Scholarships

Applications for the current scholarship and awards cycle are due by March 15, 2025.

Generous donors have established several scholarships for undergraduate English BA or BS Secondary English Education majors and graduate students in the English Department’s graduate degree programs (MA, MA-TESL, MFA, PHD).

Undergraduate and Graduate Students:

• The Patricia Mapes Andersen English Scholarship
• The Gary Kenneth Buettner Memorial Scholarship
• The Sybil Hall Shott Scholarship
• The Mary A. Hill English Scholarship
• The Charles E. Bull Award 
• The Sarah Guidas Award for Literary Scholars of the Future
• Bryan Short Memorial Fund

Undergraduates only:

• The A. Elaine Bychinsky Award for Writers of Promise
• The Ted Johnson Memorial Scholarship
• The Gary Kane Semester Abroad Scholarship

Creative Writing Graduate Students only:

• Diana Gabaldon Graduate Creative Writing Award
• The William M. Burke Scholarship

Rhetoric, Writing, and Digital Media Studies (RWDMS) Graduate Students only:

• The Alex Weirich Memorial Scholarship

Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics and Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) Students only: 

• Jean Zukowsky/Faust Memorial TESOL Fund

Eligibility

To be eligible for these scholarships, you must

• have at least a minimum 3.0 GPA, except for the A. Elaine Bychinsky Award for Writers of Promise, the Gary Kenneth Buettner Memorial Scholarship, and the Sarah Guidas Scholarship (requires 2.5 or higher);
• have at least sophomore status with a minimum of 6 completed hours of NAU English courses beyond composition (for undergraduates) or have completed a minimum of 9 completed hours at NAU (for graduate students) by the deadline;
• be enrolled in courses for the academic year following when scholarship awards will be disbursed;

For the Mary A. Hill English Scholarship only, you must also show evidence of financial need as determined by a FAFSA application through the NAU Office of Financial Aid analysis.

For the Gary Kane Study Abroad Scholarship, you must show evidence of sophomore, junior, or senior standing at the time of the study abroad program.

How to Apply

Applications for scholarships and awards can be accessed through the Scholarship Universe website.

Brief Overview of Submission Types

Charles E. Bull Scholarship: A story or poem.

Alex Weirich Memorial Scholarship: A letter of application stating your academic and career goals and writing sample from one of your RWDMS courses.

Sarah Guidas Award for Literary Scholars of the Future: One letter of recommendation and a 500-word essay. 

Gary Kane Semester Abroad Scholarship: A 500-word essay outlining why you wish to study abroad in the country of your choice, including why you are deserving of this award.

 All other scholarships and awards, submit:

1. a copy of your current NAU undergraduate or graduate transcript as of the deadline (your unofficial LOUIE transcript is fine, but it should include transfer credit information);
2. an up-to-date résumé or curriculum vitae specifying your school record, awards or recognitions, extracurricular and service activities, and work experience;
3. a clear, inventive, professional-quality statement of approximately 500 words that describes your academic work and your progress toward your degree, explains information on your résumé that is particularly relevant to your application, and shows us your commitment to English study. The focus and coherence of this submission matter. Develop and explain the details or anecdotes that you include. And style counts, so carefully edit and proofread. Where necessary, solicit timely help in revising and polishing your statement

Deadline for AY 24-25 applications: March 15, 2025*

*Exception: Gary Kane Study Abroad Scholarship deadline is April 1, 2025