The Department of Writing, Linguistics, and Creative Process grants the following awards and scholarships each year.

AWP Intro Awards: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction

Winners of the WCSU awards (selected in open competition) advance to compete for the national-level writing awards from the Association of Writers & Writing Programs.

Barbara Winder Award in Creative Writing

This award was established to honor Professor Barbara Winder, long-time teacher of creative Writing at Western. It is awarded to the student who has submitted the best piece of writing to the Writing Department in the last year. When possible, the award will include a cash prize—typically $50.

Elizabeth Roche Award for Excellence by an Emerging Writer

This award is given by Prof. John Roche in honor of his late sister and photojournalist Elizabeth Roche to a first- or second-year student who has exhibited special promise as an emerging writer. This award includes a $50 cash prize.

Ellen Ahern-Lunn Award for Excellence in Creative Nonfiction

This award is given to a student who has demonstrated mastery of creative nonfiction in at least one excellent work in the genre during the past year.

Excellence in Writing for Stage, Screen, and Multimedia Award

This award is given to a student who has exhibited excellence in writing for stage, screen, or multimedia platforms.

Jim Scrimgeour Award for Excellence in Poetry

This award is given to an undergraduate Creative Writing student in honor of Emeritus Professor and poet James R. Scrimgeour. When possible, the award will include a cash prize—typically $50.

John Briggs Award for Editorial Excellence

This award is given in honor of Professor Emeritus John Briggs by journalism faculty in the Department of Writing, Linguistics, and Creative Process to a student who has served as an editorial leader in student publications. When possible, the award will include a cash prize.

Louise Kolb Award for Outstanding Tutoring Service to the Writing Center

This award is given by the Coordinator of the WCSU Writing Center to a student who has served the Writing Center with distinction.

Ronald K. Goodridge Award for Outstanding Historically Based and Researched Essay or Short Story

This award was established in honor of Ronald K. Goodridge, a lifetime reader and lover of historical fiction and non-fiction. The award is presented to a junior or senior Writing major with the best historically based and researched essay or short story. The award includes a $100 cash stipend.

Distinction in Writing for Senior Portfolio

Distinguished Thesis recognition for excellent MFA Thesis projects

SCHOLARSHIPS

Arnold C. Brackman Memorial Scholarship

Open to journalism students who have shown potential in the field of journalism, plan to pursue a career in journalism, and are entering their junior or senior year.

Students interested in applying for the Brackman Award should submit three clips, a letter stating qualifications and future plans in journalism and writing, and a transcript to the Chair of the Writing Department. The scholarship typically is in the amount of $200.

Patrick Ryan Scholarship for Literary Citizenship

This scholarship is given in honor of Dr. Patrick Ryan, retiring former Chair of the Department of Writing, Linguistics, and Creative Process, to a student who has been a leader in building literary community on campus. The scholarship amount is $1,000.

Robert P. Kelleher Endowed Scholarship

This scholarship was established with funds received in memory of Robert P. Kelleher, an English and professional writing student at WCSU. It is awarded to an undergraduate junior or senior student in the professional writing program who is in good academic standing. Scholarship amount is typically $1,000.

Ruth M. Dawson Endowed Scholarship

This scholarship was created in 2006 by Professor Dennis Dawson in memory of his mother, Ruth M. Dawson. Students must be undergraduate full-time students and have a 3.5 GPA from the Macricostas School of Arts and Sciences. The recipient must also be entering their junior or senior year and have exceptional talent in creative science writing or science journalism. Scholarship amount is typically $1,000.