Scholarships

The Department of English offers a range of scholarships and fellowships to undergraduate and graduate students. These may be in the form of either cash awards or tuition waivers. Application instructions and forms for undergraduate awards are available either online (link to instructions) or in hard copy at the English Department main office, 201 Ray B. West. All applications must be submitted in hard copy, together with a current transcript of grades, to the English Department main office. Endowed scholarships for English undergraduates are listed below. When you fill out the application form, you will automatically be applying for all scholarships for which you are eligible.  Note: If you have been awarded another University scholarship for next year, you are not eligible to receive a second.

For information about graduate awards, please contact the department's graduate adviser, Keith Grant-Davie, 310A Ray B. West, (435) 797-3547, or kgrant-davie@english.usu.edu. In addition to the scholarships offered specifically by the Department of English, graduate students are also nominated by the department to compete with students across the college for tuition waivers. Likewise, the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences together with the Graduate School offer a few annual fellowships. For these awards, students are nominated by the department to compete with students across the entire college. 

Awarded on an alternating three-year cycle in the English Department, the Women's Center, and the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art. In English, awarded to an undergraduate or graduate student, majoring in English at Utah State University at the time the student holds the scholarship, who demonstrates professional promise. Neither financial need nor grade point average shall necessarily be a criterion for the award. Recipients chosen by the scholarship committee of the Department of English.

The Mabel Carlson English Scholarship Endowment Fund

Awarded to students who demonstrate academic achievement, financial need, and personal integrity. Recipients chosen by the scholarship committee of the Department of English.

The Louise Christiansen Clyde English Scholarship Fund

Awarded to undergraduate students enrolled in the Utah State University Department of English who have a grade point average of 3.0 or above and demonstrate financial need. Recipients chosen by the scholarship committee of the Department of English.

The Carlton and Edna Culmsee Scholarship Endowment Fund

Awarded to students who demonstrate academic achievement and financial need. Recipients chosen by the scholarship committee of the Department of English. Recipients shall be known as Culmsee Scholars.

The Janice Judge Dee Scholarship Endowment Fund

Awarded to students who demonstrate academic achievement and financial need and who are majoring in literary studies. Recipients chosen by the scholarship committee of the Department of English. Recipients shall be known as Janice J. Dee Scholars.

English Department Book Scholarship Fund

Awarded to undergraduate or graduate students based upon academic performance. Each recipient chosen by the scholarship committee of the Department of English receives a $100 credit toward the purchase of books and academic supplies at the University Bookstore.

The J.C. Fonnesbeck Scholarship in English

Awarded to students whose major area of study is English and who demonstrate financial need and high academic standing. Recipients chosen by the scholarship committee of the Department of English.

The Graduate Bibliophile Book Scholarship

Awarded to undergraduate or graduate students based upon academic performance. Each recipient chosen by the scholarship committee of the Department of English receives a $100 credit toward the purchase of books and academic supplies at the University Bookstore.

The Alice Gorton Hart Memorial Award Endowment

Awarded to a returning senior student who is an outstanding writer of poetry (as first choice) or who is an outstanding creative writer in general (as second choice). Recipients chosen by the scholarship committee of the Department of English with grade point averages achieved in nonliterary subjects not relevant to selection.

The Peter O. Holmgren Humanities Scholarships

Awarded to students who demonstrate academic achievement, financial need, and personal integrity. Recipients chosen by the scholarship committee of the Department of English.

The Donna Benson Lee Scholarship Endowment Fund

Awarded to junior or senior students who are majoring in English with a focus on English Education to prepare for teaching in secondary schools and who demonstrate financial need with a grade point average of at least 3.4. Recipients chosen by the scholarship committee of the Department of English. Recipients shall be known as Donna Benson Lee Scholars.

Awarded to undergraduate or graduate students who demonstrate professional promise and have grade point averages of at least 3.0. Highest priority given to candidates majoring in English and minoring in the classics with an emphasis on classical literature of the world. Students concentrating in folklore or writing courses are not eligible. Recipients chosen by the scholarship committee of the Department of English.  

Awarded to students who demonstrate achievement, financial need, and personal integrity. Recipients chosen by the scholarship committee of the Department of English.  

Awarded to English majors who are studying, or plan to study, with the goal of becoming writers, teachers, and/or specialists in the area of juvenile literature. Recipients chosen by the scholarship committee of the Department of English.  

Awarded to graduate or undergraduate students regardless of major, but recipients should be serious creative writers. Awards will be given to the winner among contestants in a creative writing contest. Selection committee (consisting of department head and two faculty members in English) will evaluate a manuscript of each contestants work (published or unpublished) consisting of at least 15 pages of fiction, poetry, drama, or creative nonfiction. Additional selection criteria include high academic achievement, professional promise, personal integrity, and financial need.  

Awarded to undergraduate or graduate students based upon academic performance. Each recipient chosen by the scholarship committee of the Department of English receives a $100 credit toward the purchase of books and academic supplies at the University Bookstore.

The Melle A. Washington Memorial Award for the Study of English Renaissance Literature

Awarded to assist undergraduate or graduate English majors in studying the literature of Renaissance England.  Any sound scholarly project or program of study related to the period may be considered, including (but not restricted to) support for study in an academic program either in the U.S. or abroad, library research either in the U.S. or abroad, or study of theatrical performances in any important venue.

Awarded to students who demonstrate academic achievement, financial need, and personal integrity. Recipients chosen by the scholarship committee of the Department of English.

Current Graduate Scholarships 

Awarded on an alternating three-year cycle in the English Department, the Women's Center, and the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art. In English, awarded to an undergraduate or graduate student, majoring in English at Utah State University at the time the student holds the scholarship, who demonstrates professional promise. Neither financial need nor grade point average shall necessarily be a criterion for the award. Recipients chosen by the scholarship committee of the Department of English.

The Louise Christiansen Clyde English Scholarship Fund

Awarded to undergraduate students enrolled in the Utah State University Department of English who have a grade point average of 3.0 or above and demonstrate financial need. Recipients chosen by the scholarship committee of the Department of English.

English Department Book Scholarship Fund

Awarded to undergraduate or graduate students based upon academic performance. Each recipient chosen by the scholarship committee of the Department of English receives a $100 credit toward the purchase of books and academic supplies at the University Bookstore.

The Graduate Bibliophile Book Scholarship

Awarded to undergraduate or graduate students based upon academic performance. Each recipient chosen by the scholarship committee of the Department of English receives a $100 credit toward the purchase of books and academic supplies at the University Bookstore.

The Thomas J. Lyon Fellowship

Awarded to graduate students enrolled in American Studies or Literature and Writing master's program. Fellows serve on the editorial staff of the journal Western American Literature with duties including helping to select, prepare, and copyedit manuscripts as well as a variety of tasks required to produce a scholarly journal. Applicants should send a letter of application and three letters of recommendation to WAL plus a full application for admission to the USU graduate school. For further information contact Western American Literature at wal@cc.usu.edu.

Awarded to graduate students in English who demonstrate professional promise and who are specializing in composition teaching or technical writing.  The fellowship, named for The New Century Handbook, is endowed by Professor Christine Hult, the co-author of the handbook.  Recipients are chosen by a selection committee in the English Department. 

Awarded to undergraduate or graduate students who demonstrate professional promise and have grade point averages of at least 3.0. Highest priority given to candidates majoring in English and minoring in the classics with an emphasis on classical literature of the world. Students concentrating in folklore or writing courses are not eligible. Recipients chosen by the scholarship committee of the Department of English. 

Awarded to either first- or second-year on-campus graduate students who are not graduate instructors from funds provided by the Marie Eccles Caine Foundation. To be used only for tuition during the year in which they are awarded. Recipients chosen by the scholarship committee of the Department of English based upon student performance as measured by high grade point averages.  

Awarded to incoming, on-campus students who demonstrate professional promise who must be enrolled as full-time graduate students for the duration of their fellowship award period. Selection criteria based upon GPA and test scores. One recipient will be chosen by the scholarship committee of the Department of English each year.

Awarded to graduate or undergraduate students regardless of major, but recipients should be serious creative writers. Awards will be given to the winner among contestants in a creative writing contest. Selection committee (consisting of department head and two faculty members in English) will evaluate a manuscript of each contestants work (published or unpublished) consisting of at least 15 pages of fiction, poetry, drama, or creative nonfiction. Additional selection criteria include high academic achievement, professional promise, personal integrity, and financial need.  

Awarded to undergraduate or graduate students based upon academic performance. Each recipient chosen by the scholarship committee of the Department of English receives a $100 credit toward the purchase of books and academic supplies at the University Bookstore.

The Melle A. Washington Memorial Award for the Study of English Renaissance Literature

Awarded to assist undergraduate or graduate English majors in studying the literature of Renaissance England.  Any sound scholarly project or program of study related to the period may be considered, including (but not restricted to) support for study in an academic program either in the U.S. or abroad, library research either in the U.S. or abroad, or study of theatrical performances in any important venue.