Department of English

Undergraduate Awards

The English Department has a number of awards that recognize our outstanding majors.  They include:

Joseph F. Beam Scholarship

Established by Dorothy S. Beam, EDU ’72, in memory of her son, this scholarship is awarded to a student in the Creative Writing Program who has demonstrated academic achievement and financial need, and has submitted an essay or literary piece that would be of interest and importance to sexual minorities.

Randy and Samantha Deglin Memorial Award

Established by Beatrice Deglin Leder in loving memory of her grandniece and grandnephew, this award is given to an outstanding graduating English major who plans to pursue a career in the performing arts.

Bayne B. and Frances E. Isaacson Scholarship

Established in 1994 by Bayne, CLA ’58, and Frances, CLA ’58, Isaacson in memory of their parents, this scholarship is awarded to students entering their junior year who are majoring in English or psychology and who have demonstrated academic achievement and financial need.

Loretta C. Duckworth Prize

Established by Loretta, CLA ’62, ’65, TYL ’92, and W. Joseph Duckworth, this award is given to an English major who has excelled in his or her course work; has consistently selected a rigorous course of study; has shown particular talent at both the process of interpreting literary texts and producing well-argued and well-written papers; and has shown leadership abilities both inside and outside the classroom.

Robert Marler Award

Established in honor of Dr. Robert Marler, former Chair of the English department, this award is given to the student who has produced the best undergraduate essay for the academic year. Students who have produced an essay within any upper-level English course are eligible to submit their essay to the Chair of the English department. While the essay in most cases will be an analytical research paper, the award may also recognize writing of a more relaxed and genial sort. The judgment of quality of this award will be based upon clarity and intellectual force, but also upon style and expression.

Dr. Tess Sandra Singer Memorial Award

Established in memory of Tess Sandra Singer, CLA ’64, by her family, this award is given to a member of the junior class who has shown academic excellence and plans to pursue graduate studies in English.