Awards
The English Department annually conducts a number of awards competitions, each of which recognizes excellence in a different aspect of literature or language studies. The winners, who also receive modest monetary stipends, are recognized at the Honors Day Convocation, held each year in April. Submissions are generally due on the first Friday of February; details will be announced as the submission date approaches! Most awards include a cash prize and recognition on Honors Day. These award competitions are also announced in most English classes, usually early in the Spring semester.
A. Edwin Graham Memorial Award
The award is given to scholarly papers in all concentrations written by SIUE English graduate students during the previous year.
Dan Havens Award in American Literature before 1914
The award is given to the best undergraduate scholarly paper written on any topic pertaining to American literature pre-1914 written during the previous year.
Garry N. Murphy Memorial Award in English
The award goes to that undergraduate who, in the judgment of the English faculty, best exhibits precision in written English and subtlety and imagination in studies of language or literature, as demonstrated in an essay written for an English class at SIUE, 200-level or above.
Schaefer Linguistics Award
The Schaefer Award is awarded for the best academic paper on the topics of language, language learning, or language teaching submitted for consideration. All enrolled undergraduate and graduate SIUE students are eligible. The recipient will be chosen by a committee of TESL/Linguistics faculty.
The William Carlin Slattery Memorial Award in Poetry or Drama
This annual award recognizes excellence in poetry or drama by an SIUE undergraduate or graduate student.
The Mimi Zanger Memorial Award
The Zanger prize is awarded for the best short story submitted for consideration. The recipient will be chosen by a committee appointed by the Chair of the Department of English Language and Literature. All enrolled undergraduate and graduate SIUE students are eligible.
In addition to the awards listed above, members of the English department also collaborate to select students for the Outstanding English Student Award, The Friends of the Lovejoy Library Award for Outstanding Student Teacher of English, The Gertrude C. Drake Award for Excellence in Classical Languages, And the English Student Scholarship (sponsored by Mr. Patrick D. Hundley and the Department of English Language and Literature).
2021 Awardees
- The William Carlin Slattery Memorial Award in Poetry or Drama: Tyana Brock
- The Outstanding English Student Award (aka Benjamin Award): Co-winners Sarah Bland and Jenna Heng
- The Garry N. Murphy Memorial Award in English: Jennifer Goeckner
- The Mimi Zanger Memorial Award in Fiction: 1st place Elizabeth Donald; 2nd place Shannon Ortiz
- The Dan Havens Award in American Literature: No winner this year.
- The A. Edwin Graham Memorial Award: Rodaina Mousa
- The Outstanding Student Teacher of English (previously Friends of Lovejoy): Micaela Maco
- The Gertrude C. Drake Award for Excellence in Classical Languages: Co-winners Karen Moore and Meagan Womack
- The Nicholas T. Joost Award for Graduate Thesis in Literature: Ashley Hamilton
- The English Student Scholarship Award: Emma Walke
- The Schaefer Linguistics Award: Hope Krisko
- The George Soule Scholarship in English: Sarah Burt
2020 Awardees
- The William Carlin Slattery Memorial Award in Poetry or Drama: Tyana Brock
- The Outstanding English Student Award (aka Benjamin Award): Co-winners Micaela Maco and Allyson Taylor
- The Garry N. Murphy Memorial Award in English: Emily VanLith
- The Mimi Zanger Memorial Award in Fiction: 1st place Emily VanLith; 2nd place Matthew Sautman
- The Dan Havens Award in American Literature: No winner this year.
- The A. Edwin Graham Memorial Award: Sarah Burt
- The Outstanding Student Teacher of English (previously Friends of Lovejoy): Ariel Enlow
- The Gertrude C. Drake Award for Excellence in Classical Languages: Nathaniel Shelly
- The Nicholas T. Joost Award for Graduate Thesis in American and English Literature: No winner this year.
- The English Student Scholarship Award: Jennifer Pendergraft
- The Schaefer Linguistics Award: Lindani Memani
2019 Awardees
- The William Carlin Slattery Memorial Award in Poetry or Drama: Louis Jones
- The Outstanding English Student Award (aka Benjamin Award): Robin Cummins and Emily VanLith (co-winners)
- The Garry N. Murphy Memorial Award in English: Jeri Reuter
- The Mimi Zanger Memorial Award in Fiction: Theresa Verkuilen (1st place); Emily VanLith and Jeri Reuter (2nd place co-winners)
- The Dan Havens Award in American Literature: Olivia Russell
- The A. Edwin Graham Memorial Award: Matthew Sautman
- The Friends of the Lovejoy Library Award for Outstanding Student Teacher of English: Louisa LeCroy
- The Gertrude C. Drake Award for Excellence in Classical Languages: Nathaniel Shelly
- The Nicholas T. Joost Award for Graduate Thesis in American and English Literature: No winner this year.
- The English Student Scholarship Award: Brittany Hopkins
- The Schaefer Linguistics Award: Kelly Lasiter
2018 Awardees
- The William Carlin Slattery Memorial Award in Poetry or Drama: Grant Deam
- The Outstanding English Student Award (aka Benjamin Award): Angela Senne
- The Garry N. Murphy Memorial Award in English: Miranda Klinger
- The Mimi Zanger Memorial Award in Fiction: Jeri Reuter (1st place); Grant Deam (2nd place); Caroline Cochonour and Que'rra Mason (honorable mentions)
- The Dan Havens Award in American Literature: No winner this year.
- The A. Edwin Graham Memorial Award: Matthew Sautman
- The Friends of the Lovejoy Library Award for Outstanding Student Teacher of English: Tyler Hopper
- The Gertrude C. Drake Award for Excellence in Classical Languages: No winner this year.
- The Nicholas T. Joost Award for Graduate Thesis in American and English Literature: Ahlam Jaber and Jessica Nemec (co-winners)
- The English Student Scholarship Award: Lydia Friz
- The Schaefer Linguistics Award: Laura Boville
2017 Awardees
- The William Carlin Slattery Memorial Award in Poetry or Drama: Jessica Freeman (winner); Mario Lucio (honorable mention)
- The Outstanding English Student Award (aka Benjamin Award): Meagan Gunn
- The Garry N. Murphy Memorial Award in English: Cody Devoto
- The Mimi Zanger Memorial Award in Fiction: Justy Rothe (winner); Zachary McGeehon (honorable mention)
- The Dan Havens Award in American Literature: Robin Cummins
- The A. Edwin Graham Memorial Award: Matthew Sautman
- The Friends of the Lovejoy Library Award for Outstanding Student Teacher of English: Rebecca Glass
- The Gertrude C. Drake Award for Excellence in Classical Languages: Chase Tiffany
- The Nicholas T. Joost Award for Graduate Thesis in American and English Literature: Grace Matthews
- The English Student Scholarship Award: Jim Gillentine
- The Schaefer Linguistics Award: Mariel Schroeder
