Department of English

Awards and Scholarships

The following scholarships and awards are for English majors and minors:

Robert H. Dedman Prizes in Professional Writing
Call for applications: March 15

Application deadline: April 13

Award deadline: Commencement

The Dedman Prizes are made possible by a generous gift from Mr. Robert H. Dedman, President of ClubCorp International, Inc.

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Distinguished Alumni Board Scholarship
(for an incoming freshman or transfer student)

The English Department's Distinguished Alumni Board was created in 2001 in an effort to foster a strong relationship between the department's alumni and its current majors, as well as to provide direction and insight into the department's development and direction.

Its members vary in age and occupation. Among them one finds an attorney, a physician, a history teacher, and a university administrator - all graduates of the English Department.

To encourage the study of English, the DAB has established a $1500 scholarship that will be awarded to a single incoming freshman or transfer English major.

To qualify for the scholarship, you must be able to show a demonstrated interest in the written word and a dedication to the study of English.

To apply for the scholarship, please submit a completed application form, a cover letter, a personal statement that explains your desire to pursue an English major, and an up-to-date resume.

Please take the opportunity to articulate in your cover letter and your personal statement, as well as on your resume, evidence of your interest in and dedication to the study of English. Your personal statement might focus on your desire to teach, to write creatively, to work as a technical writer, or on any other evidence that demonstrates your affinity for English. You might also explain in it what the study of English means to you.

Deadline for submission of application packet: ________

Amount: $1500

Award deadline: Commencement

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G. Burke Johnston Scholarship
Call for nominations issued by Honorifics Committee: February 15

Deadline for nomination by English faculty/Honorifics Committee: March 15

Amount: $1000*

Award Deadline: Commencement

The Johnston Scholarship, which honors an English professor who served as first Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, is awarded to a sophomore for tuition credit during the student's junior year.

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Alfred E. Knobler Scholarships
Call for nominations issued by Honorifics Committee: February 15

Deadline for nomination by English faculty/Honorifics Committee: March 15

Amount: $5000* (to be divided among award designees)

Award Deadline: Commencement

These awards are made possible through the generosity of Mr. Alfred E. Knobler, Chief Executive Office of the Pilgrim Glass Corporation, a Virginia Tech alumnus.

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Sharon Messer Memorial Scholarship
Established by Sharon Messer's husband, John, and her many friends.

Call for nominations by Honorifics Committee: February 15

Deadline for nomination by English faculty, English majors, English graduate students: March 15

Amount: $500*

Award deadline: Commencement

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Jenkins M. Robertson Society Scholarship
The late Jenkins M. Robertson served Virginia Tech for many years as University Editor in University Relations. He designated his estate for scholarship support within the English Department.

Call for nominations by Honorifics Committee: February 1

Deadline for nomination by English faculty: March 1

Deadline for submission of resume and writing sample: March 21

Amount: $6000* (to be divided according to merit among as many as four designees)

Award deadline: Commencement

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Johann Norstedt Scholarship
(for an incoming freshman English major)

Before retiring in 2001, Dr. Johann Norstedt served the English Department and its students for 29 years as a beloved professor of Irish Literature and other courses. He served as Chair of the Department from 1997 to 2001. To promote scholarship among incoming students in the study of English, Dr. Norstedt has established a $1000 scholarship that will be awarded to a single freshman English major.

To qualify for the scholarship, you must be able to show a demonstrated interest in the written word and a dedication to the study of English.

To apply for the scholarship, please submit a completed application form, a cover letter, an up-to-date resume, and an essay (750-1000 words, double-spaced, with title, using 1-inch margins) written in response to the following theme:

Often, large universities tend to focus their attention on technology and the hard sciences at the expense of the arts and humanities. In an essay of 750-1000 words, please identify and discuss what you believe to be the value of a humanities degree, particularly one that focuses on the study of English.

Deadline for submission of application packet: ________

Amount: $1000

Award deadline: Commencement

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Joyce Gentry Smoot Scholarship
Named in honor of a long-time member of the department, this scholarship is awarded to a freshman English major as credit toward that person's sophomore year tuition at Virginia Tech.

Call for nominations by Honorifics Committee: February 15

Deadline for nomination by English faculty: March 15

Amount: $1000*

Award deadline: Commencement

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Nelle Holmes Book Scholarships
(one for an incoming freshman, one for a returning junior or senior)

Nelle Holmes was born and raised in the small town of Elkton, Kentucky. Thanks to a scholarship and the personal support of of the president of the college, she was able to attend and graduate from Barnard College in New York. She never forgot the help she received in order to acquire her education. After college, Mrs. Holmes briefly taught history and wrote a history textbook.

For her entire life she remained an avid reader, as well as a student of history and politics. During four terms as a New Hampshire state senator, she often championed educational causes. Mrs. Holmes died in Nashua, New Hampshire, in 1996 at the age of 93.

To honor Mrs. Holmes's memory, a Virginia Tech faculty member has instituted the Nelle Holmes Book Scholarship, which will provide $500 to an incoming freshman English major and $500 to a returning junior or senior English major to help defray the cost of college textbooks.

To qualify for the scholarship, you must be able to show a demonstrated interest in the written word and a dedication to the study of English and to the production of the written word.

Such interest can be demonstrated through the publishing of critical essays or creative writing, the writing and editing of student publications, or the involvement in other writing-based projects.

To apply for the scholarship, please submit a completed application form, a cover letter, and an up-to-date resume. Please take the opportunity to articulate in your cover letter and on your resume evidence of your interest in and dedication to the study of English and the production of the written word.

Deadline for submission of application packet: ________

Amount: $500

Award deadline: Commencement

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Charles Modlin Memorial Study Abroad Scholarship

The Charles Modlin Memorial Study Abroad Scholarship honors Dr. Charles Modlin, beloved faculty member in the Department of English and longtime leader of the Department's summer study abroad program to the United Kingdom. The scholarship is competitive, and annually grants awards of $500 each to two students who are English majors or minors planning to study abroad. Established by family, friends, colleagues and students of Dr. Modlin, this scholarship helps keep alive Charlie's commitment to opening the world to his students. To apply, submit this form.

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*Amounts for these scholarships usually represent the minimum amount available in the endowment for that year; actual amounts should normally be higher.

NOTE: All awards are contingent on the awardee's remaining an English major during the year that the award will take effect.

All enquiries to Dee Hezel, 329 Shanks Hall, (540) 231-6515, dhezel@vt.edu