Undergraduate Awards and Honors

Our awards include:

• The Anne Hopewell Selby Critical Essay Award for two students’ achievements in critical writing ($500 each)
This award recognizes outstanding achievement in critical writing by undergraduate English majors. Each student may submit a sample of no more than 5 double-spaced pages of critical writing. Excerpts from longer works are welcome as long as they do not exceed the page limit. Neither the student’s name nor any identifying information should appear on any of the pages of the submission. Winners and finalists for these awards will be selected by the Department of English’s Undergraduate Studies Committee.

Apply for the Selby Critical Essay Writing Award 

• The Anne Hopewell Selby Undergraduate Research Award for Independent Research ($500)
In honor of the late professor Anne Hopewell Selby, the English Department offers this award to an outstanding undergraduate student pursuing scholarly activities outside the classroom. The purpose of this award is to help cover expenses such as trips to conferences or special libraries or the purchase of books not required for classes. Winners and finalists for these awards will be selected by the Department of English’s Undergraduate  Studies Committee.

Apply for the Selby Research Award

• The Ernest C. Van Keuren Award for a graduating senior ($200)
Each year, the faculty chooses one outstanding graduating senior for the Ernest C. Van Keuren award. The winner is chosen by the faculty from among those students who are graduating with the highest distinction.

• The Raymond and Wilma Campion Award ($1800) and The John and Jeanne Newton Scholarship for CPS alumni ($1800)
The Campion and Newton Scholarships are awarded to outstanding English majors who have graduated from Chicago Public High Schools.  Applicants must have at least 30 but not more than 90 semester hours at the time of application and a minimum GPA of 3.0.  The selections will be made based upon the student’s application, their personal statement, and faculty recommendations. Eligible students will be considered for both the Campion and the Newton Scholarships. The award for each scholarship will be credited toward tuition and fees. This award is by faculty nomination. Students awarded either prize may be required to write a thank you note to donor.

• The Mary Parson Donnellon Scholarship for rising juniors/seniors ($25,000)*
Honoring the memory of Mary Parson Donnellon this $25,000 award is split between an English major with a concentration in professional writing and an English major with a concentration in creative writing. The scholarship funds tuition and winners, who must be rising juniors or rising seniors, are chosen by faculty. Emphasis is on both academic distinction and financial need. 

• The Outstanding Sophomore Award for two outstanding 2nd year students ($500 each)
This award is intended to highlight sophomore students who have demonstrated dedication to their studies in English through the breadth and depth of their coursework and have excelled in their studies within the major. Preference will be given to applicants who can demonstrate academic ability. Financial need may also play a role in the award decision.  To be eligible for this award, students must have a declared concentration in the English major and achieved sophomore standing during the semester in which they are applying (e.g. over 30 earned credit hours, but no more than 60 credit hours, including in-progress courses.) This award is by faculty nomination.

• The Paul Carroll Creative Writing Award for poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction ($250)
This award recognizes outstanding achievement in creative writing by undergraduate English majors.  Each student may submit a sample of no more than five pages of poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, or critical writing. Excerpts from longer works are welcome as long as they do not exceed the five-page limit. Neither the student’s name nor any other identifying information should appear on any of the pages of the submission.

Apply for the Paul Carroll Creative Writing Award

• The Robert and Corinne Silver Award for Students of Literature ($500)
The Robert and Corinne Silver Award is a prize for a continuing undergraduate English major concentrating in the study of literature. Preference will be given to students who demonstrate academic ability. (Financial need may also play a role in the award decision.) To be eligible for this award, students must have a declared concentration in literature and achieved sophomore standing or above. (Seniors graduating in Spring 2024 are not eligible.) Award recipients are chosen by faculty and awards for each scholarship will be credited toward tuition and fees.

• The Freeman Family Scholarship ($1000-2000)
The Freeman Family Scholarship is a new scholarship supporting one outstanding student in their final year of college who displays financial need and academic merit. The awardee, determined by faculty, receives $1,000 – $2,000. Award of the Scholarship alternates annually between the Department of English and the Department of Physics. Once notified that they have received the award, recipients are required to write a thank you note to the donor.

• The Davee Foundation Scholarship for incoming English majors (full tuition)
The Davee Scholarship provides full cost of attendance at UIC from entry through graduation for up to five years. Recipients must enter UIC with, and maintain, at least a 3.0 GPA.  It is given to a student majoring in English. The award is by faculty nomination.

• The Linda Landis Andrews Award for Outstanding Student in Professional Writing ($250)
This award recognizes outstanding achievement in professional writing by undergraduate English majors. Each student may submit a sample of no more than 6 double-spaced pages of critical writing. Excerpts from longer works are welcome as long as they do not exceed the page limit. Neither the student’s name nor any identifying information should appear on any of the pages of the submission. The award winner will be selected by faculty from the Department of English’s Program in Professional Writing.

Apply for the Linda Landis Andrews Award for Outstanding Student in Professional Writing

And we’ll even induct eligible students into UIC’s chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor society!

*split between English majors with concentrations in Professional Writing and Creative Writing

• The Anne Hopewell Selby Critical Essay Award

2022: Selena Santiago and Shannon Mastey

2023: Shannon Mastey and Shelby Taylor

• The Anne Hopewell Selby Undergraduate Research Award 

2022: Jadlyn Rogers

2023: Lily Ginsberg

• The Ernest C. Van Keuren Award 

2022: Joey Liang and Ley Frank

2023: Jay Bauer and Adrian Oyetaro

• The John and Jeanne Newton Scholarship for CPS alumni

2022: Patrick Brennan

2023: Javion Chin

• The Mary Parson Donnellon Scholarship

Professional Writing

2022: Yuliana Torres and Shelby Taylor

2023: Chaia Vanderaa

Creative Writing

2022: Ahana Gupta, Janessa Acosta, and Wyatt Porter

2023: Julianne Nguyen, Wyatt Porter, and William Singleton

• The Outstanding Sophomore Award 

2022: Lizhirat Molina and Taylor Kwok

2023: Ness Gorlewski and Bella Lavalle

• The Paul Carroll Creative Writing Award 

2022: Mike Castenada

2023: Erin Boyle

• The Raymond and Wilma Campion Award for CPS alumni 

2022: Marlem Juarez

2023: Joanna Thomasiewicz

• The Robert and Corinne Silver Award 

2022: Patryk Szczepaniak and Sheri Tarrer

2023: Lily Ginsberg

•The Davee Foundation Tuition Scholarship

2022: Makayla Goldman

2023: no recipient