Writing Prizes

The Department of English holds two writing contests each year. Calls for entry are posted mid-February, with submissions due in late March. Prizewinners are announced in April and participate in a student reading.

Guidelines:

• Submit two copies of your original, typed and double spaced.
• Choose a pseudonym and write it on EACH page of your submission. Your real name should NOT appear on any page of your story or poetry.
• Fill out a submission form, available at the English office, and online here.
• Each student is allowed only one submission in each category.
• Submissions will not be returned.

Submissions must be turned in to 210 East Hall by 4:00 PM on the due date.

The Academy of American Poets Poetry Prize

The Academy of American Poets offers over 200 prizes each year to college students who have excelled at writing poetry. Founded in 1955, the University and College Poetry Prize has awarded more than $350,000 to nearly 10,000 students since it began. The program is notable for having recognized many of America’s premier poetic voices during their college years, including Diane Ackerman, Alice Fulton, Tess Gallagher, Allen Grossman, Kimiko Hahn, Robert Hass, Brad Leithauser, J.D. McClatchy, Heather McHugh, and Gregory Orr, among others.

The Academy offers first-, second- and third-place awards to three Tufts undergraduate students each year. The first-place winner receives a prize of $100.

2008-09 Winners
1st place: Lucy Gaines
2nd place: Jesse Welch

2007-08 Winners
1st place: Ezra Furman
2nd place: Nan Lin
3rd place: Olga Rukovets

The Morse Hamilton Fiction Prize

The Morse Hamilton Fiction Prize, sponsored by the Department of English, recognizes one full-time Tufts undergraduate each year who has excelled at fiction writing. The prize, formerly known as the English Department Fiction Prize, is named after the late English Professor Morse Hamilton. Hamilton was a memorable and beloved figure in the department for many years.

Students may submit fictional works of any length. The winner, selected by a fiction writer outside the department, will be awarded a prize of $100. In addition, submissions may be selected for honorable mention.

Recent Winners
2008-09: Erik Doughty (1st prize); Jenna Nissan (2nd prize)
2007-08: Kyle Machado
2006-07: Zachary Dubin
2005-06: Jyhjong Hwang
2004-05: Jessie Hopkins

<< Return to Undergraduate Program main page