Award Recipients 2019-2020

Cardinal Cushing Award

For the best fiction published in a 51¶¯Âþ 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¶¯Âþ 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, œBuilding and Rebuilding� (nominated by Deanna Danforth)

  • Jill Keegan ˜23, œMy Papa Waltz� (nominated by Laura Tanner)

  • Maleka McBarnett ˜23, œCompassion: 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) œMeasurements�

  • Sarah Santoro for an Exemplary Honors Project (Critical) œLaid 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¶¯Âþ 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 McQuade˜20

  • Jiawei (Bella) Peng ˜20

Kelleher Award

For the best poetry published in a 51¶¯Âþ undergraduate publication:

  • First Place: Adriana Watkins '20, œStargazing in Persia,� Stylus, Fall ˜19

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

  • Third place: Julia Nagle '20, œto 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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