Awards & Scholarships


Writing Awards

In addition to the Wick Poetry Center Undergraduate Scholarship Awards, the department awards annual student prizes in creative writing, critical writing, and writing in freshman English classes. Competitions are held each year in January and February. 

Department of English Writing Award descriptions

"Click here" for Writing Contests Author Sheet

The next submission deadline will be February 15, 2013.

Scholarships

English majors with an overall GPA of 3.5 or better (or a GPA of 3.75 in English classes) are invited each spring to apply for a number of awards, including the Garnett and Toerne Scholarships, and the Steiskal Scholarship. Chair’s Scholarships offer smaller awards. As many as ten undergraduate scholarships are awarded each year. All awards and scholarships are presented at the Department of English annual Awards Ceremony, held in April each year. For details and Scholarship Applications, please come to the English Undergraduate Studies Center, 204 Satterfield Hall or call 330-672-1707.

Garnett Scholarship

This award honors W. Leslie Garnett, a professor of English at Kent for over 25 years who died in 1992 at age 98. She is remembered as an outstanding classroom teacher and a respected contributor to international education.

Applicants must have sophomore or junior standing and overall GPA of 3.5 (or 3.75 in English courses). Students with an interest in international affairs or education are especially encouraged to apply. Applicants must submit the following:

  • Scholarship application
  • Letter of application indicating the student’s career goals and how they have been advanced by study of English language and literature
  • Letter of recommendation (normally from professors in the English Department)

Toerne Scholarships

These scholarships honor Richard Toerne, a professor of English at Kent and faculty member from 1961 to 1984.

Applicants should be English majors who have an overall GPA of 3.5 (or 3.75 in English courses) and have taken a minimum of one required course in the major. Applicants must submit the following:

  • Scholarship application
  • Letter of application indicating the student’s career goals and how they have been advanced by study of English language and literature
  • Letter of recommendation (normally from professors in the English Department)

Steiskal Scholarship

This award honors Mildred Steiskal, a 1933 graduate of Kent who returned to the University to complete a master’s degree in 1965. She taught in the Austintown, Ohio, school system for 20 years. After retiring, she was active in the arts community in the Youngstown area.

Steiskal recipients normally qualify for financial aid, as this is a need-based award. Students who have applied for the Garnett or Toerne scholarships will automatically be considered for the Steiskal. Applicants should be English majors who have an overall GPA of 3.5 (or 3.75 in English courses) and have taken a minimum of one required course in the major. Applicants must submit the following:

  • Scholarship application
  • Letter of application indicating the student’s career goals and how they have been furthered by study of the English language and literature; also include a statement of financial need
  • Letter of recommendation (normally from professors in the English Department)
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