Undergraduate Awards and Scholarships in English
Creative Writing Awards
Eligibility:
- Continuing full-time students
- Applicants submit creative writing in poetry or prose.
Entry Process: information on how to enter and deadline announced to students in the Spring semester.
About Ella Somerville
Ella Somerville (1893-1974) The daughter of the dean of the University of Mississippi’s law school, Somerville lived her entire life in Oxford. She had been a student at the University of Mississippi at the same time as William Faulkner and she was recruited by her cousin to join Faulkner’s theatrical club, “The Marionettes.”
Somerville helped direct performances and developed a strong friendship with Faulkner. They remained both friends and fellow Oxford residents throughout the rest of their lives. Somerville created a literary salon during prohibition around her sandwich shop, the Tea Hound, which served as a setting for student dances and parties & was something of a local institution.
Somerville was also a good friend and longtime correspondent of Eudora Welty, and she introduced Welty to Faulkner’s writings, first by mailing his books to her, and then to the man himself. Eudora Welty called Somerville “one of the great ladies of the South”.
Eligibility:
- Full-time students
- Freshman or sophomore
Entry Process: information on how to enter and deadline will be provided by email early in the Spring semester.
Richard and Lisa Howorth established this award to honor their friend and celebrate student writing in poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction.
About Evans Harrington
Evans Harrington (1925-1997) had a teaching career that spanned more than three decades. He taught courses in creative writing and American literature and served as chair of the English Department at the University of Mississippi from 1979 to 1987. A cofounder of the annual Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Conference, which he directed from 1974 until 1993, Harrington was also a longtime participant in the Southern Literary Festival, serving as president of that organization in 1965, 1976 and 1987.
Dr. Thomas L. Vinson (1949-2013) of Columbus, Mississippi, established this scholarship fund in 1987 for deserving English students.
Literary Studies Awards and Scholarships
Eligibility:
- Full-time Student
- English major who has demonstrated accomplishment in the study of British Literature
- Priority will be given to those with at least 9 hours of courses in British literature
- At least a 3.0 overall GPA and a 3.5 GPA in English courses at the time of application
Entry process: information on how to enter and deadline will be provided by email early in the spring semester.
About Elmo Howell
Elmo Howell (1918-2013) earned his BA in English from the University of Mississippi, then went on to earn his MA and PhD in English from the University of Florida. He taught English for two years at Jacksonville State College and then for 26 years at Memphis State University (now University of Memphis). He wrote scholarly articles, particularly on the interconnections between literature and Southern culture, travel guides to Mississippi, and collections of poetry.
Eligibility:
- Full-time Student
- English major who will begin their junior year of study in the next fall semester
- At least a 3.0 overall GPA and a 3.5 GPA in English courses at the time of application
Entry process: information on how to enter and deadline will be provided by email early in the spring semester.
About W. Alton Bryant
After earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from the University of Mississippi. Dr. W. Alton Bryant (1909-1991) taught at the high school level before becoming chairman of the Dept. of English in 1936. He earned a doctorate in English literature from Vanderbilt Univ. in 1941. He served as vice chancellor of the University of Mississippi Medical Center and executive vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs of the Oxford campus – Bryant Hall was named in his honor in 1984. Mrs. W. Alton Bryant (1912-2006) established the award in memory of her husband.
Eligibility:
- Full-time Student
- Entering freshman or transfer student
- English major
Entry process: selection is based on financial need and academic credentials. For additional information, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.
About Polly Franklin Williams
Polly Franklin Williams most recently was a professor in the English department at Chapman University in Orange, California. A specialist in Southern literature and writers, she also served as assistant dean of Chapman’s Wallace All Faith’s Chapel. She received her Ph.D. at the University of Mississippi and served as Director of Religious Life as well as Assistant Professor of Special Education. This scholarship fund was established in 2001 by Dr. Parham H. Williams, Jr., of Oxford, Mississippi to encourage deserving students to major in English, thereby enriching their lives through the study of the world’s great literature and through the mastery of the English language.
Eligibility:
- Full-time Student
- English major who will begin their junior year of study in the next fall semester
- At least a 3.0 overall GPA and a 3.5 GPA in English courses at the time of application
Entry process: information on how to enter and deadline will be provided by email early in the spring semester. Nominees answer the essay prompt "Why does the English major matter for todays world?"