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English Scholarship and Award Opportunities

Honors and Awards

Award for Excellence as a Student Teacher

This annual award honors excellence as a student teacher at the undergraduate level. Recipients are selected from secondary English Education majors who complete the teaching practicum during the current academic year; all such students are eligible and are considered automatically by the awards committee (no application necessary). The award is based upon recommendations from WCU English department supervising teacher, consultation with supervising teachers, consultation with instructors who have taught the students, grades earned in ENGL courses, and grades earned in the professional education sequence. The award winner receives a printed award at an awards ceremony in the spring.

Award for Highest Distinction in English Scholarship

This award recognizes superlative scholarship by an undergraduate English major. All English majors (with at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA) who have graduated or plan to graduate during the academic year of the award are eligible and are considered (no application is necessary). The award is decided by ballot voted on by all English faculty. The recipient receives an award certificate, has his or her name engraved upon the Award plaque located in the English office, and usually (depending upon funding available in the award) receives a monetary award or a book in commemoration of the award.

Ashby Wade Award for Distinction in Freshman Composition

This award recognizes significant performance and improvement by a student in WCU's composition program (ENGL 101/202); it is named after the daughter of long-time English Department Head Phil Wade, who was a strong advocate for writing instruction at the university. Composition faculty nominate strong writers who are completing (or have completed within the last academic year) ENGL 202 (there is no student application). A panel of composition instructors review the final portfolios submitted for 101/202 for these students and select a recipient based upon year-long accomplishments, performance, and improvement. The award winner is published in Ink: Chronicles in Composition, are awarded a certificate, and receive (given budgetary constraints) a $100 award.

Scholarships

Mabel Crum Scholarship

This merit-based scholarship was established in honor of Mabel Crum, Department Head in English during the 60's. Recipients must be English majors and the award may continue only as long as the student remains an English major. Criteria include academic achievement, promise of continued success, successful participation in school activities (especially ENGL activities such as Sigma Tau Delta, the Creative Writing club, the literary festival, etc.), and overall civic and social contributions.

The award is for an academic year (the scholarship will be applied to the following academic year's tuition/fees) and may be renewed (given budgetary constraints) for students who maintain a 3.0 major GPA and 2.5 overall GPA. Awards vary based upon availability of funding but generally range from $1000-$2000 for the academic year.

Applications are available online and are due March 7, 2014.

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