The University of Kentucky’s English Department offers a wide array of scholarships and awards designed to support student success and recognize academic excellence. These financial aids are available to both undergraduate and graduate students and are intended to alleviate financial burdens, encourage scholarly achievements, and foster creative endeavors.
By providing these scholarships and awards, the department ensures that talented students can focus on their studies and fully engage with the academic opportunities available to them. Whether through scholarships that support tuition costs or awards that recognize outstanding academic and creative work, these resources are crucial in helping students achieve their full potential.
Deadlines for award nominations and scholarship applications are announced annually. Students are encouraged to speak with the DUS's for more information. Scholarship applications should be submitted to Scholarship Universe.
UNDERGRADUATE AWARDS
Dantzler-Dantzler Award
The L. L. Dantzler and Mary E. Dantzler Memorial Trust Fund was established in 1963 by Mary Dantzler, in memory of her father, Dr. 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 fund provides an award to recognize outstanding academic achievement by senior undergraduate students majoring in English at the University of Kentucky.
Michael Adelstein Award for Prospective High School Teachers of English
The Michael Adelstein Award was established in 1997 by Professor Michael Adelstein, an English professor at the University of Kentucky for nearly 30 years. Dr. Adelstein saw a need to recognize prospective high school teachers, and generously provided the funds (anonymously) to set up an award to do just that. The award was initially known as the “Award for Prospective High School English Teachers”, until Dr. Adelstein’s death in 2002, at which time the award was named in his honor. This award recognizes excellent UK undergraduate students from either the English Department or the College of Education who intend to pursue a career as a high school English educator.
William Hugh Jansen Undergraduate Award for Distinguished Writing
The William Hugh Jansen Undergraduate Award for distinguished writing is selected for writing based on oral traditions, the art of story-telling, or folklore elements. The award is open to degree-seeking undergraduates enrolled in courses with the ENG prefix.
Dantzler Award
The Dantzler Award was established in memory of Dr. 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 is given to a student for outstanding performance in fiction or creative nonfiction.
Farquhar Award for Poetry
The Farquhar Award for Poetry was established in 1953 by the University of Kentucky, in honor of Professor Edward F. Farquhar, who served in the English department for over 4 decades. This award is given to a student for outstanding performance in poetry.
Gurney Norman Prize
Awarded for outstanding creative work by a student from Eastern Kentucky enrolled in ENG 107.
Jane Gentry Vance Poetry Prize
The Jane Gentry Vance Poetry Prize, honors and celebrates the legacy of Jane Gentry Vance (1941-2014), 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. The Prize is established by Professor Vance’s daughters, Susannah Vance Gopalan and Lucy Vance Seligson.
UK Libraries Poetry Broadside Contest
Best Essay Award
Awarded for the best essay in a 200-level intro sequence: 230, 260, 280, 290
Best Digital Project Awards
Awarded for the best digital project in a 200-level intro sequence: 230, 260, 280, 290
UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS
Barbara Sutton Cowles Scholarship
- The Barbara Sutton Cowles Scholarship was established in 2005 by Dr. Joe Cowles and Mrs. Barbara Cowles, in honor of Mrs. Cowles, a graduate of the University of Kentucky English Department.
- Criteria: UG, English major, 3.0 GPA, Students with financial need, preference to students planning to teach any level.
Bill Bridges Scholarship
- The Bill Bridges Scholarship was established in 2002 by Ms. An T. Le, in honor of her mentor, Bill Bridges. Her generous gift provides a scholarship to recognize an outstanding first-generation college graduate majoring in English at the University of Kentucky.
- Criteria: FT, UG, English literature major, First Gen student, Financial need, 3.0 GPA. Can be renewed 1 additional year if still meet criteria.
Julester Shrady Post Memorial Scholarship
- The Julester Shrady Post Memorial Scholarship was established in 2008 by Mr. Stuart Bennett, in memory of his grandmother, Julester Shrady Post. Mr. Bennett is a graduate of the University of Kentucky English Department and the UK College of Law. His generous gift provides scholarships to recognize the outstanding achievements of honors students majoring in English at the University of Kentucky.
- Criteria: FT UG ENG major, must be enrolled in Honors Program
OJ and Ruby Wilson Scholarship
- The O.J. & Ruby Wilson Scholarship was established in 1987 by Dr. O.J. Wilson and Mrs. Ruby Wilson, in honor of Dr. Wilson, a distinguished graduate alumnus of the University of Kentucky English Department. Their generous support provides awards each fall to outstanding students majoring in English at the University of Kentucky.
- Criteria: Outstanding ability in ENG
Patricia and William Stacy Scholarship in Undergraduate English Education
- The Patricia and William Stacy Fellowship was established in 2008 by Patricia and William Stacy. Mrs. Stacy is a graduate of the University of Kentucky English Department.
- Criteria: ONE UG ENG major, pursue career in middle or high teaching ENG, 3.0 GPA. Display a “passion for education”