Department of English Honors and Awards
2023 Awards
The KU English Department recognizes the following undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty members for the 2022-2023 academic year.
GRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS
THE KENNETH ROCKWELL AWARD
For excellence in the study of literature based upon the submission of one critical essay and a Degree Progress Report.
1st Place:
- Lauren Fox
2nd Place:
- Rachel Andreini
3rd Place (tie):
- Emma Webster
- Jens Evers
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.
1st Place: Sarah Kugler, "Audience, Power, Identity, and Standard Language: Ideology in Graduate Writing Consultation."
2nd Place: Tiffany Fritz, "Mercy" (a novel)
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.
Divya Bhalla
Sarah Kugler
Zach Smith
Jens Evers
THE MABEL S. FRY AWARD
For excellence in teaching based upon nominations by undergraduate and graduate students of the department.
- Laura Mielke
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.
- Sarah Kugler
- Abby Breyer
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.
- Cassidy Locke
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS
THE HELEN RHODA HOOPES AWARD
For the best essays submitted in fulfillment of a regular class assignment by undergraduate women.
1st Place:
Maha Kyasa
Ajraya Moreno
Beth Heimann
Gabriela Ruiz
Katie Taylor
Kat Balke
2nd Place:
Fatima Asif
Betsey Lewis
Ashley Honey
Naomi James
Rachel Paese
Kris Sirasudhi
HENRY MATTHEW WEIDNER AWARD
Open to students who are undergraduate men. For the best essays submitted in fulfillment of a regular class assignment by undergraduate men.
Tie:
- Brad Mathewson
- Jacob Barta
ILUS W. DAVIS AWARD forexcellence in expository writing by undergraduate students
1st Place:
- Lauren Miller
2nd Place (Tie):
- Samiya Rasheed
- Cara Broel
KENNETH ROCKWELL AWARD for excellence in the study of literature
For the best essay submitted in fulfillment of a regular class assignment.
1st Place:
- Paddy Qiu
2nd Place:
- Ajraya Moreno
3rd Place (Tie):
- Shayla Sturgis
- Gabriela Ruiz
- Kai Hansen
DORICE WILLIAMS ELLIOTT AWARD
For excellence in the study of pre-1900 literature.
1st Place:
- Kat Balke, "A Gradient of Guineveres from Malory to Mnookin: How Women Authors Give Voice to the Queen of Camelot"
2nd Place:
- Neily Randall, "A Midsummer Night's Dream: The Power of Illusion and Mankind's Mythic Core”
SEAN PAUZAUSKIE AWARD LITERATURE AND MEDICINE AWARD for students considering a career in healthcare
Tie:
- Nirali Patel
- Fatima Asif
OUTSTANDING SENIORS
Sadie Williams
S.J. Dahms
Gabriela Ruiz
Lucy Whittington
Anna Krause
Jenna Forester
Maha Kyasa
Beth Heimann
Audrey Lehman
Mahala Higinbotham
Tigerlily Eakes
Jamie Hall
Kenzi Dowdell
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT WRITING AWARDS
THE WILLIAM HERBERT CARRUTH MEMORIAL POETRY CONTEST
For undergraduate students based upon the submission of one to three poems.
1st Place (Tie):
Jamie Hall
Paddy Qiu
Janie Rainer
Samiya Rasheed
Honorable Mentions:
Nadia Sanburn
Bhavini Uppalapu
THE HENRY MATTHEW WEIDNER CREATIVE WRITING AWARD
For the best portfolio of work by a graduate student.
Fiction
1st Place (Tie):
- Brendan Williams-Childs
- Divya Bhalla
2nd Place (Tie):
- Logan Jorgenson
- Tiffany Fritz
Poetry
1st Place:
- L Favicchia
Runner Up (Tie):
- Ryan Skrabalak
- Meleah Perez
THE EDGAR WOLFE AWARD IN FICTION
For best short story by an undergraduate.
1st Place:
- Reagan Scaletty
2nd Place (Tie):
- Katie Taylor
- Wyatt Langfoss
3rd Place:
- Ivan Montelongo-Garza
THE C.L. CLARK WRITING AWARD
For a piece of fiction that tackles themes of power or inequality.
Tie:
- Cara Broel
- Paddy Qiu
THE THOMAS J. O’DONNELL AWARD IN CREATIVE NONFICTION
1st Place (Graduate):
- Ryan Skrabalak, “Assembled Climate”
1st Place (Undergraduate, Tie):
Paddy Qiu, “8 Asian…”
Ivan Montelongo-Garza, “This Doesn’t Have to Make Sense”
Madeline Clark, “You’ve Heard a lot of Arguments in Your Time”
2nd Place (Undergraduate, Tie):
Fatima Asif, “Kitchen Sink Cookies”
Shanta Dickerson, “Aurora shooting”
3rd Place (Undergraduate, Tie):
Kenzi Dowdell, “Eagle Point Grace”
Ajraya Moreno, “Donuts for Dads.”
THE MAXWELL NATURE WRITING CONTEST
For the best nature essay or nature-themed story.
1st Place (Graduate):
Logan Jorgenson, “Shore Lunch”
2nd Place (Graduate, Tie):
L Favicchia, “We Are All Buried in the Freshwater Oceanarium”
Brendan Williams-Childs, “Boomtown”
1st Place (Undergraduate, Tie):
Neily Randall, “Prim”
Brad Mathewson, “Regarding the Nature of the Humming”
2nd Place (Undergraduate, Tie):
Mallory Wells, “Common Gorse”
Wren Howerton, “Grow Again”
3rd Place (Undergraduate, Tie):
- MacKenzie Gregory, “When in Costa Rica”
- Madeleine Morris, “Ashes”
THE JOHN F. EBERHARDT EXCELLENCE IN WRITING AWARD
For English double majors or English minors.
- Jane Makela
- Janie Rainer
THE GUNN CENTER AWARD FOR SPECULATIVE FICTION for best science fiction, fantasy, or speculative fiction
Winner (Graduate):
- Brendan Williams-Childs, "Junket"
Winner (Undergraduate):
- Samiya Rasheed, "Swallow Your Teeth"
CYNTHIA REISS-CLARK WRITING AWARD for undergraduate and graduate students in STEM fields whose writing about science makes topics broadly accessible to wider audiences
- Kathleen Rust
FIRST- AND SECOND-YEAR ENGLISH AWARDS
The Department of English recognizes excellence in writing for papers written in fulfillment of assignments in English 101-102, English 203, and English 209-211 courses.
100-level:
- Isabel Loney – “The Iconic Soundscape of Ace Attorney” (102) Stephen Johnson
- Adam Schnurr – “Overpopulation: Not the End-of-the-World Concern We Think It Is” (102) Phil Wedge
- Micki (Michelle) Shrout – “Visual (selfie moment!) – Instagram Post: A Social Media Awareness Project” (101) Lydia Noland
200-level:
- Sophie Sanders – “Analyzing The Song of Achilles Through an Affective Lens” (203) Abby Breyer
- Emilia Gibbs – “The False Promise of Professional Sports” (203) Phil Wedge
ELLIE STRATMAN AWARD for writing about the arts
- Clare Hawkins, "An Artist" (205) Mary Klayder