Awards, Scholarships, and Financial Aid
The Department of English has a variety of funds that support awards and scholarships for our undergraduate students. Current students apply now!
DEADLINE: March 22, 2024
To apply for the undergrad awards and scholarships in creative writing, click here.
To apply for the undergrad awards and scholarships in literary studies, click here.
CREATIVE WRITING AWARDS
The Evans Harrington Creative Writing Award
Dr. Thomas L. Vinson of Columbus, Mississippi, established this scholarship fund in 1987 for deserving English students. The recipient will be the freshman or sophomore who shows the most promise in creative writing.
Two $1,000 Awards
*Submit no more than one manuscript per category: prose (1 story or other work of prose, 15 pages maximum) or poetry (up to 3 poems)
The Ella Somerville Award
Given to the junior or senior who demonstrates the most talent in either prose or poetry: two $250 Awards
*Submit no more than one manuscript per category: prose (1 story or other work of prose, 15 pages maximum) or poetry (up to 3 poems)
LITERARY STUDIES AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
All applications in literary studies scholarships are for majors only. All applications require:
· At least a 3.0 GPA overall and a 3.5 GPA in English courses at the time of application
· Name and contact for an English faculty reference
· Unofficial UM transcript and, when applicable, a transfer equivalency report
· Literary studies applicants should include a writing sample. Suggested length: 5-7 pages. This paper can have been written for a class. Applicants for the Elmo Howell British Literature Award should submit a paper about British Literature.
The W. Alton Bryant Award for Rising Juniors
At least two scholarship awards; each award is $1500 per semester for four semesters. Mrs. W. Alton Bryant established the award in memory of her husband, a former member of the English Department and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs. The award will be granted to a deserving English major who will begin their junior year of study in the fall semester. It provides $1500 per semester for four semesters, as long as the recipient continues as an English major and maintains at least a 3.0 overall and a 3.0 in English courses.
Elmo Howell British Literature Award
One or more scholarship award of $1000. Elmo Howell established this scholarship in 2002 to assist deserving students in the English department whose main line of study is British literature. The recipient will be a full-time undergraduate English major with an emphasis in British literature. Priority will be given to those with at least 9 hours of courses in British literature (completed or currently enrolled in) or 6 hours of British literature at the 300 or above level (completed or currently enrolled in).
Drane Lester Award for Rising Seniors
One scholarship award of $700 for the academic year. The Drane Lester Award honors a member of our community and is for rising seniors. Primary consideration will be given to students who are 1) members of a group traditionally underrepresented in undergraduate education (African-American, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Hispanic/Latino, or Pacific Islander) or 2) first-generation college students.
ADDITIONAL AWARDS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND FINANCIAL AID FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN ENGLISH
Hattie Burke Jackson College of Liberal Arts Scholarship
This scholarship fund was established in 2004 to honor Hattie Burke Jackson and to provide scholarship assistance to female students who are majoring in one of the following fields: Classics, English, History, Mathematics, Modern Languages, Physics. The recipient must be a resident of Yalobusha, Calhoun, Lafayette, or Grenada Counties, and must maintain a 3.0 G.P.A. on all courses. There is no application process.
The Polly Franklin Williams Scholarship in English
This scholarship fund was established in 2001 by Dr. Parham H. Williams, Jr., of Orange, California, to encourage deserving students to major in English, thereby enriching their lives through the study of the world’s great literature and through the mastery of the English language. The recipient will be an entering freshman or transfer student majoring in English. Selection is based on financial need and academic credentials. For additional information, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.
English majors can learn about opportunities for many additional awards, scholarships, and financial aid from the College of Liberal Arts and Office of Financial Aid.