Department of English Honors and Awards
2026 Awards
The KU English Department recognizes the following undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty members for the 2025-2026 academic year.
GRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS
DR. ANNE MARIE TURNER AWARD
For outstanding research in the field of American literature
Joshua Imken
THE KENNETH ROCKWELL AWARD
For excellence in the study of literature based upon the submission of one critical essay and a Degree Progress Report
Andrew George Korah
THE WILLIAM ALBRECHT MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
For a significant research project based upon a research proposal. Recipient must be a graduate student enrolled in English at the University of Kansas and returning to KU for at least one more semester of study
Sunday Adesoye Adegbenro
MARGARET FULLER AWARD
For scholarship in Feminist studies
Jude Patenaude
BYRON SANTANGELO WRITING PRIZE
For excellence in writing in the environmental humanities
David John McCalmon
THOMAS J. O’DONNELL AWARD IN CREATIVE NONFICTION
1st Place:
- Jude Patenaude
2nd Place:
- Kajsa Mullenix
3rd Place:
- Natalie Wolf
4th Place:
Michael Koch
THE MAXWELL NATURE WRITING CONTEST
For the best nature essay or nature-themed story
- Evan Barton
THE GUNN CENTER AWARD FOR SPECULATIVE FICTION
For best science fiction, fantasy, or speculative fiction
1st Place:
- Natalie Wolf
2nd Place:
- Natalie Sendun
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT TEACHING AWARDS
OUTSTANDING INSTRUCTOR AWARD
The Department of English at the University of Kansas recognizes Graduate Teaching Assistants or Lecturers who have distinguished themselves by the quality of their teaching
- Abisola Akinsiku
- Anthony Boynton
- Monica Briggs
Iain Ellis
THE SELDEN LINCOLN WHITCOMB FELLOWSHIP
For excellence in scholastic research and promise in the field of teaching based upon a short personal statement, one critical essay, and evidence of exemplary classroom teaching
Abisola Akinsiku
STEPHEN F. EVANS AWARD
For excellence in course development. The Department of English at the University of Kansas recognizes Graduate Teaching Assistants or Lecturers who have distinguished themselves by the quality of their course design and development
- Rachel Andreini
Divya Bhalla
THE MABEL S. FRY AWARD
For excellence in teaching based upon nominations by undergraduate and graduate students of the department
- Darren Canady
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS
FIRST YEAR WRITING AWARDS
For excellence in writing for papers written in fulfillment of assignments in English 101, 102, and 105
ENGL 101:
- Ella Formanski
- Saniya Harris
- Anna Lowe
ENGL 102:
- Martin Connington
- Natalie Niemczyk
- Ottilia Padden
ENGL 105:
Mariia Shirikova
AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN 200-LEVEL WRITING
For excellence in writing for papers written in fulfillment of assignments in ENGL 203, 209, 210, and 211
- Griffen Estes
Jillian Housh
THE HELEN RHODA HOOPES AWARD
For the best essay submitted in fulfillment of a regular class assignment by an undergraduate student
- Kayla Carpenter
- Alexander Figueroa-Castro
- Annika Fire
- Madden Makus
Yasmine Marcos
KENNETH ROCKWELL AWARD
For excellence in the study of literature
Anna Martello
ILUS W. DAVIS AWARD
For excellence in expository writing by undergraduate students
- Kaila Adams
- Alexander Figueroa-Castro
Leah Heischmidt
SEAN PAUZAUSKIE LITERATURE AND MEDICINE AWARD
For students considering a career in healthcare
Meghan McKee
THE WILLIAM HERBERT CARRUTH MEMORIAL POETRY CONTEST
For undergraduate students based upon the submission of one to three poems
1st Place:
- Max Bryan
2nd Place:
- Magnolia Foster
3rd Place:
- Kayli Robirts
Honorable Mention:
- Bobby Baldwin
Joan Blood
THE EDGAR WOLFE AWARD IN FICTION
For best short story by an undergraduate
- Kaila Adams
- Bobby Baldwin
- Emma Buck-Stewart
- Sophia Emerson
- Valerie Lu
- Madden Makus
Cassie Stevens
JOHN F. EBERHARDT EXCELLENCE IN WRITING AWARD
For English double major or English minor
- Syd Olson
Jayme Pickering
Dorice Williams Elliott Award
For excellence in the study of pre-1900 literature
Krystle Kwiatkowski
ELLIE STRATMAN AWARD
For writing about the arts
Eleni Chapas
BYRON SANTANGELO WRITING PRIZE
For excellence in writing in the environmental humanities
Emily Sirtak
THE THOMAS J. O’DONNELL AWARD IN CREATIVE NONFICTION
1st Place:
- Ellen Miller
2nd Place:
- Jackson Tabel
3rd Place:
- Kayla Carpenter
4th Place:
- Maizie Ferguson
5th Place:
- Anna Lowe
6th Place:
Kaziwa Abdulqader
THE MAXWELL NATURE WRITING CONTEST
For the best nature essay or nature-themed story
1st Place:
- Cooper Stone
2nd Place:
- Cecelia Moreno
3rd Place:
Piper Essington
THE GUNN CENTER AWARD FOR SPECULATIVE FICTION
For best science fiction, fantasy, or speculative fiction
1st Place:
- Taliesin Fouse
2nd Place:
- Julia Mossburger
3rd Place (Tie):
- Brianna Garcia
- James Thomblison
OUTSTANDING SENIORS
Bobby Baldwin
Carolyn Brotherson
Eleni Chapas
Maizie Ferguson
Evyn Gadd
Elijah Kumin
Sommer Loehr
Isabella Mautino
Jayme Pickering
Elanie Sturgeon
Hazel Sylvester