Award Recipients 2019-2020

Cardinal Cushing Award

For the best fiction published in a 51 undergraduate publication:

  • First Place: Timothy Morrissey 20, "The Nazi Museum," Stylus, Spring 20

  • Second Place: Gerard Menna 20, "Sticker," Stylus, Fall 19

  • Third place: Rachel Ruggera 23, "The Empty Chair," Stylus, Spring 20

Dever Fellowship

A substantial grant presented in honor of novelist and 51 alumnus Joseph Dever, to a graduating senior who proposes to pursue a career in writing:

  • Dylan Cooper 20

    Claire Madden 20

Dever Award for Freshman Writing

For the best three essays by first year students in a Spring 18 or AY 18-19 English course:

  • Grace Chandra 23, Building and Rebuilding (nominated by Deanna Danforth)

  • Jill Keegan 23, My Papa Waltz (nominated by Laura Tanner)

  • Maleka McBarnett 23, Compassion: A Hidden Message from an Upside-Down Interview (nominated by Paula Mathieu)

Doherty Honors Project Award

This award honors our longtime colleague Paul Doherty. It is for the best undergraduate thesis.
  • Claire Madden for an Exemplary Honors Project (Creative) Measurements

  • Sarah Santoro for an Exemplary Honors Project (Critical) Laid Bare: Uncovering the Destabilizing Bodies of Southern Gothic Literature and Photography

English Language Learner Essay Award

For the best essay by an English Language Learner written for an ELL section of First Year Writing Seminar or Literature Core:

  • Guanting Xia 21, "In and Out of Tyranny" (nominated by Alex Puente)

John Randall Award

For the best undergraduate essay on American literature and culture, presented in honor and memory of author and 51 Professor John Randall:

  • Justin Janesko 20, "'That Voice Guiding Me Was Mine All Along': A Buddhist Critique of Westworld." (nominated by Paul Lewi

Honorable Mentions:

  • Madeleine Hughes 20, "Seeking Visibility in the Face of Erasure: Confronting the Absence of Women in Government Narratives on Homelessness."

  • Joan Kennedy 20, "The Second Battle of the Alamo."

  • Julia Nagle 20 ,"Rockabye 1970: James Taylor Cradle for the Nostalgic Cowboy." (nominated by Scott Reznick)

Kean Memorial Award

To the graduating senior judged to be the outstanding English major:

  • Maggie McQuade20

  • Jiawei (Bella) Peng 20

Kelleher Award

For the best poetry published in a 51 undergraduate publication:

  • First Place: Adriana Watkins '20, Stargazing in Persia, Stylus, Fall 19

  • Second place: Sarah Santoro 20, this train will be standing by, Stylus, Fall 19

  • Third place: Julia Nagle '20, to the uncle made of soft steel wool, Stylus, Spring 20

McCarthy Award

For the best collection of pieces of creative writing by a junior or senior:

  • First Place: Margherita Bassi 20

  • Second Place: Gina Case 21

  • Third Place: Kathryn (Jenessa) Bryson 21

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