English Department Scholarships and Awards

About English Scholarships and Awards

To qualify for English scholarships, students must:

• be a currently enrolled Western student
• meet the scholarship or award requirements
• (for undergraduate applicants) intend to graduate later than Summer 2024

The scholarship descriptions are available below. Remember when you are completing your application to:

• please check all boxes for the scholarships to which you are applying
• assemble your materials based on the scholarship descriptions and requirements
• if you are submitting writing samples, double space and on the first page note the scholarships for which the materials should be considered
• submit these application materials before the deadline.

For information on other forms of financial aid please visit Financial Aid.

SCHOLARSHIPS and AWARDS

The Nancy and Ralph Babcock Jr. Memorial Scholarship

Applicant must be an English major with a Creative Writing emphasis. In addition to the application form, students must provide a sample of their writing (a short story, creative work of nonfiction, group of five or more poems, or nonfiction prose totaling no more than 15 pages) in typed manuscript. The expected award amount is typically $2,500.

R.D. Brown Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship honors R.D. Brown, an accomplished writer and gifted English teacher who taught at Western for twenty-five years. It supports an outstanding junior or senior English major with an emphasis in creative or professional writing. In addition to the application form, students must provide a sample of their writing (a short story, creative work of nonfiction, group of five or more poems, or nonfiction prose totaling no more than 15 pages). The expected award amount is typically $1,700.

English Department Undergraduate Tuition and Fee Waiver

Applicant must be a full-time English major with a GPA in English courses of 3.5 or better. In addition to the application form, students must provide an unofficial grade transcript. The expected award amount is typically $1,800.

Ethel Grady Church Scholarship

This scholarship honors Ethel Grady Church, a long-time resident of Bellingham and friend of the English Department. It supports an upper-division or graduate student majoring in English who has been at WWU at least three quarters. Recipients should exhibit high potential for making a contribution to society. In addition to the application form, students must provide an unofficial grade transcript and a brief statement explaining their future goals and career plans. The expected award amount is typically $500.

The Nancy J. Johnson English Education Scholarship

This scholarship honors the very accomplished work of the English Department’s own Dr. Nancy J. Johnson, an inspirational figure with a global reputation in the field of English Education. Applicant must be majoring in English Education (either Literature with Secondary Education Interest or Creative Writing with Secondary Education Interest). In addition to the application form and an unofficial grade transcript, students must provide a two-page explanation of their teaching plans (age/grade interest, when student teaching will take place, and an exploration of their commitment to English/language arts in middle school or high school). The expected award amount is typically $2,000

Arthur Key Scholarship

This scholarship is to provide support for students taking classes in the English Department in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. It is generously funded by accomplished English Department alumni Stacia and Garry Scott and named in honor of one of their favorite characters from Ron Carlson’s novel Five Skies. All students in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Western Washington University who are taking English courses may apply, including those students who are not English majors or minors. In addition to the application form, students must provide a ten-page writing sample from any English Department course completed at Western. The expected award amount is typically $1,750.

William K. McNeill Creative Writing Memorial Scholarship

Applicant must be an English major with a Creative Writing emphasis, who is in good academic standing, demonstrates a high level of skill in English writing, exhibits leadership qualities and good character, and expresses financial need. In addition to the application form, applicants must submit a letter detailing the above as well as a 10-15 page writing sample in any genre. The expected award amount is typically $2,250.

William K. McNeill English Literature Memorial Scholarship

Applicant must be an English major with a Literature emphasis, who is in good academic standing, demonstrates a high level of skill in English writing, exhibits leadership qualities and good character, and expresses financial need. In addition to the application form, applicants must submit a letter detailing the above and a writing sample consisting of a critical essay totaling 10-15 pages. The expected award amount is typically $2,250.

William Smith Scholarship in Professional and Technical Writing

This scholarship honors retired English Department faculty member William Smith, an accomplished scholar and award-winning teacher. This scholarship supports any student who demonstrates academic accomplishment in professional and technical writing, and expresses financial need. In addition to the application form, students should submit an unofficial grade transcript and a one-page statement explaining their academic goals. The expected award amount is typically $1,500.

Lois King Thore Scholarship

Applicant must be pursuing a degree in the field of English and show promise or express an interest in writing "short stories." In addition to the application form, students should submit one well-crafted story, 3-10 pages (or approximately 1000 to 3500 words) in length. The expected award amount is typically $800.