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).
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.
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.
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
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 (2)
Criteria: This award is given each year to one junior and one 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 Outstanding English Minor
Criteria: Student must be registered as an English minor.
Most Promising New English Major
Criteria: Student must be registered as an English major
Most Outstanding English Major/Secondary Teacher Education Track
Criteria: Student must be registered as an English major and be accepted into the
certification sequence through the College of Education.
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.
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.
James Mathews Prize for Best Graduate Student Essay
English Program Service Award
Marion L. 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.
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