Awards & Scholarships

The purpose of this award is to provide recognition to outstanding undergraduate students at Kutztown University and majoring in English. This award was established in the memory of the late Professor Carl E. Seiple (1957-2018), an English faculty member for 25 years (1992-2017). Carl was most known for his work as an influential and respected member of the literature/ drama group as well as the whole department, with EAPSU and its board, chairing the Awards and Scholarships Committee, ACT (Actors Creating Theater), Flash Mob Dramas, the Secondary Education English Learning Communities, the English Club, and the English Honor Society, Sigma Tau Delta. Consideration for this award shall be given to all undergraduate students majoring in English who show a demonstration of outstanding excellence amongst their peers in literature and/or drama classes and course work. To be considered for this award, students must be nominated by the faculty and staff of the English Department. No application/ chosen by faculty.

Funded by a trust donated by Professor Marguerite Bartholomew, who taught English at KU from 1959 to 1977, this award goes to the student who has written the best Freshman English Composition of the year. Applicants may be of any major. Faculty members or students may submit a typed copy of a Freshman English Composition essay written between March 1 of the prior year and the present. The essay should not include the author’s name. Attach cover sheet with name; student number; local, permanent, and email addresses; phone number; essay title; and instructor’s name.  A cash award.

Funded by a trust in honor of the late Bennett Harris, Professor of English, this award goes to the writer of the most humorous fiction or nonfiction work. Faculty members or students may submit a typed copy of an essay or story written between March 1 of the prior year and the present. Submissions must not exceed 2,000 words. The essay should not include the author’s name. Attach cover sheet with name; student number; local, permanent, and email addresses; phone number; essay title; and instructor’s name. A cash award.

Funded by a trust started in 1983 by Professor Emma S. Richards, who taught criticism at KU from 1965 to 1983, this award honors the senior who has written the best critical paper of the academic year. Faculty members or students may submit a typed copy of any paper written between March 1 of the prior year and the present.  The essay should not include the author’s name. Attach cover sheet with name; student number; local, permanent, and email addresses; phone number; essay title; and instructor’s name. A cash award.

The Karen Blomain Fiction Award will be given to the student writer who has produced the best original piece of prose fiction in short or long forms. This award was established in memory of Prof. Karen Blomain, novelist, poet, and playwright, who taught in the English Department’s Professional Writing Program from 1991-2007 and co-advised Shoofly for three years. Other student fiction may be submitted for the award by professors or by the student writers themselves. Attach cover sheet with name; student number; local, permanent, and email addresses; phone number; essay title; and instructor’s name.

Mary S. Kittel was a writing major, former editor of The Keystone, organizer of the first KU Earth Day, and KU alumna who went on to a professional writing career with Rodale Press and authored several health and fitness books. The award will be given to the best essay written on an issue involving the environment, health, education, human rights, or social justice. The essay should not include the author’s name.  Attach cover sheet with name; student number; local, permanent, and email addresses; phone number; essay title; and instructor’s name.  A cash award.

This award is funded by a trust started in 1996 by Dr. Raymond W. Ford, who chaired the KU English Department from 1962 to 1979, and is given to the best student poet of the current year. Faculty members or students may submit a typed copy of any paper written between March 1 of the prior year and the present.  Poems should not include the author’s name.  Attach cover sheet with name; student number; local, permanent, and email addresses; phone number; essay title; and instructor’s name. A cash award.

Funded by a trust donated in 1965 by writers Newton and Edna Geiss, this award goes to the graduating senior with the highest quality point average in English.

Funded by the English Department and the English Association of the Pennsylvania State Universities, this award goes to the most outstanding English major who is a junior or senior. The winner is nominated and elected by the English Department Faculty.

This scholarship is funded by a trust donated in 1964 by Anna Louise Mitchell on the 50th anniversary of her graduation from KU and dedicated to the memory of her father, Professor W. W. Deatrick, who taught English here for 32 years. Applicants must intend to teach English and must have either English or Secondary Education/English or Communication as a Major. Applicants must be at least sophomores. Seniors graduating in May or August of the awarding year are not eligible. Submit grade transcripts, representative writing samples, and letter of application, which includes name, age, major, class standing, QPA, service to school and community, and a brief explanation of career goals

This scholarship is established by the English Department faculty to recognize outstanding skills and contributions by a continuing undergraduate student who has written an article or series of articles for The Keystone between March 1 of the prior year and the present. Submit published clips and a letter of relevant explanation about the work. Include name; student number; local, permanent, and e-mail addresses; and phone number.

This scholarship is funded in honor of Dr. Walter Nott, a former KU professor in the English Department. The applicant must be enrolled as a full-time student majoring in English and entering into his/her senior year. Additionally, the applicant should demonstrate dedication to the major of English and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Preference will be given to those applicants who intend to continue his or her course of study upon graduation from Kutztown University and to applicants who demonstrate financial need. Interested students should submit an application to the English Awards/ Honors/ Scholarships Committee as soon as possible. Applicants should submit a letter defining their interest in studying literature after graduation, their career goals, and what receiving the scholarship would mean for them. Applicants should also submit their strongest Kutztown University literature paper.

This scholarship is given to an English/Professional Writing major who has at least a 3.5 GPA in the major, has earned at least 96 credits, and is a continuing student. (No application needed)

Funded by Ruth Bonner, Class of 1921, to provide scholarship aid to a worthy English Major with financial need who has earned at least 90 credits, has an overall QPA equivalent to B+, and a major QPA of A.

Awards

Carl Seiple Award: Jessica Licker

Emma Richards-Bausch Award in Literary Criticism: Jessica Licker

Raymond W. Ford Award in Poetry: Emma Brenner

Karen Blomain Award in Fiction: Hailey Johnson

Bartholomew Award in Writing: Molly Kutz

Mary S. Kittel Award in Writing for Social and Environmental Justice: Margaret Gehman

Bennett Harris Humorous Writing Award: Brett Thomas

Keystone Newswriting Award: Allyson Watkins

George K. Monroe Memorial Award in Linguistics: Delphi Molyviatis

Geiss Award for English: Rebecca McClaine; Alexis Rute

Outstanding English Majors: Alexis Rute (Senior); Hailey Johnson (Junior)

Scholarships

Deatrick Scholarship Award in English: Matthew Bandy

Ruth Bonner Scholarship: Melissa Stough

Hearst Foundation Scholarship in Professional Writing: Emma Brenner

Keystone Newswriting Scholarship: Rebecca Schweitzer

Awards

Carl Seiple Award

• Jessica Licker

Emma Richards-Bausch Award in Literary Criticism:

• Anna Nissley

Raymond W. Ford Award in Poetry:

• Anna Nissley

Karen Blomain Award in Fiction:

• Anna Nissley

Bartholomew Award in Writing:

• Alexi Neiffer

Mary S. Kittel Award in Writing for Social and Environmental Justice

• Anna Nissley

Bennett Harris Humorous Writing Award:

• Anna Nissley

Keystone News Writing Award

• Ella Luzzi

George K. Monroe Memorial Award in Linguistics

• Raven Shellman

Geiss Award for English

• Rebecca McClaine

Outstanding English Majors:

• Anna Nissley
• Beau Deforest
• Ella Luzzi

 

Scholarships

Deatrick Scholarship Award in English:

• Emma Mastrocola

Ruth Bonner Scholarship

• Rachel Speranza

Hearst Foundation Scholarship in Professional Writing

• Jessica Garrison

Keystone News Writing Scholarship

• Kaylee Lindenmuth

Awards

Carl Seiple Award

• Ella Luzzi
• Jaden DeFazio

Emma Richards-Bausch Award in Literary Criticism:

• Anna Nissley

Raymond W. Ford Award in Poetry:

• Grace Wein

Karen Blomain Award in Fiction:

• Jessica Garrison

Bartholomew Award in Writing:

• Rebecca Schweitzer

Mary S. Kittel Award in Writing for Social and Environmental Justice

• Ryder Huey

Bennett Harris Humorous Writing Award:

• Conway Lynch

Keystone News Writing Award

• Kyle Krajewski

George K. Monroe Memorial Award in Linguistics

• Gregory White

Geiss Award for English

• Adeena Woodard

Outstanding English Majors:

• Anna Nissley
• Adeena Woodward

 

Scholarships

Deatrick Scholarship Award in English:

• Sabrina Chatih

Ruth Bonner Scholarship

• Thomas Heasley

Hearst Foundation Scholarship in Professional Writing

• Zoey Adam

Keystone News Writing Scholarship

• Kaylee Lindemuth

Dr. Walter Nott Scholarship

• Emily Harrington

Awards

Bartholomew Award in Writing

• Jaden Hudson

Bennett Harris Humorous Writing Award

• John Lukan

Emma Richards-Bausch Award in Literary Criticism

• Samantha Paine

Karen Blomain Award in Fiction

• Samantha Paine

Mary S. Kittel Award in Writing for Social and Environmental Justice

• Samantha Paine

Raymond W. Ford Award in Poetry

• Samantha Paine

Newton & Edna Geiss Award for English Scholarship

• Sara Nicotra

Outstanding English Major Award

• Dallas Ernst and Samantha Paine
   

Scholarships

Deatrick Scholarship Award in English

• Emily Dietrich

Keystone Newswriting Scholarship

• Kaylee Lindemuth

Hearst Foundation Scholarship in Professional Writing

• Dontez Jolly

Ruth Bonner Scholarship

• Adeena Woodward
• Emily Dietrich

Bartholomew Award in Writing

• Ashley Stein

Bennett Harris Humorous Writing Award

• Bryce Johle

Deatrick Scholarship Award in English

• Allison Conrad

Emma Richards-Bausch Award in Literary Criticism

• Kayla Woodington

Karen Blomain Award in Fiction

• Bryce Johle

Keystone Newswriting Scholarship

• Justin Sweitzer

Mary S. Kittel Award in Writing for Social and Environmental Justice

• Stephanie Jack

Raymond W. Ford Award in Poetry

• Madison Gross

Dr. Walter Nott English Scholarship

• Macey Tanseco

Newton & Edna Geiss Award for English Scholarship

• Kim Winters

Hearst Foundation Scholarship in Professional Writing

• Kim Winters

Ruth Bonner Scholarship

• Stephanie Jack

Outstanding English Major Award

• Shubham Maini & Kim Winters