Scholarships in English
For more information, contact Dr. Sharon Setzer.
Every spring, the Undergraduate Studies Committee of the English Department invites applications from English majors for the following four scholarships:
The A.M. Fountain Scholarship
The A.M. Fountain Scholarship honors the memory of Dr. Alvin M. Fountain, a member of the English Department for many years and author of the NCSU alma mater. It is awarded to a rising junior on the basis of scholarly merit, a writing sample (or samples), and letters of recommendation. Preference is given to students who are enrolled in the LWR curriculum and who are residents of North Carolina. However, these factors are merely guidelines so that students majoring in any English curriculum may be selected if scholastic merit is demonstrated. The award of $1,000 is renewable for the senior year upon re-application, so long as progress is being made toward a degree as determined by the Undergraduate Studies Committee.
The Eugene H. Harrison Scholarship
The Eugene H. Harrison Scholarship honors the memory of Eugene H. Harrison, father of Antony H. Harrison, professor in the NCSU English Department for over thirty years. Throughout his life, Eugene H. Harrison was a friend to education and the arts, with a particular penchant for drama. The scholarship is awarded to a rising junior with an interest in drama and demonstrated financial need. The recipient must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 overall as well as in the major. If no candidate meets these criteria, the Undergraduate Studies Committee may choose a recipient as they see fit. The award of $1000 is renewable upon re-application for the senior year, as long as the recipient maintains the designated grade point average.
The Guy Owen Memorial Scholarship
The Guy Owen Memorial Scholarship honors the memory of Dr. Guy Owen, a member of the Department of English from 1962 to 1981. Dr. Owen was a distinguished novelist, poet, editor, teacher, and NCSU writer-in-residence. The scholarship is awarded on the basis of scholarly merit, a writing sample (or samples), and letters of recommendation to a student who will be a senior by January of the academic year for which he or she is applying. The primary criteria for the award are academic merit and creative potential; financial need is a secondary factor. The scholarship of $1,000 is not renewable.
Applicants for all three awards must be English majors with GPAs of at least 3.5 in NCSU English courses.
The Department of English Interns' Scholarship
The Department of English Interns' Scholarship provides $750 per semester to qualified students. Recipients agree to complete an unpaid internship with a not-for-profit organization through the Department of English Internship Program.
The scholarship is open to juniors and seniors registered full-time at NCSU with a declared major or minor in English. Recipients must meet the following criteria:
- Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in English classes; 2.75 overall
- Demonstrate financial need through the federal government's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form
- Work 120 hours during the semester for a not-for-profit organization as an unpaid intern
- Attend ENG 350 class meetings once per week
For details about criteria and application procedures, please refer to the information on the Internship Program's Scholarship Page.
The deadline for application materials and letters of recommendation is March 31. Turn your applications in to either Shirley Jones (T246) or Dr. Sharon Setzer (T243).
Suggestions for Scholarship Applications
Cover Sheet
Include a cover sheet with your application listing
- your name
- your address
- your telephone number
- your email address
- your student ID number
- your GPA
- the names of your references
Cover Letter
Include a one- to two-page letter introducing yourself to the Undergraduate Studies Committee. Candidates typically tell us something about their background (i.e. when/how they decided to major in English), their current activities and interests (i.e. what they enjoy most about being an English major, how they spend their free time), and their goals or plans for the future.
Letters of Reference
Candidates typically ask their professors at NC State to write letters of reference. Although you may be hesitant to ask, be assured that most professors are very happy to write supportive letters for students who have done excellent work in their courses.
As a general rule, it is good to have at least two letters from members of the English department, preferably from professors you have had in your most advanced courses.
A maximum of three letters of recommendation should be sent directly to
- Dr. Sharon Setzer
- Department of English
- BOX 8105
- North Carolina State University
- Raleigh, NC 27695-8105
Deadline for application is March 31
Writing Sample
Writing samples are usually eight to ten pages representing a candidate's best work. You may submit a research paper, two shorter essays, a short essay and a few poems, a few poems and a short story, several news articles, a rhetorical analysis, or any combination of work that best reflects your strengths.
Candidates for the Guy Owen Scholarship should bear in mind that we will be especially interested in their "creative potential." While that may be demonstrated in a research paper or an interpretative essay, candidates for the Owen scholarship usually include some poetry and/or fiction as part of their writing sample.
Similarly, candidates for the Fountain Scholarship often include some work that demonstrates their potential to excel in journalism. The genre of your writing sample, however, is finally less important than its substance, style, and polish.
Be sure to submit a clean copy of your work (not the original with your professor's comments).
