Department Awards
- Alfred Bendixen Prize
Alfred Bendixen Prize
Made possible through the generosity of Dr. Alfred Bendixen '73, the Alfred Bendixen prize is presented to the student who writes the best honors thesis as determined by a committee of faculty from the Department of English, General Literature and Rhetoric.
- Alfred Bendixen Prize for Distinguished Teaching by a Graduate Student in English
Alfred Bendixen Prize for Distinguished Teaching by a Graduate Student in English
Made possible through the generosity of Dr. Alfred Bendixen '73, the Alfred Bendixen Prize for Distinguished Teaching by a Graduate Student in English is presented annually to a graduate student in English who demonstrates outstanding teaching skills. The recipient should be in good academic standing with commitment to the University community.
- Al Vos Shakespearean Experience Award
Al Vos Shakespearean Experience Award
This award will be made annually to an undergraduate student, from any major, planning to visit any of the four premier Shakespeare Centers: the Folger Shakespeare Library along with its offshoot, the Shakespeare Theatre Company, in Washington, DC; the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, VA; the Stratford Festival in Stratford, Canada; or the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and other Shakespearean venues in Stratford, England. This award will be utilized by the student(s) to defray expenses associated with the in-person visit to the site.
Eligible applicants will be those who are visiting a site they have not previously visited. Students participating in the English Department’s London Program or other study-abroad programs which include an organized trip to Stratford are not eligible to apply for this award.
Interested students will be asked to complete an application and provide a detailed explanation of why they chose their center destination, the resources they drew upon to make their choice, and their anticipated itinerary and plan. Make every effort to attend at least one performance of a Shakespeare play. Students should describe specific ways in which they will make their visit a rich learning experience and, as background, should include a brief account of their own experience of Shakespeare. The recipients must also agree to submit a two-page report of their experiences at the center upon their return from their destination.
This initiative will be coordinated by the Chair of the English Department. The English Department will coordinate the announcement of the opportunity and convene the selection committee consisting of faculty members who teach courses in Shakespeare.
This fund will provide an annual award of $2,000, as donor funding allows. If, in a given year this honor cannot be awarded, two recipients may be selected the following year.
Application Deadline: April 1, 2025
- Fred Handte Memorial Award
Fred Handte Memorial Award
Established in memory of Fred Handte, 1987 editor-in-chief of the student newspaper, Pipe Dream. Presented to a graduating senior involved with Pipe Dream. The potential recipient should be nominated, in writing, by a peer, preferably one who also works at Pipe Dream.
- George R. Dunham Poetry Prize
George R. Dunham Poetry Prize
The George R. Dunham Poetry Prize was established in 1979, and is presented to a graduating senior whose poems have been selected through an open poetry competition coordinated by the Creative Writing Program, Department of English, General Literature, and Rhetoric. It was originally sponsored by the Foundation and the Academy of American Poets in memory of George Dunham.
- Portia Dunham Award in Fiction
Portia Dunham Award in Fiction
In June 1986, Portia Dunham made a gift to endow the George R. Dunham Poetry Prize and to establish the Portia Dunham Award in Fiction. The Portia Dunham Award in Fiction is presented to a graduating creative writing student whose work in fiction has been selected in open competition. The recipient is determined by the faculty from the Department of English, General Literature and Rhetoric.
- The Andrew Bergman ’65 Award in Creative Writing
Made possible through the generosity of Andrew Bergman '65, LittD '94, the Andrew Bergman Award in Creative Writing is presented to a current Harpur College student who excels in creative writing. Award recipients are selected through a writing competition, which is stewarded by the Creative Writing Program, the Harpur College Dean’s Office and the Binghamton University Foundation.
- Vasilew Award in Rhetoric
Vasilew Award in Rhetoric
Awarded to a graduating senior majoring in Literature or Rhetoric.
