Wesleyan University

English Department and Writing Programs

Prizes and Fellowships

and Wesleyan Writers Conference Scholarships

These great opportunities are open to ALL Wesleyan students.

 

These awards include prizes for writers of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry as well as fellowships supporting summer projects and graduate study.  We encourage you to apply.

If you have questions about these awards, contact Prof. Anne Greene, agreene@wesleyan.edu.

Click on the hyperlinks below for the descriptions and application instructions for each prize and fellowship. 

The 2013 deadline for submissions is March 27 at 4:30 p.m. unless the prize description indicates a different date. 

English Department and Writing Programs submissions should be sent electronically as email attachments to: etinker@wesleyan.edu
with the subject heading: Writing Prize—(Name of Prize).
Please send submissions for different prizes in separate emails. 

Please review the specific submission instructions for these three awards/fellowships by clicking on the hyperlinked titles in the listings below.

 Olin Fellowship

Winchester Fellowship

Annie Sonnenblick Writing Award

 

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT AWARDS FOR MAJORS

(Candidates are nominated by members of the faculty)

 

CAMP PRIZE: Established in 1905 by the Board of Trustees in memory of Samuel T. Camp, Trustee 1880-1903.  For excellence in English Literature.  No application necessary. Awarded to the outstanding senior English major by vote of the department.

DORCHESTER PRIZE: Established through the gift of Daniel Dorchester IV, Class of 1874.  Awarded for best thesis submitted to the English Department.  Candidates are nominated by their thesis advisors.


Fellowships supporting summer projects or graduate study:

 

OLIN FELLOWSHIPS:  Founded in 1854 by the mother of Stephen Olin, President 1839-41 and 1842-51.  Later increased by gifts of Stephen Henry Olin, Class of 1866 and Acting President 1922-23, and his wife.  Awarded in recognition of achievement in English.  To support independent research or creative writing.  The fellowships are to be used for work in English outside the Wesleyan course structure.  Suitable projects may include, for example, study in an academic program, research, training in research methods, or sustained work on a piece of writing.

WINCHESTER FELLOWSHIPS: Established in 1938, in memory of Professor Caleb Thomas Winchester, by his widow.  For graduating seniors and recent graduates, to support graduate work in literature or writing.

Writing Prizes awarded by the English Department and Writing Programs

Special Note: Students may apply for as many awards as they are eligible for.  The same piece may be submitted for a maximum of two awards.  Each submission should be made separately, with a cover sheet and clean copy presented for each award.

COLE PRIZE: Established through the gift of George Henry Walker '81 in the memory of Charles Edward Cole. To recognize first-year students who show great ability in fiction or non-fiction writing.

HERBERT LEE CONNELLY PRIZE: Given in 1980 by Mabel Wells Connelly in the name of her husband, member of the class of 1909, and Alumni Secretary 1924-1956.  Supplemented by friends, relatives, and sons, Hugh Wells and Theodore Sample '48, the fund provides income to be awarded annually to a deserving undergraduate who demonstrates an interest in English literature and an unusual ability in non-fiction writing.

SARAH HANNAH PRIZE:  Offered in memory of Sarah Hannah, class of 1988, in association with the Academy of American Poets.  Awarded for an outstanding poem.

HORGAN PRIZE: Awarded by the Department of English in memory of Paul Horgan, former Professor and Writer in Residence.  Awarded to the student who has written the best short story of the year.

GERALDINE J. MURPHY PRIZE: Established in memory of Geraldine J. Murphy (1920-1990), Professor of English at Wesleyan.  She was the first woman hired as a full-time instructor at Wesleyan (1957), the first woman promoted to a tenured position, and the first woman promoted to the title of full professor.  The prize is endowed by alumni of the Wesleyan Master of Arts in Teaching program.  Awarded to a student who has written an outstanding critical essay that focuses on short fiction or novels.

SOPHIE REED PRIZE:  Establish in 1968 by Leon Reed and his sons, S Chadwick '41, and Dr. Victor Reed, in memory of Mrs. Sophie Reed, for the best poem or group of poems.

ANNIE SONNENBLICK WRITING AWARDS: Established by the family of the late Annie Sonnenblick '80.  Awarded by the Director of Writing Programs, this prize provides funding to a junior who wishes to undertake an independent writing project during the summer between junior and senior years.

WESLEYAN FICTION AWARD: Funded by a gift from Norman Mailer to the Wesleyan Writing Programs, this award recognizes an outstanding piece of fiction written by a Wesleyan student.

New in 2011: THE BOYLAN AWARD: Given by Jennifer Boylan in honor of her classmate, Annie Sonnenblick, the award recognizes an outstanding piece of creative nonfiction, journalistic work, or writing for general readers.

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WESLEYAN WRITERS CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIPS:  Several scholarships are available to students who wish to attend the five-day Wesleyan Writers Conference, June 12th-16th 2013.  Applications should include a letter explaining the applicant's experience and interests and a substantial sample of work in one genre: fiction, non-fiction, or poetry.  Applications are due March 27th, 2013 at 4:30 p.m.  For information, see www.wesleyan.edu/writers or contact Anne Greene, agreene@wesleyan.edu.  The conference also offers scholarships for international students at Wesleyan.

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Post-Graduate Fellowships in Wesleyan's Writing Programs:

 

Ford Fellowship: Two Ford Fellowships are awarded to top-ranking seniors from any major.  The fellows serve as the university's senior writing tutors and have both teaching and administrative responsibility in the writing programs.  The fellows play an essential role in training writing tutors, and they work closely with the Director of Writing Programs in developing new courses and events.

Shapiro Center/Russell House Fellowship: This position is being redefined. If you are interested in the Shapiro Center/Russell House Arts Fellowship, please complete the application for the Ford Fellowship.