Scholarships for Undergraduate Students
We offer a number of scholarships to students majoring in English:
.jpg)
Agnes Just Reid Memorial Endowment Scholarship in Creative Writing
The Reid Scholarship is for students majoring in fields relating to creative writing. The scholarship amount is estimated at around $600.
Guidelines:
- Must be an undergraduate student
- Submissions should include 5-10 pages of poetry, short fiction, or creative non-fiction
- Students should include a one-page letter to the scholarship committee describing their interest and background in the field of creative writing
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens and be enrolled full-time. Applicants must have earned better than a 2.5 GPA in the preceding semester and overall. Previous Reid Scholarship winners are not eligible.
Students should apply through BOSS by the date given, usually later in the spring semester.
Agnes Just Reid, 1886-1976, a daughter of Idaho pioneers, lived her entire life on the Blackfoot River near Firth. The wife of a rancher and the mother of five sons who still farm in the region, Mrs. Reid found in writing the means to express her zest for life. The scholarship is offered as a memorial to her.
Charles H. Kegel Memorial Fund Scholarship in English Studies
The Kegel Scholarship is for students majoring in the field of English and literary analysis. The scholarship amount is estimated at around $1,100.
Guidelines:
- Must be an undergraduate student and at least a sophomore by the time the scholarship is awarded
- Submissions should include 1 or 2 course essays, of no more than 10 pages total, demonstrating excellence as academic essays on literature
- Students should include a one-page letter to the scholarship committee describing their interest and background in the field of English
- Applicants must be enrolled full-time for the semester in which the award is given, and must have earned better than a 3.0 GPA in the preceding semester and better than a 2.8 GPA overall. Previous Kegel Scholarship winners are not eligible.
Students should apply through BOSS by the date given, usually later in the spring semester.
Dr. Charles H. Kegel served ISU with honor and distinction for 25 years as professor of English, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, Dean of Faculties, Acting ISU President, and Academic Vice President. This award derives from the Charles Kegel estate and is given in his memory.
Price L. Lassahn-Worrell Scholarship Endowment in English
The Lassahn-Worrell Scholarship is for students majoring in English. The scholarship particularly targets students in their final year who have overcome a personal hardship. The amount is estimated at around $1,500.
Guidelines:
- The recipient must be a senior undergraduate student when the scholarship is awarded
- Applications must include a 500-700 word essay discussing a personal hardship and how it was overcome; a current resume; and a letter of recommendation from a faculty member
Students should apply through BOSS by the date given, usually later in the spring semester.
Price L. Lassahn-Worrell earned an undergraduate degree in General Studies, with an emphasis in Linguistics, at ISU and then pursued an MA in English. He established this scholarship in 2015 to assist students like him, who overcame great personal hardships in order to complete an undergraduate degree.
Jay G. and Mary Donna Jensen Scholarship
The Jensen Scholarship is awarded every other (odd) year to a student majoring in the field of English. Scholarship amounts vary between $200-300.
Guidelines:
- The Jensen requires the completion of an online questionnaire.
Students should apply through BOSS by the date given, usually later in the spring semester.
Carl A. Levenson Scholarship
The Levenson Scholarship is for students majoring in English or Philosophy, with a strong preference for a major in Philosophy. The scholarship amount is estimated to be about $700.
Guidelines:
- Must be an undergraduate student
- Must be a major in English or Philosophy (preference for Philosophy)
- Must demonstrate financial need (this is indicated by the results of filing a FAFSA)
- Must demonstrate academic merit
Students should apply through BOSS by the date given, usually later in the spring semester.
Dr. Carl A. Levenson was Professor of Philosophy at Idaho State University from 1981- 2016, beloved by generations of students. The scholarship was created by one of Dr. Levenson's former students, Tom Neel, who earned his B.A. in English, with minors in Philosophy and French, from ISU in 1987. He worked closely with Dr. Levenson in his senior year and formed a life-long friendship with him that continues to this day. Mr. Neel has roots in Idaho that go back generations and, in fact, is the nephew of Agnes Just Reid (1186-1976), a daughter of Idaho pioneers, who is memorialized in the Agnes Just Reid Scholarship.
William L. King Scholarship
The William L. King Scholarship is for students majoring in English or Philosophy, with a strong preference for a major in Philosophy. The scholarship amount is estimated to be about $700.
Guidelines:
- Must be a junior, senior, or graduate-level student
- Must be a declared major in English or Philosophy (preference for Philosophy)
- Must demonstrate financial need (this is indicated by the results of filing a FAFSA)
- Must demonstrate academic merit, with preference for those with at least a 3.0 GPA
Students should apply through BOSS by the date given, usually later in the spring semester.
Dr. William L. King was Professor of Philosophy at Idaho State University from 1960-1994, and the scholarship was created by his family to honor his enduring contributions to the Philosophy Program. Dr. Carl Levenson, whose contributions to the Philosophy program are honored in the Levenson scholarship, remarked of Dr. King, “‘His clarity of mind and artistic gift; his elegant simple bearing; his kindness and integrity – they serve as a challenge and an example."