Department of English

Scholarships and Financial Aid

The English department offers a number of scholarships specifically for students pursuing an English-related degree. These scholarships are designed to support your studies at Missouri State and reward excellence in both the community and the classroom. 

Scholarships and financial aid

You may qualify for University scholarships. The Office of Financial Aid provides information about University scholarships, grants and loans. Most scholarships at Missouri State University, including those designated for English students, require the submission of a completed Missouri State scholarship application. Details about additional materials are included in the descriptions below.

Financial need is often considered in the awarding of scholarships, and is determined solely by your Federal Application for Student Financial Aid (FAFSA).

Scholarship applications are due by March 1 each year.

Available scholarships

Elda E. Robins Memorial Scholarship

Selection criteria

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

  • Be a full-time incoming freshman majoring in English.
  • Demonstrate high school performance, college potential, and leadership. 

Awards made with regard to financial need.

Renewal criteria

This scholarship is renewed automatically. Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress.

LAD Scholarship Fund

Selection criteria

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

  • Be a full-time incoming freshman.
  • Be either the 1st Place Prose Winner or the 1st Place Poetry Winner in the LAD Language Fair.

Two awards given annually.

Renewal criteria

This scholarship cannot be renewed. 

Richard M. Turner Scholarship

Selection criteria

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

  • Be a full-time freshman majoring in English
  • Have an overall GPA of 2.49 and a departmental GPA of 2.99. 

Incoming freshmen considered based on high school academic performance and leadership.

Renewal criteria

This scholarship cannot be renewed. 

Robert Henigan Scholarship in Literature

Selection criteria

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

  • Be a full-time incoming freshman majoring in English with a Literature focus.
  • Have an overall GPA of 2.49 and a GPA in English of 2.99. 

Consideration made based on high school academic performance and leadership.  If all else equal, financial need will be deciding factor.

Renewal criteria

This scholarship cannot be renewed. 

William Bedford Memorial Scholarship

Selection criteria

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

  • Be a full-time freshman majoring in English. 

Consideration given based on high school academic performance and leadership.  Preference given to those students residing in Howell County, MO.

Renewal criteria

This scholarship cannot be renewed. 

Colin Michael Harris Creative Writing Scholarship

Selection criteria

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

  • Be a full-time sophomore or greater majoring in English with a Creative Writing emphasis.
  • Have an overall GPA of 3.0.

Renewal criteria

This scholarship can be renewed, but students must reapply to be considered for renewal. 

George and Martha Bixler First Generation Scholarship

Selection criteria

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

  • Be a full-time sophomore or greater seeking a major in English. 
  • Have an overall GPA of 2.5 and a GPA of 3.0 in English Education. 

First priority given to first generation college students that can demonstrate financial need.  If there are no first generation college student applicants, then academic performance can be considered.

Renewal criteria

This scholarship is renewed automatically. Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress.

George and Virginia Gleason Scholarship

Selection criteria

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

  • Be a full-time sophomore or greater majoring in English.
  • Have an overall GPA of 3.0.

Award made with regard for financial need.

Renewal criteria

This scholarship is renewed automatically. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA and be enrolled full-time.

Lee H. Morris Memorial Scholarship

Selection criteria

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

  • Be a full-time sophomore or greater majoring in English with a minor in Journalism. 
  • Have an overall GPA of 3.0 and a GPA of 3.25 in English. 

All else equal, preference given to females.  Awards made with regard to financial need.

Renewal criteria

This scholarship can be renewed, but students must reapply to be considered for renewal. 

Mildred Henderson Ewing Memorial Scholarship

Selection criteria

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

  • Be a junior or greater majoring in English.
  • Have an overall GPA of 3.0. 

Consideration given based on demonstration of good character.  Awards made with regard to financial need.

Renewal criteria

This scholarship can be renewed, but students must reapply to be considered for renewal. 

Myron Taylor Professional Writing Scholarship

Selection criteria

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

  • Be a full-time junior or greater majoring in Professional Writing.
  • Have an overall GPA of 3.0. 
  • Submit a letter of merit and future goals.

All else equal, financial need may be considered. 

Renewal criteria

This scholarship can be renewed, but students must reapply to be considered for renewal. 

Richard Haswell Memorial Scholarship

Selection criteria

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

  • Be a full-time senior majoring in English.
  • Have an overall GPA of 3.5. 

Financial need may be considered but shouldn't be principle criteria.  Preference given to those planning on attending graduate school. 

Renewal criteria

This scholarship cannot be renewed. 

Eugene Andereck Creative Writing Scholarship

Selection criteria

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

  • Be a full-time student majoring in English.
  • Have an overall GPA of 3.0. For incoming freshmen consideration will be given if high school GPA is at least 3.5 with a letter of recommendation from a high school instructor.

Preference given to incoming freshmen.

Renewal criteria

This scholarship cannot be renewed. 

George Gleason and Elizabeth Mills Scholarship

Selection criteria

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

  • Be a full-time student majoring in English.
  • Maintain an overall GPA of 2.5. For incoming freshmen, consideration will be given to high school performance, college potential, and leadership.

Awards made with regard to financial need.

Renewal criteria

This scholarship can be renewed, but students must reapply to be considered for renewal. 

WD Blackmon Creative Writing

Selection criteria

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must

  • Be a full-time student seeking a major in English with a Creative Writing emphasis.
  • Have good academic standing.

Renewal criteria

This scholarship can be renewed, but students must reapply to be considered for renewal. 

Dr. Katherine Lederer Scholarship

Selection criteria

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

  • Be a full-time graduate or undergraduate student majoring in a program in the English Department.
  • Have maintained an overall GPA of 3.0. For incoming freshmen consideration will be given to high school performance, college potential, and leadership.

Preference will be given to students that promote diversity on the Missouri State campus.

Renewal criteria

This scholarship can be renewed, but students must reapply to be considered for renewal. 

Kris Sutliff Scholarship in Professional Writing

Selection criteria

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

  • Be a graduate student in Professional Writing Track of Masters in Writing.
  • Be enrolled in 6 hours.
  • Have a departmental GPA of 3.5. 
  • Submit a letter discussing merit and future goals.

Renewal criteria

This scholarship can be renewed, but students must reapply to be considered for renewal. 

Robert Henigan Graduate Award

Selection criteria

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must

  • Be a graduate assistant in the English Department.

Renewal criteria

This scholarship cannot be renewed. 

Tammy M. Gardner Memorial Travel Award

Selection criteria

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

  • Be a graduate student in the English Department.
  • Support travel to a State or National conference where you are presenting a scholarly paper.

Renewal criteria

This scholarship cannot be renewed. 

Violet L. Krischel Scholarship

Selection criteria

Awarded annually to an undergraduate student seeking a degree in the English Department.

Renewal criteria

This scholarship cannot be renewed. 

Mary Rose Sweeney Scholarship

Selection criteria

Awarded annually to an undergraduate student seeking a degree in the English Department.

Renewal criteria

This scholarship cannot be renewed.