The English Department awards two annual prizes, both named after long-time distinguished members of the faculty. Any student may submit to the Owen Prizes in Creative Writing; exceptional students who are English majors are invited to apply for the Alexis Prize. Awardees receive recognition at the College's Honor's Day in May as well as a modest cash award.
Entrants should compile and submit two copies of a portfolio (no more than 20 pages in length) of poetry, fiction, or nonfiction. The writer's name should be on the portfolio, but should not appear anywhere on the work itself. Judges will read the submissions "blind." Students may submit an entry in more than one genre. The deadline for the 2007–2008 Owen Prizes in Creative Writing is February 13, 2008 and submissions can be turned into Confer 231.
| Year | Winners | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Poetry | Fiction | Nonfiction | |
| 2007 | Ellen Bergman | Adam Nemmers | Kate Ellingsen |
| Poetry | Fiction | ||
| 2006 | Hallie Wunsch | Matthew McLaughlin | |
| 2005 | Tyler Dorholt | Adam Nemmers | |
| Poetry, Fiction, or Nonfiction | |||
| 2004 | Joe Lencioni | ||
| 2003 | Karin Leonard | ||
| 2002 | Matthew Jaksik | ||
| 2001 | Caroline Hildreth | ||
| 2000 | Genevieve Dahmen | ||
Exceptional students who are English majors are invited to submit a portfolio of their work from English classes. Portfolios range from 15–20 pages, and at least some of the work must be scholarly or analytical.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2007 | Jonathan Peasley |
| 2006 | Jonathan Peasley |
| 2005 | Andy Brown |
| 2004 | Anna Stenson |
| 2003 | Sandra Valdes |
| 2002 | Amelia Greiner |
| 2001 | Jessica Fredrickson |
| 2000 | Jessica Bergeman |
"Studying literature and observing personal reactions to the literature can make one more aware of his or her own values. English skills are helpful in every area of life."
—Maria Freund
I have long standing interests in literature, film, languages, and the pursuit of social justice.…