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 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.

This award honors Emily Wagner, who received her B.A. in English from the University of Iowa in 2002. After graduating, Emily pursued her love of reading and writing by joining the Teach for America Corps, and continued her career as an inspiring English teacher, challenging and engaging middle-school students until her death in 2010. This scholarship supports an English major who shares Emily’s love of literature, demonstrates academic excellence, and is a graduate of an Iowa high school or homeschool. 

This award supports students in the English department who intend to teach at the high school level following completion of their studies. Preference is given to graduate students but may be awarded to an undergraduate.

Undergraduate English Majors are invited to apply for funds to cover their expenses for a summer internship or self-directed project that will result in a piece of long-form nonfiction writing. Funds of up to $5,000 are available. Applications should include a one-page CV, a 2-3 page proposal describing the internship (if you are applying for one) and outlining the writing project, a timeline for the work to be accomplished, and a budget. The winner will receive the funds in two installments: half at the beginning of the summer and half at the beginning of Fall semester after submitting a 400-600 word report on their project to the Awards and Scholarships Chair. Applications are due on Feb 24, 2027.

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.

This award was established by Jon Holsteen and Nancy Holsteen Lerner in honor of their parents, Charles Sophus and Ruth Ulden Holsteen, for a talented, promising and worthy student or teacher, in order to assist them in pursuing their career in the field of English Literature and Composition, including poetry, drama and prose. Criteria for selection will be on the basis of innate talent in one of the above disciplines, on scholastic achievement, on good citizenship and without regard to financial need. In addition, the candidate must be a citizen of the United States, including those individuals who have completed the naturalization process, and must have spent at least one full academic year at The University of Iowa prior to consideration for this award. 

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.

This award is endowed by David Wu and Una Yang in memory of their son, an English and creative writing student who was also on the Bijou Film Board and active in KRUI radio. The scholarship will support a freshman English major in Creative Writing who shows promise in this area.

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. English & Creative Writing majors are not eligible.