English Department undergraduates may submit work to a number of writing contests sponsored by the department or other units of the University:
George B. Anderson Awards
Christopher Rawson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette drama critic and member of the English Department, annually sponsors up to three monetary awards for published theater reviews by college students. Any undergraduate in any college in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area is eligible. For details, contact cchr@pitt.edu, crawson@post-gazette.com, or 412-263-1666.
Carol Kay Essay Award
This award is for the best undergraduate essays on British Literature between 1500 and 1900. See contest details.
James Snead Memorial Award
This award is for the best undergraduate essays dealing with one or more of the following: film, African American literature, German literature, and American literature. See contest details and deadlines.
J.K. and Gertrude Miller Award
This award is for the best undergraduate essays dealing with medieval or 20th century British literature, commonwealth or global literature in English, world literature in English translation, or literary or cultural theory. See contest details and deadlines.
Marlee and James Myers Award
This award is for the best undergraduate essays in lower-level literature courses taught by graduate teaching fellows. See contest details and deadlines.
The Composition Program Writing Awards: The Ossip Award, Koloc Award, and Award for Advanced Composition
Prizes are awarded annually to honor outstanding work by student writers in any of Pitt's composition courses. See contest details and deadlines.
Edwin O. Ochester Poetry Award
Sponsored by Edwin Ochester in memory of his father, $250 is awarded annually for the best poem written in undergraduate poetry workshops ENGWRT 1210 or 1730. Deadline is normally in the spring. Consult the Writing Program with questions.
Edythe Portz Prizes
The Pittsburgh Undergraduate Review awards prizes of $250 to the best essay published in each semester's issue. Essays may deal with any subject in the arts and sciences and should be at least 10 typed, double-spaced pages in length. The Review adjudicates the prizes by soliciting the opinions of faculty referees. For further details, visit www.pur.honorscollege.pitt.edu/index.php.
Film Studies Undergraduate Writing Award
This award, which includes a $250 prize, honors outstanding essays on film. The deadline normally falls in January; consult the Film Studies Program's office in 624 Cathedral of Learning for current guidelines.
Montgomery Culver Award in Fiction
This is awarded to the best short story written by an undergraduate currently enrolled in a fiction class at Pitt. Deadline is in the spring, and the $100 prize is adjudicated by a special panel. For details, contact the Writing Program.
Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies Undergraduate Paper Prize
Undergraduate entries must have been prepared initially for a course, seminar, independent study, or internship at Pitt, and should represent the student’s original work. See contest details and deadlines.