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The Department of English announces an award competition for PhD students who have advanced to the dissertation-writing stage (“D” status). 

Two (2) awards of up to $7,500 each will be award to PhD students to support summer writing time. Awards will be made in the middle of July 2025. Preference will be given to those candidates entering into their 6th year of study. This money can be used at the candidate’s discretion—to fund travel to essential archives, to free time from summer employment, and/or to pay for child care. To be considered, please submit a 500 word research proposal that describes the dissertation project, its state of completion, and a timeline for the work you propose to be accomplished over the summer. If the award is to fund travel to an archive, please attach a budget for the trip. You will be required to submit a report of the work done over the summer by the end of the following fall term to gsengl@colorado.edu.   

Qualifications

• PhD candidate in English
• Special consideration will be given to candidates entering their 6th year of study
• Applicants must have a graduation date no earlier than December, 2025

Submission Guidelines

• 500 word research proposal that describes the dissertation project, its state of completion, and a timeline for the work you propose to be accomplished over the summer.
• If the award will be used to fund travel, please include a budget.
• All materials must be submitted electronically via AcademicWorks by January 15, 2025.

This fellowship was established in memory of the late Edward P. Nolan, Professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of Colorado from 1966 to 1994. One (1) award of up to $1,400 will be awarded, on a competitive basis, to a graduate student in English to support innovative and outstanding scholarship and teaching. For example, awards may be made to support travel to research institutions or to conferences to read papers. The award will be distributed and applied to the student’s fall 2025 tuition bill. If the winner graduates before fall 2025, the award will be forfeited. 

The scholarship winner will be notified once the decision has been made. The scholarship recipient will be expected to write a note of thanks to the donor, as well as a short paragraph about interests, classes and writing, one semester after receiving the award.

Qualifications

• PhD student in English.
• Special consideration will be given to those doing research in the medieval or modern period, and to graduate students, in particular those whose progress might be delayed because of financial and familial responsibilities. However, the excellence of a given research project is the main criterion for consideration.
• Applicants must have a graduation date no earlier than December 2025. 

Submission Guidelines

• Research: Write a two-page description of the project for which you are requesting funds, following these guidelines:
  • Write your proposal in language someone not familiar with your specialty can understand
  • Write a maximum of two single-spaced pages
  • Use a type font of 11 points or larger
  • Indicate how the research project relates to your thesis or dissertation work, or otherwise contributes to your professional development
  • If your proposal requests funds to attend a conference, explain how the conference will materially benefit your thesis or dissertation research or otherwise contributes to your professional development
• Reference or Bibliography Page: Include a reference or bibliography page if you cite the work of other scholars in your project description. This page is not included in the two-page maximum limit.
• Budget Page: On a separate page, itemize and explain the expenses for which you are requesting funds. Also itemize and explain other sources of funding for your research project. Please note that expenses incurred before the fellowship is announced are not eligible for reimbursement.
• Confidential Letter of Support: Request a confidential letter of support from your advisor or a faculty member familiar with your work. Ask them to email the letter separately from your application to the Graduate Program Assistant at gsengl@colorado.edu. Their letter should address the specific merits of the project and the abilities and potential of the student applicant.
• With the exception of the confidential letter of support, all materials must be submitted electronically via AcademicWorks by January 15, 2024.

Past Recipients

• 2024/25 recipient: Jack Pugh, PhD candidate
• 2023/24 recipient: Hannah Blanning, PhD student
• 2022/23 recipient: Mitch Christensen, MA student
• 2021/22 recipient: Travis Kane, MA student
• 2020/21 recipient: Travis Kane, MA student
• 2019/20 recipient: Tarren Andrews, PhD candidate
• 2018/19 recipient: Rebecca Schneider, PhD candidate
• 2017/18 recipient: Allison Shelton, PhD candidate

The Dick Shahan Graduate Fellowship is awarded to an English Department graduate student to assist in completing their graduate program/degree. Funds may be used to cover expenses associated with pursuing a creative project and/or conducting research (for example, travel to an archival location). Fellowships are offered to students in one of four specific graduate student groups, alternating each year: 1) PhD students who have completed everything but the dissertation; 2) PhD students in the first 1-3 years of the program; 3) MFA students; and 4) MA students. One (1) fellowship of $1,400 will be awarded. The award will be distributed and applied to the student’s fall 2025 tuition bill. If the winner graduates before fall 2025, the award will be forfeited. This year, the fellowship will be awarded to a PhD student.

The scholarship winners will be notified once the decision has been made. The scholarship recipients will be expected to write a note of thanks to the donor, as well as a short paragraph about interests, classes and writing, one semester after receiving the award.

Qualifications

• Applicants must be English PhD students/candidates

Submission Guidelines

• Submit a summary paragraph about your creative work/project
• Submit a paragraph about what you hope to accomplish
• Submit a timeline to graduation
• All materials must be submitted electronically via AcademicWorks by January 15, 2025.

​Past Recipients

• 2024/25 recipient: Katie Henze, MA student
• 2023/24 recipient: Beau Farris, MFA student 
• 2022/23 recipients: Hannah Blanning, PhD student; Sarah Ramsey, PhD student
• 2021/22 recipient: Alex Story, MA student
• 2020/21 recipients: Conny Cassity, PhD candidate; Cayla Eagon, PhD candidate
• 2019/20 recipient: Breanne Pye, MFA student
• 2018/19 recipient: Elana Friedland, MFA student
• 2017/18 recipient: Josette Lorig, PhD student

The Creative Writing Program Announces the Jovanovich Imaginative Writing Awards Competition. The Jovanovich prize is an annual award for excellence in poetry, fiction, playwriting, or nonfiction prose. Two (2) awards of up to $1,200 each will be awarded, to be applied to the recipients’ fall 2025 tuition bill. If the winner graduates before spring 2026, the award will be forfeited.

The scholarship winners will be notified once the decision has been made. The scholarship recipients will be expected to write a note of thanks to the donor, as well as a short paragraph about interests, classes and writing, one semester after receiving the award.

Qualifications

• Applicants must be Creative Writing graduate students.
• Applicants must be enrolled full-time and in good academic standing.
• Applicants must not be graduating earlier than spring 2026.

Submission Guidelines

• One (only) of the following: three poems, one short story, a piece of creative non-fiction, or a segment of a stage or screenplay.
• All creative works must be titled and formatted as they would appear in publication.
• No extraneous marks, grades, names or other identifying information should be included.
• Insert a header with the name of the award in the upper right corner of each page.
• Insert page numbers (e.g. page 1 of 5) in the lower right corner of each page.
• Save your submission as a PDF titled: YourLastName_Jovanovich
• All materials must be submitted electronically via AcademicWorks by January 15, 2025.

​Past Recipients

• 2024/25 recipients: Beau Farris, MFA student; Emeka Joseph, MFA student
• 2023/24 recipients: Lilly Rothman, MFA student; Anna Sheffer, MFA student
• 2022/23 recipients: Bailey Cochran, MFA student; Cheryl Cummings, MFA student; Anjali Ravi, MFA student
• 2021/22 recipients: Alaina Bainbridge, MFA student; Candace Nunag Tardio, MFA student
• 2020/21 recipients: Cara Albert, MFA student; Sabrina Canepa, MFA student; Kate Sedor, MFA student
• 2019/20 recipients: Rachel Cruea, MFA student; Nilufar Karimi, MFA student
• 2018/19 recipients: Stephen Mruzik, MFA student; Michael Ranellone, MFA student
• 2017/18 recipients: Heather Cohen, MFA student and Rushi Vyas, MFA student

This award provides support to English PhD students in their doctoral studies. The award is offered in memory of Professor James K. Folsom. One (1) fellowship of up to $1,600 will be given to a qualified graduate student whose research focuses on Western American Literature or American Literature and/or Culture. If no students have a dissertation focusing on this, it can be given to a student whose dissertation is otherwise closely related to Western American Literature. The award will be distributed and applied to the student’s fall 2025 tuition bill. If the winner graduates before fall 2025, the award will be forfeited.

Qualifications

• English PhD student in post-comprehensive exam “D” status during the 2025-26 academic year.
• Applicants must be enrolled full-time and in good academic standing.

Submission Guidelines

• Submit a one-page summary of how this award will be used to support your doctoral studies.
• All materials must be submitted electronically via AcademicWorks by January 15, 2025.

Past Recipients

• 2024/25 recipients: T. J. McLemore, PhD candidate; Sarah Ramsey, PhD candidate
• 2023/24 recipients: Jack Pugh, PhD student; Sarah Ramsey, PhD student
• 2022/23 recipients: Jack Pugh, PhD student; Jessica Tebo, PhD student
• 2021/22 recipient: Jessica Tebo, PhD student
• 2020/21 recipient: Michael Schrimper, PhD student
• 2019/20 recipient: T. J. McLemore, PhD student
• 2018/19 recipient: Tarren Andrews, PhD student 
• 2017/18 recipient: Stephanie Couey, PhD student

This award provides support to English graduate students. This award is offered in memory of Frederick C. and Eleanor Ruth Hager. Three (3) fellowships of up to $550 each will be given to qualified graduate students. The award will be distributed and applied to the student’s fall 2025 tuition bill. If the winner graduates before fall 2025, the award will be forfeited. 

Qualifications

• English MA, MFA, or PhD graduate student
• Applicants must be enrolled full-time and in good academic standing.

Submission Guidelines

• Submit a one-page summary of how this award will be used to support your doctoral studies.
• All materials must be submitted electronically via AcademicWorks by January 15, 2025.

Past Recipients

• 2024/2025 recipients: Matt Nesselrodt, MA student; Emily Spacke, MFA student; Devon Keyes, PhD candidate
• 2023/24 recipients: David Martinez, MA student; Bri Gonzalez, MFA student; Anna Paige Wingfield, PhD student
• 2022/23 recipients: Jack Pugh, PhD student; Michael Schrimper, PhD candidate
• 2021/22 recipient: Sarah Ramsey, PhD student
• 2020/21 recipient: Jenna Gersie, PhD student
• 2019/20 recipient: Alyssa Miller, PhD student
• 2018/19 recipient: Renata Ryan-Burchfield, PhD student 
• 2017/18 recipient: Josette Lorig, PhD student

This award provides fellowships to graduate students in the English Department at the University of Colorado Boulder, in memory of Rebecca Knoettge. Up to three (3) fellowship awards, each up to $2,500, will be given to students. Each award will be distributed and applied to the student’s fall 2025 tuition bill. If the winner graduates before fall 2025, the award will be forfeited.

Qualifications

• English MA, MFA, or PhD graduate student
• Applicants must be enrolled full-time and in good academic standing.

Submission Guidelines

• Submit a one-page summary of how this award will be used to support your doctoral or graduate studies.
• All materials must be submitted electronically via AcademicWorks by January 15, 2025.

Past Recipients

• 2024/2025 recipients: Sarah Alcantar, MA student; Marissa Sher, MFA student; Pilar Munoz, PhD student
• 2023/24 recipients: Tyler Nevins, MA student; Isabel Beeman, MFA student; T. J. McLemore, PhD candidate
• 2022/23 recipients: Alex Sardanis, MFA student; Kristina Ten, MFA student; Hannah Blanning, PhD student; Sarah Ramsey, PhD student
• 2021/22 recipients: Lauren Arnold, MFA student; Sarah Ramsey, PhD student; Jessica Tebo, PhD student; Rachel Wood, MFA student
• 2020/21 recipients: Anurag Andra, MFA student; Gabriel Coffman, MFA student; T. J. McLemore, PhD student; Michael Schrimper, PhD student
• 2019/20 recipients: Alexander Daniel, MFA student; Jennifer London, MFA student; James Carson, PhD candidate; Jenna Gersie, PhD student; Melodie Roschman, PhD student
• 2018/19 recipients: Stephanie Couey, PhD student; Elana Friedland, MFA student; Phuong Vuong, MFA student; Christine Becker, MFA student
• 2017/18 recipient: Cayla Eagon, PhD student

The Donna Robinson Meckley Graduate Fellowship provides funds to PhD students whose dissertation focuses on or is closely related to British studies and/or culture to conduct research for their dissertation. The grant can be used for things such as travel to archives, lodging during travel, institution research fees, scanning, photocopying and printing charges, etc.

One (1) fellowship of up to $1,800 will be awarded to qualified graduate students. The award will be distributed and applied to the student’s fall 2025 tuition bill. If the winner graduates before fall 2025, the award will be forfeited. Applications will be reviewed and award winners will be selected by the Graduate Studies Committee.

Qualifications

• PhD students in post-comprehensive exam “D” status, registered continually for 5+ dissertation hours as required by the Graduate School Rules.
• Preference will be given to students whose dissertation focuses on British studies and/or culture.

Submission Guidelines

Applicants must submit the following:

• A current resume
• A detailed explanation of the importance of this grant for your dissertation/thesis research (maximum of one page, typed and single-spaced). Include the current status of your dissertation/thesis and progress you expect to make during the term of this award.
• A typed, detailed budget of expected expenses (if traveling) and description of destination(s), including dates of travel. Award recipients will be expected to document travel expenses with receipts.
• All materials must be submitted electronically via AcademicWorks by January 15, 2025.

Past Recipients

• 2024/25 recipient: Jack Pugh, PhD candidate 
• 2023/24 recipients: Stephanie Couey, PhD candidate; Jenna Gersie, PhD candidate
• 2022/23 recipients: Stephanie Couey, PhD candidate; Jenna Gersie, PhD candidate
• 2021/22 recipients: Conny Cassity, PhD candidate; Stephanie Couey, PhD candidate; Amanda Hurtado, PhD candidate
• 2020/21 recipient: Tarren Andrews, PhD candidate

The SURF Grant provides funds to PhD, MA, and MFA students over the summer to support their studies. The grant can be used for things such as ongoing writing and editing over the summer, travel to destination(s) necessary for research, institution research fees, photocopying charges, professional development, etc. Students do not have to be writing a thesis or dissertation to receive this award.

An estimate of ten (10) grants, each up to $2,500, will be given to qualified students. Each award will be distributed and applied to the student’s spring 2025 tuition bill. Applications will be reviewed and award winners will be selected by the Graduate Studies Committee.

Qualifications

• PhD students enrolled full-time and in good academic standing
• MA students enrolled full-time and in good academic standing
• MFA students enrolled full-time and in good academic standing

Submission Guidelines

Applicants must submit the following:

• A current resume
• A detailed explanation of the importance of this grant for your dissertation/thesis research, your continued studies, or professional development (maximum of one page, typed and single-spaced)
• All materials must be submitted electronically via AcademicWorks by January 15, 2025.

Past Recipients

• 2024/2025 recipients: Morgan Llewellyn, MA student; Noah Mahoney, MA student; Matt Nesselrodt, MA student; Isabel Beeman, MFA student; Jonathan Davis, MFA student; Beau Farris, MFA student; Emeka Joseph, MFA student; Anna Sheffer, MFA student; Marissa Sher, MFA student; Emily Spacek, MFA student; Hannah Blanning, PhD candidate; James Carson, PhD candidate; BK Clapham, PhD student; Jenna Gersie, PhD candidate; Devon Keyes, PhD candidate; Pilar Munoz, PhD student; Jack Pugh, PhD candidate; Sarah Ramsey, PhD candidate; Michael Schrimper, PhD candidate; Jessica Tebo, PhD candidate
• 2023/24 recipients: Matthew Austin, MA student; Ishmeet Kohli, MA student; Alessandro Sary, MA student; Brittany Whelan, MA student; Isabel Beeman, MFA student; Jonathan Davis, MFA student; Beau Farris, MFA student; Bri Gonzalez, MFA student; Michael Kerr, MFA student; Isabel Phelps, MFA student; Lilly Rothman, MFA student; Anna Sheffer, MFA student; Hannah Blanning, PhD student; James Carson, PhD candidate; Stephanie Couey, PhD candidate; Jenna Gersie, PhD candidate; T. J. McLemore, PhD candidate; Jack Pugh, PhD student; Sarah Ramsey, PhD student; Michael Schrimper, PhD candidate; Jessica Tebo, PhD student; Anna Paige Wingfield, PhD student
• 2022/23 recipients: Mitch Christensen, MA student; Addie Dewey, MA student; Phillip Johnson, MA student; Kasey Scibilia, MA student; Jared Taylor, MA student; Michael Kerr, MFA student; Cheryl Cummings, MFA student; Brian Fortune, MFA student; Briana Gonzalez, MFA student; JP Mayer, MFA student; Candace Nunag Tardio, MFA student; Alex Sardanix, MFA student; Kristina Ten, MFA student; Hannah Blanning, PhD student; James Carson, PhD student; Stephanie Couey, PhD candidate; Jenna Gersie, PhD candidate; T. J. McLemore, PhD candidate; Jack Pugh, PhD student; Sarah Ramsey, PhD student; Michael Schrimper, PhD candidate; Jessica Tebo, PhD student
• 2021/22 recipients: Cara Albert, MFA student; Alaina Bainbridge, MFA student; Sabrina Canepa, MFA student; Katie Chappell, MA student; Bailey Cochran, MFA student; Stephanie Couey, PhD candidate; Cheryl Cummings, MFA student; Madeline Hennessey, MA student; Amanda Hurtado, PhD candidate; JP Mayer, MFA student; Jack Pugh, PhD student; Michael Schrimper, PhD student; Allen Scott, MA student; Kate Sedor, MFA student; Candace Nunag Tardio, MFA student; Rachel Wood, MFA student
• 2020/21 recipients: Renata Ryan Burchfield, PhD candidate; Leah White, MFA student; Rachel Wood, MFA student
• 2019/20 recipients: Stephen Mruzik, MFA student; Garrett Biggs, MFA student; Stephanie Couey, PhD candidate
• 2018/19 recipients: Chris Becker, MFA student; Cayla Eagon, PhD candidate; Jimmy Miranda, PhD candidate

The Denver Woman’s Press Club is once again offering the Ruth Murray Underhill Scholarship. Established in 1985, this scholarship provides support to a graduate student in the University of Colorado Boulder Creative Writing Program. Preference will be given to students with a demonstrated interest or experience in furthering the success of women in creative writing. Examples of demonstrated interest or experience may include, but are not limited to, students' coursework and involvement in student organizations. 

The scholarship winner will be notified once the decision has been made. Award winners are invited to attend a reception during the summer and may also participate in the organization’s events free of charge throughout the 2025/2026 year. If the winner graduates before spring 2026, all or part of the award will be forfeited.

One (1) scholarship in the amount of $TBD will be given to a qualified MFA student.  Funds are applied directly to the student account during the 2025/2026 year.

Qualifications

• Graduate student in the MFA-Creative Writing program who has a demonstrated interest or experience in furthering the success of women in creative writing.
• Female students are especially encouraged to apply; however, an applicant's gender identity will not be considered a factor in the selection process. 
• Good standing in the program with satisfactory degree progress.
• Applicants must have a graduation date no earlier than May 2026.

Submission Guidelines

Applicants must submit the following:

• A manuscript of 25 pages or less
• A one page statement demonstrating interest or experience in further the success of women in creative writing
• Manuscripts must have no extraneous comments, marks, or grades on it. The manuscript should not contain the applicant’s name