Opportunities

The Creative Writing Awards Contest is open to current SUNY Oswego undergraduate students and incorporates six different contests, covering five genres:

• The Mathom Fiction Award for the best short story
• The Rosalie Battles Creative Nonfiction Award for the best nonfiction piece submitted
• The Norma Jean Yembrick Playwriting Award for the best one-act play submitted
• The St. John Kincaid Screenwriting Award for the best first 10 pages of a full-length, screenplay
• The Academy of American Poets Prize for the best poem submitted
• The Lewis Turco Formal Poetry Award for the best sonnet submitted

Winners are chosen by professional writers, usually outside of the SUNY Oswego community. A monetary award is given to the best submission for each genre and winners are recognized at the Creative Writing Awards ceremony held at Quest in April.

This award was established by award-winning author Alice McDermott '75 in memory of her professor and mentor, Dr. Paul Briand. With Dr. Briand's encouragement, nurturing, and support and with the affirmation from English department faculty members, McDermott recognized for the first time that she could be part of the American literary tradition. This scholarship was established to inspire and encourage aspiring young writers. The faculty of the Creative Writing Department will select a graduating senior who shows great promise in creative writing.

The Buckley Award, named after Professor Helen S. Buckley (d. 2001), a former member of the writing arts faculty and author of many books for children, recognizes a senior student majoring in creative writing for excellence in creative writing and in classroom achievement. The nomination and selection of a recipient is made by the Department of English and Creative Writing faculty and announced at the spring Honors Convocation.

This scholarship was established in memory of Charles F. Wells (d. 1994), for the purpose of funding a scholarship for a student who will be a senior majoring in English or Creative Writing. This scholarship recognizes scholarly achievement in the field of English and demonstrated academic excellence in English courses. The applicant must be a full-time matriculated Oswego State student who will have completed 85 hours by the end of the summer session and have a GPA of 3.20 or higher. Invitations to apply will be sent to junior English and Creative Writing majors. If you feel you have the qualifications to apply for this scholarship complete an application(pdf).

This scholarship is established in memory of Dr. Richard Wheeler to help provide financial support for a student who will be a junior or senior-level English or Creative Writing major next year who demonstrates excellence in the field. Invitations to apply will be sent to sophomore and junior English and Creative Writing, majors with a SUNY Oswego GPA of 3.20 or higher. To qualify for this award, a student must: be a junior or senior next academic year (completed 27 or more credits, including transfer credits, by the deadline) declare English, Creative Writing major, demonstrate financial need, demonstrate excellence in major and demonstrate established career goals by submitting a short 200-word essay describing objectives after graduation from SUNY Oswego. If you feel you have the qualifications to apply for this scholarship complete an application(pdf).

The Palmer Award, named after the late Professor Emeritus Erwin Palmer (d. 2000), recognizes a senior student majoring in the literary studies track of the English major for distinguished classroom achievement. The nomination and selection are made by the Department of English and Creative Writing faculty and announced at the spring Honors Convocation.

Arwin A. Hamm (Class of 1922) established a scholarship to be named in honor of his high school English teacher, Georgia Barnes. This award recognizes the Department of English and Creative Writing's strongest junior or senior English, or Creative Writing student. The selection is made by the Department of English and Creative Writing faculty and announced at the spring Honors Convocation.

This scholarship was established by George Campbell McDade '60 (d. 2016) and his children in memory of Jean Hernon McDade '60 (d. 2004) who was a recognized educator, beginning her career as an elementary school teacher and ending it with a focus on the needs of adult learners at the collegiate level. Jean was an advocate for those who have been denied opportunity and for those who lacked the resources, experience, or ability to fully reach their potential. The scholarship commemorates Jean's commitment to higher education and creating opportunities for individuals to improve their lives. To qualify for this award, a student must: be a sophomore or junior level (have earned 27-86 credits, including transfer credits, at the time of application deadline), be a full-time declared major in English, Creative Writing, History, or Sociology, demonstrate humanitarian interests and achievements, demonstrate financial need, submit a letter of reference from advisor or another member of the faculty in major, submit a 300-500 word essay that demonstrates: commitment to your profession, experiences working with children and/or adult learners, volunteer activities and biographical information. Apply for this scholarship.