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.
Eligibility
The competition is open to all current Harpur College undergraduate students with
a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Award Amount
Recipients are awarded:
1st Place: $2,400
2nd Place: $1,000
3rd Place: $400
Submission of Work
Submission of creative work is limited to one of the following:
Scene from a short story: 7-10 pages
Poems: no more than 5 pages
Scene from a screenplay: 7-10 pages
Creative essay: 7-10 pages
How to Apply
*Entries will be accepted at a future date in Spring 2025 via the link below. Students
will be able to upload their own work for review. Check back for updates on application dates.
*A panel of Harpur College faculty will review all submissions and will select the
winners by May 2025. If you have any questions regarding this competition, please
contact Colleen Burke, Assistant to the Chair, Department of English, General Literature
and Rhetoric, at cburke@binghamton.edu.
Andrew Bergman ’65
Andrew Bergman ’65, LittD ’94
Andrew Bergman earned his bachelor’s degree in History with honors from Harpur College
in 1965, and earned his master’s and Ph.D. in American History from the University
of Wisconsin. Bergman was an honorary degree recipient and keynote speaker at the
1994 Commencement ceremony at Binghamton University.
Bergman is best known for his screenplays for such films as Blazing Saddles (1974),
Fletch (1985), and Soapdish (1991). His directing credits include The Freshman (1990)
and Honeymoon in Vegas (1992). He is the author of several books including Sleepless
Nights (1994).
