English and Writing Awards

Each spring, the English and Writing Department judges and presents roughly 16 annual prizes for the best student writing and art in a variety of genres including drama, poetry, prose fiction, non-fictional prose and critical essays analyzing literature.

Prizes include monetary awards drawn from the gifts of generous donors and are available to all students from first-years to seniors.

Guidelines for submitting to these awards are included in the links below. Award deadlines will be announced each spring semester.

In distinction, the Boatright Prizes are awarded to the best work published in each year’s issue of Flintlock, and all published work included in Flintlock is automatically considered for Boatright prizes.

English Awards Offered

The Carlos Camacho Humorous Writing Prize 

The Carlos Camacho Humorous Writing Prize is an annual competition sponsored by the Nebraska Wesleyan English Department that is awarded to a work of creative writing that exhibits excellence in style and that uses humor as a stylistic device of the work. We encourage submitters to think of humor in its broadest sense. Be it slapstick, satire, dark comedy or just a bawdy limerick. We are seeking works that utilize humor as an accent to the art form. Above all, the main criterion the judges will be looking at is, does this work make us laugh?

Submission Guidelines

• Creative works of writing in any genre are eligible (i.e. poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction and essays, plays, screenplays, graphic narratives).
• Length: Each submission per student should be no more than 25 pages in length.
• Submissions must be typed and double-spaced. Poetry submissions may be single-spaced. Each submission must include a title page with the submission title, the author’s name, and the author’s email and campus address.
• Submissions should be submitted to sloos [at] nebrwesleyan.edu (Stephanie Loos) in Old Main Room 102.

Terms and Conditions

• Your submitted manuscript must be an original work of which you are the sole author.
• The decision of the judges is final. The judges may choose no winner if they find no submission that, in their estimation, meets the expectations of the award.
• Your manuscript must be submitted in accordance with the submission guidelines and entry requirements or it will be disqualified.
• No entries will be returned.
• Winning submissions will be awarded $100. The winning manuscript will also be featured in that year’s issue of Flintlock.

The Scott Stanfield Scholars Award

The Scott Stanfield Scholars Award goes to a senior NWU English major who has excelled in the pursuit of the major. The award is established by Thomas J. Hudson '95, who greatly valued Professor Scott Stanfield's impact on his experience at Nebraska Wesleyan and wishes to express his appreciation for Dr. Stanfield's extraordinary teaching and mentorship by naming this award in his honor. It is made possible through the generosity of Thomas J. Hudson, Erik Campbell, Dan Ruth and Jason Schmaderer beginning with the 2023-24 academic year.

Submission Guidelines

To apply, junior English majors should submit to the Scott Stanfield Scholar Review Committee the following materials:

• A portfolio of work they feel best represents them and their interests, not to exceed 20 pages.
• Candidates will also provide a brief biography describing their background, college experience, and life goals.
• Submissions must be typed and double-spaced. Poetry submissions must be single-spaced.
• Submissions should be submitted to Stephanie Loos in Old Main Room 102.

Terms and Conditions

• Your submitted manuscript must include only original works of which you are the sole author.
• The decision of the judges is final. The judges may choose no winner if they find no submission that, in their estimation, meets the expectations of the award.
• Your manuscript must be submitted in accordance with the submission guidelines and entry requirements or it will be disqualified.
• No entries will be returned.
• Winning submissions will be awarded a scholarship of $1,000, to be awarded directly to the recipient by check or direct deposit. If extra gifts are received, a runner up award may also be given.

Ruth Meyer Scholarships

The Ruth Meyer Scholarships are an annual competition sponsored by the Nebraska Wesleyan English Department and the B. Ruth Meyer Creative Writing Endowment that is awarded to two senior English majors with proven ability and interest in creative writing and selected by the English Department Faculty in consultation with Financial Aid office to confirm eligibility to receive the funds. The two winning submissions will be awarded approximately $1,500. Amounts will be announced each year.

Submission Guidelines

• Students should apply for this scholarship during their junior year.
• Each submitter should submit a manuscript of creative work totaling no more than 25 pages in length. Only creative works are eligible (i.e. poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, plays, screenplays, graphic narratives)
• Submissions must be typed and double-spaced. Poetry submissions may be single-spaced. Each submission must include a cover sheet that includes the author’s name, a list of the titles submitted and the author’s email and campus address.
• Submissions should be submitted to sloos [at] nebrwesleyan.edu (Stephanie Loos) in Old Main Room 102.

Terms and Conditions

• Your submission must include only original works of which you are the sole author.
• The decision of the judges is final. The judges may choose no winner if they find no submission that, in their estimation, meets the expectations of the award.
• Your manuscript must be submitted in accordance with the submission guidelines and entry requirements or it will be disqualified.
• No entries will be returned. 
• Students who already have full-tuition scholarships are not eligible for additional funding with this scholarship and should not apply.

The Promising Creative Writer Award

The Promising Creative Writing Award is an annual competition sponsored by the Nebraska Wesleyan English Department that is awarded to a graduating senior student who plans to pursue a career in creative writing be that through eventual entry into a graduate program in creative writing, pursuit of a career in literary publishing or some other career as a professional creative writer.

Submission Guidelines

• Each submitter should submit a manuscript of creative work totaling no more than 25 pages in length. Only creative works are eligible (i.e. poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, plays, screenplays, graphic narratives) In addition, submitters should include with their submission a 1-2 page statement articulating their professional plans post-graduation from Nebraska Wesleyan.
• Submissions must be typed and double-spaced. Poetry submissions may be single-spaced. Each submission must include a cover sheet that includes the author’s name, a list of the titles submitted, and the author’s email and campus address.
• Submissions should be submitted to sloos [at] nebrwesleyan.edu (Stephanie Loos) in Old Main Room 102.

Terms and Conditions

• Your submission must include only original works of which you are the sole author.
• The decision of the judges is final. The judges may choose no winner if they find no submission that, in their estimation, meets the expectations of the award.
• Your manuscript must be submitted in accordance with the submission guidelines and entry requirements or it will be disqualified.
• No entries will be returned.
• Winning submissions will be awarded $300.

Boatright Awards

Through the generosity of alumnus Kevin Boatright (’74), all student work published in the Flintlock is eligible for Boatright Awards in poetry, fiction writing, art, nonfiction and script writing. The Boatright awards are judged by members of the English, Theater, and Art Departments.

There are five sets of Boatright Awards given out each year in the following categories:

• Fiction writing
• Poetry
• Nonfiction (creative nonfiction, creative journalism, literary and academic essays)
• Art (visual art, installation, sculpture, photography.)
• Script Writing (stage plays, film scripts, graphic narratives)

For each category above, there is a first and second place prize awarded $100 and $50 respectively. The decision of the judges is final. The judges may choose no winner if they find no works that, in their estimation, meet the expectations of the award or fall within a designated genre.