There are many funding and award opportunities for English and Creative Writing students.
Scholarships and Awards
See the University Advancement Office for further details, including eligibility and application requirements.
Dr. Paul Briand Outstanding Senior Creative Writing Award
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.
Amount: $1,000
Erwin Palmer Outstanding Senior in Literary Studies Award
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 is made by the Department of English and Creative Writing faculty and announced at the spring Honors Convocation.
Amount: $150
Georgia Barnes Scholarship
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.
Amount: $100 each to two recipients
Helen Buckley Award 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.
Amount: $200
Holly and David Hallinan Jr. Scholarship for English Studies
This scholarship was established by Christopher Hallinan '96 to provide financial assistance to an English or Creative Writing student who has faced, or continues to face, challenges or barriers that hinder them from experiencing a full academic and college life. To qualify for this award, a student must:
a. Be a declared major in English or Creative Writing.
b. Apply in sophomore or junior year to receive the award in the following year.
c. Submit an essay that explains the challenges dealt with in pursuing higher education
Note: This scholarship is renewable.
Amount: $1,000
Robert and Barbara Moore Scholarship
Robert and Barbara Moore established this scholarship to help undergraduate students majoring in English to fulfill their dreams of a college education. To qualify for this award, a student must:
a. Be a full-time matriculated student at SUNY Oswego, having a declared major within the English Department.
b. Must be a freshman, sophomore, or junior at time of application for award the be received the following year.
c. Have documented financial need.
d. Submit an essay on how this scholarship will assist in achieving dream of a college education, and describing future plans.
Note: This scholarship is renewable.
Amount: $1,074
Charles F. Wells Scholarship
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. Invitations to apply will be sent to junior English and creative writing majors with a SUNY Oswego GPA of 3.20 or higher.
Award: $1,186
Wesley Brown '68 Scholarship
Wesley Brown '68 established this scholarship is support of undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need with interest in creative writing, fiction writing and/or playwriting. To qualify for this award, a student must:
a. Be a full-time matriculated student
b. Be a freshman, sophomore, or junior level student
c. Have financial need.
d. Preference given to applicants interested in writing fiction and/or playwriting.
e. Submit and essay documenting how this scholarship will assist the applicant in achieving dream of a college education, describing future plans, especially related to writing fiction and/or playwriting.
Note: This scholarship is renewable.
Award: $1,000
