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.

  • 2023: Sydney Scaggs

O.J. & 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.

  • 2023: Colton Barton

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.

  • 2023: Caitlin Billica, Eleni Karelis

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.  Their generous gift provides scholarships to recognize outstanding academic achievement by senior undergraduate students majoring in English at the University of Kentucky.

  • 2023: Shayla Anaskevich, Bre Younger

Patricia and William Stacy Endowed Fellowship 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.  Their generous gift provides scholarships to support undergraduate English majors who show a passion for education and intend to pursue a career in middle or high school teaching, with an emphasis in English.

  • 2023: Kayleigh Dayka

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.

  • 2023: Colton Barton

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.

  • 2023: Savannah Hinton

William Hugh Jansen Undergraduate Award 
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.

  • 2023: Tyler Patton, Lukas Bratcher, M.E. Boileau

John Spalding Gatton Provost Scholarship in Arts and Sciences
The John S. Gatton Provost Scholarship in Arts and Sciences was established in 2005 by Daniel W. Varga, M.D., a graduate of the University of Kentucky English Department, and Kimberly Alumbaugh, M.D.  The award honors John Spalding Gatton, who received his PhD from the UK Department of English, and who greatly influenced undergraduate and graduate students during his time at the university.  This generous gift provides a scholarship for a junior or senior undergraduate majoring in English at the University of Kentucky.

  • 2023: not awarded

Best Essay Award

Awarded for the best essay in a 200-level intro sequence: 230, 260, 280, 290

  • 2023
    • Best Essay Award: Taylor Decker
    • Best Essay Award - Honorable Mention: Riley Moses

Best Digital Project Awards
Awarded for the best digital project in a 200-level intro sequence: 230, 260, 280, 290

  • 2023
    • Individual Category: not awarded
    • Individual Category - Honorable Mention: not awarded
    • Group Category: not awarded