Awards and Prizes

O. M. Allen Prize

The O. M. Allen Prize in English was established by the family of Mrs. J. D. Clement and honors the best essay written by a member of the first-year class. In the fall of each academic year, the English Department invites sophomores to submit an essay from their previous year’s course work. Students from any discipline or major may submit an essay. The Allen Prize is presented at the fall term Honor’s Day Convocation.

The Griffin Prize

The Griffin Prize is awarded to the senior English major, who, like Professor Gail Griffin, demonstrates an exceptional ability to bridge their analytical and creative work in the English department. It is presented at the Senior Awards ceremony during the spring quarter of each year.


The Elwood H. & Elizabeth H. Schneider Prize

The Schneider Prize is awarded to a student or students for outstanding creative work in English done by a student who is not an English major. It is presented at the Senior Awards ceremony during the spring of each year.


The Mary Clifford Stetson Prize

The Stetson Prize is awarded to a senior English major for excellence in critical essay writing and presented during the Senior Awards ceremony in the spring of each year.


The Dwight and Leola Stocker Prize

The Stocker Prize is awarded to senior English majors for excellence in English writing: prose and poetry. In recent years, the Department has honored students for the work in fiction, creative-nonfiction, and poetry. The Stocker Prize is presented during the Senior Awards ceremony in the spring of each year.


Charles Lewis Williams Jr. Award

The Charles Lewis Williams Jr. Award, establish in 2018, is awarded to a senior for the best oratory presentation during the English Hilberry SIP Symposium. The award is presented at the Senior Awards Ceremony in the spring of each year.