Graduate Student Awards

Graduate Student Awards

Alumni donors have funded dozens of awards and prizes for outstanding Ohio State English students. We are proud to introduce the winners of awards for creative writing, scholarly writing and academic excellence listed below.


2023-2024 Scholarships and Awards

Departmental Awards

NATALIE ALOI | Kitty O. Locker Travel Awards
To subsidize travel for graduate students attending conferences on research in professional communication.

ISAIAH BACK-GAAL | Citino Poetry Award (1st Place Graduate)
For the best groups of poems by an English major and and by an MFA student in creative writing, not to exceed 10 pages. First and second places awarded to both undergraduate and graduate students.

ISAIAH BACK-GAAL | Academy of American Poets Award/Arthur Rense Prize (Honorable Mention)
For the best poem or group of no more than three poems. Submissions are open to graduate and undergraduate students. 

SKYLER BARNES | Helen Earnhart Harley Creative Writing Fellowship Award in Poetry (Honorable Mention)
For the best body of poetry by a second- or third-year MFA student

NIKKI BARNHART | Tara M Kroger Award
For the best short story by a student in the MFA Program in Creative Writing.

MORGAN BEERS | Outstanding Graduate Teaching Associate in Second-Year Writing
Recognizes outstanding instruction by a graduate student teaching English 2367

MORGAN BEERS | Kitty O. Locker Research Grant
Grants awarded to subsidize research-related expenses of graduate students studying business and professional writing.

ANDREW BISHOP | Muste Dissertation Prize 
Named in memory of John M. Muste (ret. 1986)

SABRINA DURSO | Digital Media Prize for Outstanding Graduate Work
In recognition of outstanding digital media project(s) completed by a graduate student in the Department of English, either in a seminar or as part of the student's research or creative work.

MICHELLE GABAY | Digital Media Prize for Outstanding Graduate Work
In recognition of outstanding digital media project(s) completed by a graduate student in the Department of English, either in a seminar or as part of the student's research or creative work.

CALEB GONZALEZ | Kitty O. Locker Research Grant
Grants awarded to subsidize research-related expenses of graduate students studying business and professional writing.

KEIRA HAMBRICK | Muste Dissertation Prize  (Honorable Mention)
Named in memory of John M. Muste (ret. 1986)

TALLON KENNEDY | Estrich Paper Prize
In memory of Professor Emeritus Robert M. Estrich (MA, English ‘29; PhD, English ‘35), chair of the Department of English from 1952 to 1964, during which he presided over the department’s enormous WWII growth.

JULIE KIM | Haidee Forsyth Burkhardt Award in Creative Nonfiction
For the best essay or nonfiction book chapter by a graduate student.

TRISTA KOEHLER | Brian McHale Award for the Best Graduate Paper in Narrative Studies
Named in honor of Emeritus Professor Brian McHale (ret. 2022)

KATHRYN LEMON | Helen Earnhart Harley Creative Writing Fellowship Award in Fiction
For the best body of fiction by a second- or third-year MFA student

HANNAH LOCHER | Kitty O. Locker Travel Awards
To subsidize travel for graduate students attending conferences on research in professional communication.

HANNAH LOCHER | Kitty O. Locker Prize for Excellence in Business Communication 
Awarded for an outstanding graduate-student conference presentation, publication, or dissertation on professional communication.

HEATHER MCCABE | Tara M Kroger Award (Honorable Mention)
For the best short story by a student in the MFA Program in Creative Writing.

SPENCER NEWSAD | Tara M Kroger Award (Honorable Mention)
For the best short story by a student in the MFA Program in Creative Writing.

DANIELLE BATALION OLA | Vandewater Poetry Award
For the best poem or group of no more than three poems by a graduate student.

DANIELLE BATALION OLA | Helen Earnhart Harley Creative Writing Fellowship Award in Non-Fiction
For the best body of nonfiction by a second- or third-year MFA student

CLAUDIA OWUSU | Helen Earnhart Harley Creative Writing Fellowship Award in Poetry
For the best body of poetry by a second- or third-year MFA student

CLAUDIA OWUSU | Helen Earnhart Harley Creative Writing Fellowship Award in Non-Fiction (Honorable Mention)
For the best body of nonfiction by a second- or third-year MFA student

CLAUDIA OWUSU | Haidee Forsyth Burkhardt Award in Creative Nonfiction (Honorable Mention)
For the best essay or nonfiction book chapter by a graduate student.

CLAUDIA OWUSU | Academy of American Poets Award/Arthur Rense Prize (Honorable Mention)
For the best poem or group of no more than three poems. Submissions are open to graduate and undergraduate students. 

MISHA PONNURAJU | Academy of American Poets Award/Arthur Rense Prize
For the best poem or group of no more than three poems. Submissions are open to graduate and undergraduate students. 

SAMANTHA RISAK | English Graduate Human Rights Award
For the best academic paper or multi-modal project produced in a Department of English graduate course or independent study in the past year. Submissions demonstrate a critical engagement with the literature, rhetoric, narrative, folklore, histories, laws and/or cultural practices of human rights.

ANDREW ROMRIELL | Presidential Fellowship
This prestigious fellowship, awarded by the Graduate School, recognizes the scholarly accomplishments and potential of graduate students entering the final phase of their dissertation research or terminal degree project. Each fellowship provides financial support so the recipient may devote one full year to the completion of their work unimpeded by other duties.

ANDREW ROMRIELL | Citino Poetry Award (2nd Place Graduate)
For the best groups of poems by an English major and and by an MFA student in creative writing, not to exceed 10 pages. First and second places awarded to both undergraduate and graduate students.

KATELYN ROTH | Vandewater Poetry Award (Honorable Mention)
For the best poem or group of no more than three poems by a graduate student.

OLIVIA ROWLAND | Kitty O. Locker Travel Awards
To subsidize travel for graduate students attending conferences on research in professional communication.

ZAINAB SALEH | Award for Excellence in Teaching by a First-Year Graduate Teaching Assistant
For a first-year graduate teaching assistant who demonstrates excellence in teaching First-Year Writing, based upon student evaluations and observations of teaching.

LEXIE SMEREKA | Helen Earnhart Harley Creative Writing Fellowship Award in Poetry (Honorable Mention)
For the best body of poetry by a second- or third-year MFA student

SAPPHO STANLEY | Helen Earnhart Harley Creative Writing Fellowship Award in Poetry (Honorable Mention)
For the best body of poetry by a second- or third-year MFA student

JORDAN WOODWARD | Kitty O. Locker Research Grant
Grants awarded to subsidize research-related expenses of graduate students studying business and professional writing.


College & University Awards

LAUREN CHIVINGTON | Hayes Forum, Arts/Oral Presentation Division (2nd Place)
The Edward F. Hayes Advanced Research Forum showcases innovative and exemplary research by Ohio State graduate students and postdoctoral scholars and facilitates fruitful exchanges between graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, faculty, the administration, and the public

ELISE ROBBINS | Graduate Associate Teaching Award
The GATA award, granted by the Graduate School, is the university’s highest recognition of the exceptional teaching provided by graduate students at Ohio State.

ANDREW ROMRIELL | Presidential Fellowship
The Presidential Fellowship, awarded by the Graduate School, recognizes the scholarly accomplishments and potential of graduate students entering the final phase of their dissertation research or terminal degree project. Each fellowship provides financial support so the recipient may devote one full year to the completion of their work unimpeded by other duties.

SAMANTHA TRZINSKI | Alumni Grant for Graduate Research and Scholarship
The Graduate School's AGGRS program supports the research and scholarship of doctoral or terminal master’s degree candidates for their dissertations or theses.

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