Scholarships

Established by the donor, Penelope G. Sticha, in honor of her mother, in 1994.

Established by Charline M. Wackman, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin in 1961, in honor of her mother, Mark Brabyn Wackman. Awards are based on academic merit and given to English majors who are “Wisconsin residents specializing in literature.”

Funded through a trust established in 1963 by Vivian Mowry, a 1910 graduate of the University of Wisconsin. Awards are made to English majors on the basis of “scholastic proficiency and active participation in campus activities.”

Established by Jack Urish, a former English major at UW–Madison, in honor of his mother Dorothy, who was an English teacher in Stoughton, WI. The donor wishes to offer financial support toward the academic success of a senior English major.

Established by Thomas J. and Barbara A. Johnson. It is awarded to an undergraduate English major who has shown how this award can support their academic success.

Established in 1995 by Lila Hicks Furber, who graduated with a degree in English from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1926. After graduation, Lila became a teacher.

This award will be presented to students in the Humanities who exemplify the sterling character of Helen C. White, a great teacher and scholar in the Department of English at the University of Wisconsin. The award is given on the basis of academic standing and a deep interest in the life of the community. Donor Ineva Baldwin felt that recipients should have demonstrated their interest in sharing their humanistic culture with their families and community.

Recognizes the strength, commitment, and perspective of First Generation English majors. The English Department Scholarship is awarded on the basis of academic merit and an appreciation of the contributions First Generation students make in the classroom, the department, the university, and the wider community.

This scholarship goes to an outstanding English major.
*This scholarship has been paused for the time being.

This scholarship is awarded to support a deserving English major or majors with a preference for those studying American Literature.

This award was established by Julie Bogle who graduated from UW–Madison in 1985 with a BA, majoring in both English and History. While an undergrad, she was a student of Prof. Cyrena Pondrom, who taught modern English literature. Julie was fortunate enough to work with Prof. Pondrom on an independent study project focused on Virginia Woolf. It was a transformative experience. Being exposed to someone as brilliant and insightful as Prof. Pondrom was both intimidating and deeply enriching, truly a life-changing experience. After working in publishing for several years, Julie went on to attend UW Law School, graduating in 1999. Fifth of six children, Julie could afford to attend UW Madison as an undergrad only because she was given the Mary Brabyn Wackman Scholarship. She is happy to have the ability, through the UW Foundation, to provide a similar opportunity to young English majors today, and to honor the woman who had such a deep influence on her future.

This award was established by the donor to provide scholarships to undergraduate students in the Department of English.

Established in 1968 and awarded annually for the two best essays written by first-year students in an English Department course (Creative writing courses are excluded.)  Each award is $125.

Established by Anna M. Vilas in 1912 and awarded annually for the two best essays written by undergraduates in English 245 or 300 – level and above English courses. The awards are $200 for the best essay and $100 for the second best essay.

Established by Professor Andrew Weiner (emeritus) in recognition of his teacher and colleague Professor Standish Henning (emeritus). Awarded for the best essay written by an undergraduate in one of the English Department’s upper-level Shakespeare courses, 431 or 432.  The award is $100

The English 100 program offers a variety of writing awards to students who either are currently enrolled in or have recently complete the course. 

The Creative Writing program awards numerous prizes for poetry and short fiction written by undergraduates. More information can be found on the awards section of their website.

The award recognizes the outstanding use of creative media to express ideas in unique ways, to re-imagine the work of English studies in English classes, and to take advantage of the affordances of emerging media.  Projects winning this award demonstrate an understanding of how creative media allow for novel modes of expression, communication, and persuasion.  The award is $125.

This award recognizes an outstanding written project based on the collection and analysis of original data in a 300-level or above English major course.  The data may include surveys, linguistic data, or the quantitative analysis of digitized texts.  The award is $125.

This $500 prize is awarded for the best essay or project by an English major that focuses on social justice, antiracism, or anti-ableism. The essay or project must be from a UW–Madison English course.

*This writing prize has been paused for the time being.

This $1000 award is given to a student(s) for a senior thesis chapter that demonstrates exceptional writing and analytical skills.

These awards are for outstanding academic essay writing done by students who are L2, or second language, undergraduate writers. These writers have shown a high level of skill in their argumentation, logic, and use of voice, as well as excellent citation and analysis skills.