Several scholarships, ranging from $700-$1000 per year and based on merit, not financial need, are offered by VCU, the Presidential, Honors, and Commonwealth Scholars programs. Outstanding freshmen and transfer students may apply for these scholarships by March 1 for Fall semester enrollment. In addition, the Department of English offers the awards and scholarships listed below.

Outstanding English Major Award
Each year a senior English major is selected for this cash award. Criteria for selection include grade point average, record of service to the department, school, university, and community, and recommendations of faculty. Eligibility for this award is determined from graduation applications submitted to the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

J. Edwin Whitesell Explication Award
An annual award for the best original analysis of any literary work (or part thereof) initially written and published in English. The essay can be no more than 1500 words, must be typed, and accompanied by a copy of the work (if it is a poem or story). A cash prize is awarded to one undergraduate and one graduate winner. Any VCU student may submit entries for this prize, awarded in late March of each year.

Creative Writing Awards
Each spring the department sponsors a contest for outstanding poetry and fiction. English majors and especially people who have taken a creative writing class at VCU are encouraged to enter, although it is open to all students. A cash prize is awarded to undergraduate and graduate winners.

E. Allan Brown English Scholarship
In honor of the long-time chairman of the Department of English , a scholarship is awarded each year to an outstanding senior English major. At present the scholarship carries a stipend of $1000. Students with outstanding GPAs (usually 3.7 and above) are invited to apply in the Spring semester of their junior year.

The Riely Scholarship for Women
This scholarship, funded by and honoring the family of a two-degree graduate of the VCU English department, Jean Roy Riely, is offered to rising junior and senior English major women who returned to education after a significant interruption. These students, who should be in at least their second semester at VCU, should have a GPA of at least 3.0 since their return and have been successful in at least one upper level English course. A letter is sent in March inviting the eligible students to apply.