship will vary from year to year, depending on the income generated by the endowment. Currently, we have two scholarships in English (Willie Maude Thompson and George W. Walker Scholarships).

2017 Scholarship and Award Recipients

2016 Scholarship and Award Recipients

Scholarships

Willie Maude Thompson Scholarship in English

Given in memory of Willie Maude Thompson, this scholarship first became available during the 1996-97 academic year. The scholarship amount may be awarded to one recipient or divided equally among multiple recipients. The total amount generated by this fund is approximately $1,500.

  • Requirements

    The Willie Maude Thompson Scholarship shall be awarded to a rising senior English major who demonstrates academic excellence and whose outstanding service to the department and college community enhances the English program.  The criteria include

    • an overall GPA of 3.6 or higher
    • outstanding contributions and/or exceptional service including but not limited to contributions to departmental publications, projects, and special programs; presentations at professional meetings, contributions to college publications (ex. college newspaper); or other significant related contributions which reflect favorably upon the English program.
    • current enrollment at UWG

 

 George W. Walker English Scholarship

This scholarship was established in memory of Dr. George W. Walker and may be conferred upon one or more recipients. The total amount generated by this fund is approximately $2,250.

  • Requirements

    The George W. Walker English Scholarship shall be awarded to a rising junior or senior English major who has made significant contributions to the department.  This award recognizes students of high caliber based on demonstrated academic potential.  The criteria include

    • an overall GPA of 3.2 or higher; 
    • meritorious service to the department (including but not limited to contributions to departmental publications, projects, and special programs; contributions to college publications (ex. college newspaper); or other significant related contributions which reflect favorable upon the English program); 
    • demonstrated commitment to the program; 
    • current enrollment at UWG

 

 Mary Anne (Sugar) Wilson Goreau DeVillier Memorial Scholarship

This is an unrestricted scholarship designed to let the program support any students that it deems deserving.


Awards

First Year Writing Awards

  • Jane B. Hill Award for Excellence in First Year Writing
  • The Stanley Parkman Excellence in Writing Award
  • The Stanley Parkman Excellence in Tutoring Award

Undergraduate Awards

  • Gordon Watson Award
    Criteria: Named in honor of Gordon Watson, this award is presented annually at the University Honors Convocation to an undergraduate major in English. It is the highest honor that we confer on one of our majors. The recipient should be a junior or senior English major with a high GPA (at least 3.2) and some involvement in extracurricular activities. Typically, the award has gone to a graduating senior, but that is not a requirement. The award carries no monetary stipend.
  • Insight Awards (Junior and Senior)
    Criteria: This award is given each year to one or more junior and one or more senior English major who has done outstanding work in at least one upper division English course. The student is not required to have the highest grade in the class or the highest overall GPA; however, they should exhibit critical or insightful approaches to the course content and/or make other significant contributions to the course through such activities as class discussions, presentations, and other coursework.
  • Most Promising New English Major
    Criteria: Student must be registered as an English major
  • Most Outstanding English Education Major
    Criteria: Student must be registered as an English major and be accepted into the certification sequence through the College of Education.
  • Most Outstanding English Minor
    Criteria: Student must be registered as an English minor.
  • Most Outstanding Film Studies Minor
    Criteria: Student must be registered as a Film Studies minor.
  • Robert Snyder Prize for Most Outstanding Contribution to a Senior Seminar
    Criteria: Students who took the senior seminar the previous spring and fall semesters are eligible. Consideration should be given to students who excel academically in the seminar and who make significant contributions to the seminar's overall success.
  • Mr. Marion L. & Mrs. Douglass Fisher Award
    Criteria: 1. The recipient must be a rising junior or senior standing majoring in English; 2. The student must have an overall GPA of 2.5 or better; 3. Preference will be given to students concentrating in American Literature; 4. The student must demonstrate superior writing ability as determined by the awarding committee.

Graduate Awards

  • Graduate Insight Award
  • Most Outstanding Graduate Student
    Criteria: Students who are currently enrolled in our M.A. program are eligible. Consideration may be given to students based on their academic achievements as well as their other contributions to the graduate program.
  • Dr. James W. Mathews Distinguished Endowed English Scholarship for Graduate Studies
  • Dr. James W. Mathews Prize for Best Graduate Student Essay
  • Dr. Corliss Hines Edwards, Jr. Memorial Scholarship

Other Awards

  • Kay Magenheimer Poetry Prize
    Criteria: Selected by the Creative Writing faculty
  • Ben W. Griffith Fiction Prize
    Criteria: Selected by the Creative Writing faculty
  • Creative Nonfiction Prize
    Criteria: Selected by the Creative Writing faculty
  • David Bottoms Distinguished Alumnus Award
  • English Program Service Award
  • Best Nomination Letter for Robert Reynolds Excellence in Teaching Award

Faculty Teaching Awards

  • Martha Saunders Excellence in Teaching First-Year Writing Award
  • Robert Reynolds Excellence in Teaching Award