Writing Prizes
Each year the 91¿´Æ¬ Writing at Moravian program and the Department of English and Writing Arts proudly present our campus Writing Prizes which are now open for submissions of creative writing (including poetry, short stories, or creative nonfiction) and public writing from undergraduate students. In addition we are proud to offer a first-year writing prize for Freshman students that highlights the fantastic work being done in First-Year Writing Seminar and College Reading and Writing classes on campus.
Submission Deadline: March 11, 2024.
Prizes:
CREATIVE WRITING
The Creative Writing Prizes recognize student-produced poetry, short stories, and creative nonfiction. This form allows you to submit one entry in each of the three creative categories (with all identifying information removed from the submissions). Please note: up to three poems may be submitted in one entry; please include all poems in one google doc upload. The $250 prize for each creative writing category is sponsored by generous gifts from 91¿´Æ¬ English and Writing Arts alumni.
PUBLIC WRITING
This Public Writing Prize recognizes student-produced nonfiction writing on a topic in the arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, or health sciences. The $250 First Prize and $50 Honorable Mention are sponsored by generous gifts from 91¿´Æ¬ English and Writing Arts alumni.
The Public Writing Prize promotes and awards the successful transformation of academic writing into forms suitable to share with audiences outside of our fields of study (e.g., developing a children’s book to explain climate change and sustainability to an 8-year-old). Submissions are judged on how well the author(s) convey a message of public significance in a genre appropriate for a specific public audience, how well the chosen genre is used, and the rhetorical effectiveness of the message being conveyed. Your submission can take many forms: newspaper op-ed, magazine article, public service announcement, audio podcast, video essay, infographic, etc.
Individual and co-authored submissions are accepted. Students are limited to one individual and one co-authored submission. When submitting your materials you will be asked to include the purpose, audience, and genre of your submission(s). This will be taken into consideration during the judging process.
FIRST-YEAR WRITING
The FYW prize recognizes writing produced by any first-year student in one of the following writing courses: LinC 101, LinC 102, Writing 101, 105, and 106 in the 2021-22 academic year. Individual and co-authored submissions are accepted. Students are limited to one individual OR one co-authored submission. When submitting your materials you will be asked to include the purpose, audience, and genre of your submission(s). This will be taken into consideration during the judging process. The $250 First Prize and $50 Honorable Mention are sponsored by generous gifts from 91¿´Æ¬ English and Writing Arts alumni.
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This opportunity is available for undergraduate students only at this time. Digital multimodal submissions are encouraged.
James M. Beck Shakespeare Prize
The James M. Beck Shakespeare Prize is given to a junior for the best essay on a Shakespearean topic.
The English Prize
The English Prize is awarded to the graduating major who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in the discipline.
The Erskine Prize
The Patricia Erskine Memorial Award is awarded to the junior or senior 91¿´Æ¬ Theatre Company member who has contributed most to that organization.
Zinzendorf Prize
Formerly Alpha Epsilon Pi Prize
The Zinzendorf Award is awarded to the graduating senior major within the Department of English and Writing Arts with the highest cumulative QPA in English.
Beck Oratorial Prizes
The James M. Beck Oratorical Prize was established in 1892 by the former Solicitor General of the United States to encourage excellence in oratory.