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Department of English

Collage of writers and texts

Awards & Prizes

The 2009 writing contests are now closed.  Please click here to see this year's winners.



Each year, Georgetown students are eligible to enter the following writing contests:

The Lynch Pendergast Medal For the best essay on any topic in the discipline of English (2,500 to 4,000 words; open to undergraduates only)

The Ora Mary Phelam Poetry Prize For the most outstanding poem or group of poems (no more than 5; open to undergraduates and graduates)

The Quicksall Medal For the best essay on Shakespearean drama (open to undergraduates only)

The Bernard M. Wagner Medal For excellence in writing in any genre except drama (fiction, nonfiction and poetry; open to College freshmen, sophomores, and juniors only)

The Annabelle Bonner Medal For short fiction that demonstrates technical skill and promise in the art of the short story or narrative (open to seniors only, in any college or program)

Submission Guidelines:

Entries not adhering to all of the guidelines will be automatically disqualified.

  • All entries should include a COVER SHEET including title of the work(s) submitted, applicant’s name, address, phone number, email, school, year of graduation, and for which competition the entry is being submitted
  • IMPORTANT: DO NOT put your name on any other pages except the cover sheet
  • Submit entries to the English Department Office, 306 New North
  • For students abroad: Submit entries to Jenny Napolitano by e-mail.

Past winners:
Box 571131
New North 306 Washington, DC 20057-1131
Phone (202) 687-7435
Fax (202) 687-5445
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