Writing Awards

 
Gurney Norman Priz
For outstanding creative work by an undergraduate student enrolled in ENG 107 from Eastern Kentucky
  • 2023: Eli Hughes
Jane Gentry Vance Poetry Prize
To honor and celebrate the legacy of their mother, Jane Gentry Vance (1941-2014), a Professor of English at the University of Kentucky for forty years, prolific poet, 1986 recipient of the UK Alumni Association’s Great Teacher Award, a 2013 College of A&S Hall of Fame Inductee and Kentucky’s Poet Laureate in 2007-2008. This award, given in her honor, recognizes outstanding undergraduate English major pursuing the Creative Writing track.
  • 2023: Eleni Karelis 

Betty Combs Owen Recruitment Scholarship
The Betty Combs Owen Recruitment Scholarship was established in 2014 by Mr. Larry Owen, in memory of his wife, Betty Combs Owen.  Mrs. Owen earned a BA in English and Education at UK, graduating in 1957.  She served as Senior Policy Advisor to North Carolina Governor James B Hunt Jr., where she was directly responsible for policy matters involving education and human resources, and Chief of Staff for the National Task Force on Education.

  • 2023: Jeremy Tavares 
Farquhar Award for Poetry
The Farquhar Award for Poetry was established in 1953 by the faculty of the University of Kentucky English Department, in honor of Professor Edward F. Farquhar.  Dr. Farquhar was a professor in the department for 44 years, and served as chair of the department for 32 years.  This award, given in his honor, recognizes outstanding undergraduate poetry.
  • 2023: Shelby Grissom

Dantzler Award for Prose
The Dantzler Award for Fiction was established in 1953 by the faculty of the University of Kentucky English Department, in honor of Professor Lehre Livingston Dantzler.  Dr. Dantzler was a long-time professor in the English department.  He joined the department in 1912 as an associate professor, became head of the department in 1915, and served as a professor and department head until his retirement in 1947.  This award, given in his honor, recognizes outstanding undergraduate fiction.

  • 2023: Alaysha Crowe
Nikky Finney Graduate Fellowship
This award honors an incoming or 2nd year MFA graduate student for outstanding academic performance.
  • 2023
    • Incoming: KeeShawn Murphy 
    • Returning: Jazmin Witherspoon 

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing Awards
These awards honor an MFA student for outstanding academic performance.

  • 2023
    • Poetry: Alfonso Zapata
    • Nonfiction: Deidra White
    • Fiction: Henry Knollenberg

UK Libraries Poetry Broadside Contest
This award celebrate excellence in student poetry at the undergraduate and graduate leve. Recipients have their winning poem made into a run of 50 handmade broadsides by the King Library Press.

  • 2023
    • Undergraduate: Eleni Karelis
    • Graduate: Jazmin Witherspoon