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Undergraduate Scholarships

For information on any of the opportunities listed on this page, please contact:

WVU Department of English
PO Box 6296
Morgantown, WV 26506-6296
Tel: 304-293-3107

The following scholarships and awards are described in more detail below.

  • Blanche Haskins Lough Capicola Scholarship 
  • Carter Bishop Memorial Scholarship
  • Elena Illa Graham Memorial Scholarship
  • Eleanor Tucker Donley Memorial Scholarship
  • George Bird Evans Literary Scholarship
  • Virginia Butts Sturm Undergraduate Scholarship
  • Virginia Butts Sturm Creative Writing Scholarship

Blanche Haskins Lough Capicola Scholarship

The Blanche Haskins Lough Capicola Scholarship is awarded by the department to outstanding students who graduated from Liberty High School (or a successor school) in Harrison County, West Virginia. If no students fit that criteria, students who graduated from any other high school in Harrison County, West Virginia are eligible. If no students satisfy the criteria listed above, students who graduated from any other high school in West Virginia are eligible.


Carter Bishop Memorial Scholarship

The Carter Bishop Memorial Scholarship is awarded by the department to outstanding undergraduate students who are sophomores, juniors or seniors enrolled at WVU as majors in English in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences and are planning to be English teachers on the secondary or post-secondary level. First preference shall be given to residents of Boone, Braxton, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay, Doddridge, Fayette, Gilmer, Greenbrier, Jackson, Kanawha, Lewis, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe, Nicholas, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Putnam, Randolph, Raleigh, Ritchie, Roane, Summers, Upshur, Wayne, Webster, Wirt, or Wyoming County. If no students are available from these counties, any other West Virginia resident may receive the scholarship. 


Elena Illa Graham Memorial Scholarship

The Elena Illa Graham Memorial Scholarship is awarded by the Department to an outstanding English major. 


Eleanor Tucker Donley Memorial Scholarship

The Eleanor Tucker Donley Memorial Scholarship is presented by the Department to the outstanding junior English major. The recipient must be a full-time student. English majors with the highest grade-point average become eligible for this Award. Once these individuals are identified, faculty are asked to comment on the candidates. Often candidates are interviewed and asked to submit a written statement about their professional goals. Selection is made in April for the succeeding academic year.


George Bird Evans Literary Scholarship

The George Bird Evans Literary Scholarship is awarded to an outstanding undergraduate student. Eligible candidates must submit a scholarship application consisting of a cover letter and writing sample. The cover letter must be a minimum of 500 words and include a brief introduction and explanation of reason or intent for applying. The writing sample must be either 10 pages of literary criticism, 10 pages of poetry or creative writing, or a combination of the two. 


Virginia Butts Sturm Undergraduate Scholarship

The Virginia Butts Sturm Undergraduate Scholarship is awarded to an outstanding undergraduate English major of sophomore rank, i.e., someone who has completed at least 28 but not more than 58 hours of course work. Eligible students are invited to apply.


Virginia Butts Sturm Creative Writing Scholarship

The Virginia Butts Sturm Creative Writing Scholarship is awarded to an outstanding undergraduate English major in the creative writing concentration who is nearing completion of course work for the concentration. Eligible students are invited to apply.