Prizes
Each spring, the English Department awards prizes in both creative writing and critical fields.
2020 Creative Writing Prize Submission Details
Update: March 30, 2020
Unfortunately, the 2020 Creative Writing Awards Ceremony in Sanborn Library scheduled for May 14, 2020 has been canceled due to Covid-19. The creative writing faculty are looking into an alternative way to hold the awards so please check this website regularly for updates.
Please see the next section for a complete listing of the prizes.
SUBMISSION DETAILS (to be updated soon)
- The deadline for submissions is April 16, 2020 at 4:00 PM (may be changed, please check back regularly).
- Please use a cover sheet to indicate your name, your entry titles, and the prizes for which you would like your work considered.
- Drop off your submissions in 201 Sanborn (the Shakespeare Room) any time before the deadline.
- Fiction and creative nonfiction submissions are limited to one short story, or one nonfiction piece, or one chapter of a book length manuscript not to exceed 20 double-spaced typewritten pages along with a one-page synopsis of the book.
- This writing contest is open to all Dartmouth undergraduate students.
Chris Abani is the 2020 prize judge. For more information about his writing, please visit https://www.chrisabani.com/.
CREATIVE WRITING PRIZES FOR UNDERGRADUATES
These prizes are awarded at the annual Creative Writing Awards ceremony each May.
- *The Sidney Cox Memorial Prize:
The Sidney Cox Memorial Prize is offered annually for that piece of undergraduate writing which most nearly meets those high standards of originality and integrity which Sidney Cox set for himself and for his students in his teaching and in his book, Indirections for Those Who Want to Write. Any kind of undergraduate writing in English may be submitted; there is no limit to the amount or variety of the material that any individual may submit; and the award is not limited to students majoring or minoring in English.
- Academy of American Poets Prize:
The Academy of American Poets Prize is offered for the best poem or group of poems.
- Jacobson-Laing Award in Poetry:
The Alexander Laing Memorial Writing Award will be given to an undergraduate for the "best manuscript of original poems."
- Lockwood Prize:
Competition for the Lockwood Prize is open to undergraduates classified as Junior. Any form of writing except plays may be submitted. A group of short poems may be considered as one manuscript.
- Ralston Prize:
The Thomas Henry Ralston VI Creative Writing Prize is for the most outstanding student in an introductory creative writing class, CRWT 10, 11, or 12, in any genre (fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry).
- Grimes Prize:
Competition for the Grimes Prize is open to undergraduates classified as Senior. Any form of writing except plays may be submitted. A group of short poems may be considered as one manuscript.
- The William C. Spengemann Award in Writing:
The William C. Spengemann Award in Writing is given for a work of prose or poetry distinguished by its formal precision, as well as its original, innovative, or iconoclastic approach to its subject matter.
- The Mecklin Prize:
The Mecklin Prize is for the best student writing in creative nonfiction or journalism.
- The Erskine Caldwell Prize:
The Erskine Caldwell prize is awarded to a student(s) whose written work in the short story is most outstanding.
Annual Department Prizes for Undergraduates
These prizes are by faculty nomination, voted on by the entire faculty at the end of the academic year.
- The Feinstein Prize
- This prize is awarded to the student in the English Honors Program whose honors thesis and overall work demonstrate the most effective exploration of feelings through language.
- The Hochman Prize
- This prize is awarded annually to a graduating senior who majored in English and who demonstrated by his or her course work both academic excellence and particular dedication to the field of American literature.
- The Eugene H. Kohn '60 Award in English and Creative Writing
- This prize recognizes a promising sophomore or junior in the Department of English and Creative Writing, one whose prose or poetry displays not only erudition, eloquence, and stylistic economy, but vision and insight that, in their illuminating and epiphanic qualities, might evoke the work of James Joyce, a favorite author of Mr. Kohn. The recipient should have declared an English major and will be nominated by members of the faculty on the basis of an outstanding piece of written work.
- The Perkins Prize
- This prize is awarded to that undergraduate Dartmouth student who shall show the most promise in Greek or Latin, or in English literature.
- The Stanley Prizes in English
- Graduate School: This prize is intended to help a promising senior or recent graduate who is going on to graduate school.
- Most Innovative Paper: This prize recognizes an exceptionally innovative critical paper written by an undergraduate.
- Service to the Department: This prize is designed to honor that student who has done unusual service within the department and the major.
2019 PRIZE WINNERS
Department Prize Awards
Arthur Feinstein 1955 Memorial English Honors Award:
Kendall Christensen '19
B. William Hochman 1955 Memorial Prize in American Literature:
Victoria Corwin '19
Samuel Stockton '19
Eugene H. Kohn '60 Award in English and Creative Writing:
Paul Jeon '21
Edwin R. Perkins Literature Prize:
Isabelle Blank '19
Audrey Bransfield '19
Clara Chin '19
Rebecca Flowers '19
The Stanley Prize in English:
Arunav Jain '20 (most innovative paper)
Sofía Carbonell Realme '20 (service to the department)
Arunav Jain '20 (service to the department)
Maanav Jalan '19 (student attending graduate school in English)
Sidney Cox Memorial Prize for Best Creative Writing Honors Thesis:
Rebecca Flowers '19, High Honors Thesis in Creative Nonfiction
Isabelle Blank '19, High Honors Thesis in Fiction
Anna Staropoli '19, High Honors Thesis in Fiction
Michael Sun '19, High Honors Thesis in Poetry
Creative Writing Prize Awards
Professor Inara Verzemnieks was the 2019 creative writing prizes judge. For more information about Professor Verzemnieks, please visit: http://inaraverzemnieks.com/.
Sidney Cox Memorial Prize in Creative Writing:
Rebecca Flowers '19
Academy of American Poets Prize:
Julia O'Sullivan '20
Jacobson-Laing Award in Poetry:
Michael Sun '19
Lockwood English Prize:
Sofía Carbonell Realme '20
Grimes English Prize:
Saleha Irfan '19
Yegene Joyce Lee '19
The William C. Spengemann Award in Writing:
Maanav Jalan '19
The Mecklin Prize in Creative Nonfiction:
Kai Chen '19
Jordan McDonald '21
Rebecca Flowers '19
The Erskine Caldwell Memorial Prize:
Isabelle Blank '19
Betty Kim '20
The Thomas Henry Ralston IV English 80 Prize:
Chibuzo Chiwike '22
2018 PRIZE WINNERS
Department Prize Awards
B. William Hochman 1955 Memorial Prize in American Literature:
Patrick Gregory '18
Patrick Kang '17
Edwin R. Perkins Literature Prize:
Hannah Matheson '18
The Stanley Prize in English:
Isabelle Blank '19 (most innovative paper)
Clara Chin '19 (service to the department)
May Mansour '18 (student attending graduate school in English)
Creative Writing Prize Awards
Sidney Cox Memorial Prize for Best Creative Writing Honors Thesis:
Stephen Banks '18, High Honors Thesis in Fiction
Liza Wemakor '18, High Honors Thesis in Fiction and Poetry
Sidney Cox Memorial Prize in Creative Writing:
Hannah Matheson '18
Academy of American Poets Prize:
Courtney Niamh McKee '21
Jacobson-Laing Award in Poetry:
Sarah Lehan '20
Lockwood English Prize:
Emma Hobday '19
Grimes English Prize:
Hannah Matheson '18
The William C. Spengemann Award in Writing:
Celeste Jennings '18
The Mecklin Prize in Creative Nonfiction:
Ben Szuhaj '19
The Erskine Caldwell Memorial Prize:
Emma Sklarin '18
The Thomas Henry Ralston IV English 80 Prize:
Kaijing Janice Chen '19
Hye Young Kim
Sofia Carbonell Realme '20
Neelufar Raja '21
2017 PRIZE WINNERS
Critical Prize Awards
Arthur Feinstein 1955 Memorial English Honors Award:
Keva Xuan-duy Bui '17
B. William Hochman 1955 Memorial Prize in American Literature:
Winifred Danielle Jones '17
Kevin M. Patterson '17
Edwin R. Perkins Literature Prize:
Sarah Khatry '17
Nicholas Thyr '17
The Stanley Prize in English:
Keva Xuan-duy Bui '17, Graduate School
Kate Rome Dumanian '18, Most Innovative Paper
Yi He '17, Service to the Department and the Major
Winifred Danielle Jones '17, Graduate School
Parker Richards '18, Most Innovative Paper
Nicholas Thyr '17, Graduate School
Creative Writing Prize Awards
Sidney Cox Memorial Prize for Best Creative Writing Honors Thesis:
Jennifer Evans '17, High Honors Thesis in Fiction
Sarah Khatry '17, Honors Thesis in Creative Non-fiction
Sidney Cox Memorial Prize in Creative Writing:
Abbey Cahill '18
Andrew Joubert '20, Honorable Mention
Academy of American Poets Prize:
Abby Starr '19
Jacobson-Laing Award in Poetry:
Michael Sun '19
Lockwood English Prize:
Ho-chun Herbert Chang '18
Hannah Matheson '18
Grimes English Prize:
John "Mac" Emery '17
Sarah Khatry '17
The William C. Spengemann Award in Writing:
Parker Richards '18
Frederikke Strobech Furst, Honorable Mention
The Mecklin Prize in Creative Nonfiction:
Eliza McDonough '18
Raul Rodriguez '19
Alexa Sonnenfeld '17
The Erskine Caldwell Memorial Prize:
Kylee Sibilia '20
Elise Wien '17
The Thomas Henry Ralston IV English 80 Prize:
Saleha Irfan '19
Isabel Parks '20
Jaclyn Verzuh '19
2016 PRIZE WINNERS
Critical Prize Awards
Arthur Feinstein 1955 Memorial English Honors Award:
Margaret Lacey Jones '16
B. William Hochman 1955 Memorial Prize in American Literature:
Ellen Baker '16
Katherine R. McKay '16
Edwin R. Perkins Literature Prize:
Sarah Waltcher '16
Margaret Lacey Jones '16
The Stanley Prize in English:
Alice Wang '16
Sarah A. Waltcher '16
Margaret Lacey Jones '16
Sara J. Holston '17
Brownwyn A. Lloyd '17
Margaret Lacey Jones '16
Creative Writing Prize Awards
Sidney Cox Memorial Prize:
Queenie Sukhadia '16
Gabrielle Pacia '16
Georgianna Anderson '16
Academy of American Poets Prize:
Kelsey Sipple '16
Jacobson-Laing Award in Poetry:
Margaret Lacey Jones '16
Lockwood English Prize:
Treeman Baker '17
Grimes English Prize:
Charlotte Gross '16
Robbie Herbst '16
The William C. Spengemann Award in Writing:
William Peters '16
The Mecklin Prize in Creative Nonfiction:
Max Gibson '16
The Erskine Caldwell Memorial Prize:
Cherrie Kandie '18
James Sachar '16
The Thomas Henry Ralston IV English 80 Prize:
Ho Chun Herbert Chang '18
2015 PRIZE WINNERS
Critical Prize Awards
Arthur Feinstein 1955 Memorial English Honors Award:
Emma Moley '15
B. William Hochman 1955 Memorial Prize in American Literature:
Noah Smith '15
Edwin R. Perkins Literature Prize:
William Callan '15
Erin O'Neil '15
The Stanley Prize in English:
Haider Ghiasuddin '15 - Graduate School
Mitchell Jacobs '14 - Graduate School
Caela Murphy '15 - Innovative Critical Paper
Michael Riordan '15- Innovative Critical Paper
Joshua Elwood '16 - Service to English Department
Margaret Lacey Jones '16 - Service to English Department
Creative Writing Prize Awards
Sidney Cox Memorial Prize:
Sara Khatry '17
Haider Ghiasuddin '15
Madison Pauly '15
Kelsey Stimson '15
Jeremy Whitaker '15
Academy of American Poets Prize:
Margaret Lacey Jones '16
Jacobson-Laing Award in Poetry:
Andrew Lohse '12
Lockwood English Prize:
Tailour Garbutt '16
Grimes English Prize:
Jenna van de Ruit '15
The William C. Spengemann Award in Writing:
Joshua D. Koenig '16
The Mecklin Prize in Creative Nonfiction:
Kelsey Anne Stimson '15
The Erskine Caldwell Memorial Prize:
Robbie Herbst '16
The Thomas Henry Ralston IV English 80 Prize:
Kevin M. Patterson '17
2014 PRIZE WINNERS
Critical Prize Awards
Arthur Feinstein 1955 Memorial English Honors Award:
Jayne Caron '14
B. William Hochman 1955 Memorial Prize in American Literature:
Abigail Macias '14
Edwin R. Perkins Literature Prize:
Mitchell Jacobs '14
Katherine Kilkenny '14
The Stanley Prize in English:
Madeline Lesser '13
Rebecca Rothfeld '14
Maura Riley '13
Creative Writing Prize Awards
Sidney Cox Memorial Prize:
In Fiction
Cassandra Hartt '14
In Poetry
Mitchell Jacobs '14
Second Prize
Kirklun Davis '16
Academy of American Poets Prize:
Geanette Foster '14
Rebecca Rothfeld '14, Honorable Mention
Jacobson-Laing Award in Poetry:
Mitchell Jacobs '14
Lockwood English Prize:
Eva Petzinger '15
Grimes English Prize:
Amelia Acosta '14
The William C. Spengemann Award in Writing:
Suado Sheikh-Hassan '14
Autumn White Eyes '14, Honorable Mention
The Mecklin Prize in Creative Nonfiction:
Claire Groden '14
Runners Up
Max Gibson '16
Madison Pauly '15
The Erskine Caldwell Memorial Prize:
Henry Russell '15
The Thomas Henry Ralston IV English 80 Prize:
Georgianna Anderson '16
Dondei Dean '17