Undergraduate Awards and Scholarships
Awards for English Majors
The following essay awards are available to all English majors.
The John C. McGalliard Medieval Essay Prize
This award is given each year for the best essay on a topic from medieval literature, in honor of Professor McGalliard, who taught and wrote on Anglo Saxon poetry and literature until 1975.
The Miriam Gilbert Shakespeare Studies Award
This award is given each year for the best essay on Shakespeare, renaissance literature, or drama and performance, in honor of Professor Gilbert, who taught Shakespeare at Iowa until 2013.
Lennis J Holm Scholarship
Awarded to undergraduate students in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences majoring in one of the following departments: Cinematic Arts, English, or Theatre Arts. Student must be an Iowa resident, minimum UI gpa of 3.33, enrolled full-time, seeking their first undergraduate degree, and demonstrate financial need through a completed FAFSA .
This scholarship is offered to non-fiction writing students every third year. 2017-2018 was the last year it was offered so the next offering will be 2020-2021 and applications are likely going to be due late January 2020. The award is $1500. Student apply for this through the CLAS scholarship portal with a writing submission. If you are a double major in Cinema or Theatre, you may apply in the alternate years as well.
Esther Walls Scholarship Fund
Awarded to currently enrolled undergraduate students in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences majoring in one of the following departments: African American Studies Program, American Studies, Anthropology, Art and Art History, Asian and Slavic Languages and Literatures, Cinema & Comparative Literature, Classics, Communication Studies, Dance, English, French & Italian, Geographical and Sustainability Sciences, German, Health and Human Physiology, History, Journalism & Mass Communication, Linguistics, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Religious Studies, Social Work, Sociology, Spanish & Portuguese, Theatre Arts, or Women’s Studies.
Student must have earned 60+ hours of college credit, have a minimum UI gpa of 3.5, be seeking their first undergraduate degree, and continue full-time as a junior or senior. Apply for this scholarship via the CLAS scholarship portal here. Deadline usually February 1st for the following year. Awards up to $2500.
Helen K. Fairall Scholarships
Applicants must have been born in Iowa and either been educated in Iowa schools in grades 1-8 or have graduated from an Iowa high school. Minimum 3.0 grade point average, with preference to students interested in literature from 1900 to contemporary works.
Ruth Gulden Holsteen and Charles Sophus Holsteen Memorial Scholarships
This award was established by Jon Holsteen and Nancy Holsteen Lerner in honor of their parents, Charles Sophus and Ruth Gulden Holsteen. U.S. Citizens majoring in English who demonstrate high scholastic achievement, good citizenship, and talent in the field of English literature and composition, including poetry, drama, and prose, are eligible. Students must have completed at least one year at UI to be considered for this award.
Margaret Leuz / Fred Einspahr Scholarships
This award was established by John Einspahr in honor of his parents Margaret Leuz and Fred Einspahr. Margaret was an Iowa City native who graduated from Iowa Phi Beta Kappa in 1912 and later taught English and Latin in the small town of Odeholt, IA. Awarded to English majors who plan to devote themselves to the teaching profession after graduation, with preference to students enrolled in the Teacher Education Program. Students must have graduated from an Iowa high school and be able to demonstrate genuine financial need and high scholastic achievement.
Sherry Simmons Loring Memorial Scholarships
This award was established by Eric Loring in honor of his late wife, Sherry Simmons Loring, who earned her BA in English at Iowa in 1970. English majors with the exception of those focusing on creative writing are eligible. Preference to a female student with financial need.
The Scott A. Anderson Memorial Scholarship
This award remembers Scott Anderson who received his B.A. in English with highest distinction from the University of Iowa in 1984 and who later worked in New York and Los Angeles as a script writer and production assistant for a number of popular daytime dramas. This scholarship annually supports an undergraduate English major who shares Scott’s love of writing and imaginative play. The award is given to an English major, with preference to a student interested in expository writing.
Darwin T. Turner Awards
This prize honors the legacy of Dr. Darwin T. Turner, chair of the African-American World Studies Program and Professor in the Department of English. The award honors outstanding students of color who have significantly contributed to fostering a culture of diversity in the Department of English and who best combine Dr. Turner’s devotion to literature and scholarship with his exemplary qualities as teacher and leader.
The Louise P. Herring Scholarship
This award remembers Dr. Herring, who received an M.A. degree in English from the University of Iowa in 1930 and a Ph.D. in 1932. Eligibility: junior or senior standing in the year of award; high purpose and promise; plans for a teaching career; commitment to English studies as a preparation for life. Amount of award--resident tuition for one year. Financial need is not a consideration.
Awards for English Double Majors
Journalism
Roger H. and Marilyn J. Coleman Scholarship Fund
Awarded to a currently enrolled undergraduate student in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, who has earned a minimum 60+ hours of college credit, majoring in Communication Studies or Journalism & Mass Communication. Student must be enrolled full-time (12+ hours), have a minimum UI gpa of 3.33, be seeking their first undergraduate degree, and demonstrate financial need through completing a FAFSA.
Preference will be given to students from the following counties in Illinois: Henry, Knox, Mercer, and Warren. Apply through CLAS scholarship portal.
Art, Dance, Music, Theatre
Mae Rodger White Scholarship Nonendowed Scholarship Fund
Awarded to a currently enrolled undergraduate student in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences majoring in Fine Arts one of the following departments: Art, Art History, Dance, Music, or Theatre.
Student must be enrolled full-time, have a minimum UI gpa of 3.50 and be seeking their first undergraduate degree. Apply through CLAS scholarship portal.
Mary Pelecheck Scholarship for Students in the Fine Arts
Awarded to a currently enrolled undergraduate student in CLAS, with at least 30 hours of earned college credit, has a minimum UI gpa of 3.33, who are majoring in Art, Dance, Music or Theatre Arts. Students must be enrolled full-time (12 + hours) seeking their first undergraduate degree, and demonstrate need through completing a FAFSA.
* Preference given to those with a Bohemian (Czech) background. Apply via CLAS portal.
German
Dr. George Schulz-Behrend Fund
Awarded to a currently enrolled undergraduate student in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences majoring in German who has earned over 60 hours of college credit. A UI cumulative GPA of 3.33 is required. Student must be seeking their first undergraduate degree and continue to be enrolled at least part-time (6 semester hours minimum) as an undergraduate at The University of Iowa. Award up to $3000. Apply through CLAS portal.
Psychology
Velma E. Stuit Scholarship Fund
Awarded to currently enrolled female undergraduate students who have earned 60+ hours of college credit and are majoring in Psychology, Chemistry, Physics, Math, Biology, Computer Science, Statistics, or other science.
Student must be enrolled full-time (12+ hours), have a minimum UI gpa of 3.33, be seeking their first undergraduate degree, and demonstrate financial need through completing the FAFSA. Apply through CLAS portal.
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Scholarships
The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences also awards scholarships to students continuing coursework in a major within the College. Some scholarships are open to all liberal arts and sciences students and others are for select liberal arts and sciences majors.