Scholarships in English and Linguistics
Thanks to generous donors, the Department of English and Linguistics annually awards approximately $25,000 in the form of eleven scholarships, most typically given to junior and senior declared majors.
All applications for English and Linguistics scholarships are processed through the Online Scholarship Manager, the University of Mary Washington’s centralized system for vetting scholarships. Students should complete applications for all scholarships, including English and Linguistics Department ones, using this system by May 15 to be considered for awards made to be applied to the following academic year. More details are available about Scholarship Opportunities.
Minority students are strongly encouraged to apply for the Department’s scholarships.
These eleven scholarships are:
Barbara Thomas Phillips Scholarship
This scholarship benefits a junior or senior majoring in English with achievement in creative writing. Applicants must submit a portfolio of their creative work. Mrs. Barbara Thomas Phillips ’48 created this scholarship in 2000. The average annual award budget is $1,000. Individual scholarship award amounts may vary. Congratulations to prior winners of this scholarship!
Carlton R. Lutterbie Jr. Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded annually to a rising junior or senior with a declared major in English. The average annual award budget is $750. Individual scholarship award amounts may vary. This memorial scholarship was established in 2005 by family and friends of Carlton R. Lutterbie Jr. to recognize the outstanding accomplishments he made during his years of service at Mary Washington. A member of the English faculty from 1967 to 1988, Dr. Lutterbie also served as Chair of the Department of English, Linguistics, and Speech and was later appointed Professor Emeritus of English.
Dr. James H. and Marion K. Croushore Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded annually to a student in good academic standing with a declared major in English. The average annual award budget is $1,900. Individual scholarship award amounts may vary. It was established in 2008 through a bequest by Marion K. Croushore to honor the memory of her husband, James, and to offer financial assistance to future generations of UMW students. Professor Croushore taught English at Mary Washington for 32 years
Joseph and Anne Flythe McCutcheon ’51 Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded annually to a student with a declared major in English. Special consideration is given to students enrolled in an approved program of study leading to teacher certification. The average annual award budget is $1,400. Individual scholarship award amounts may vary. Anne Flythe McCutcheon ’51 established this scholarship in 2008 in memory of her husband, Joseph.
Judy Mansfield Muller ’69 Scholarship in English
Recipients of this award are junior or senior English majors in good academic standing. The average annual award budget is $920. Individual scholarship award amounts may vary. Judy Mansfield Muller ’69 established this scholarship in 1996.
Laurie Mansell Reich ’79 and Henry E. Reich, Jr. Scholarship for Creative Writing
This scholarship benefits out-of-state students majoring in English with a specific focus on creative writing. Applicants must submit portfolios of their creative work. Laurie and Henry Reich established this scholarship in 2013 to attract and support outstanding students. The average annual award budget is $1,700. Individual scholarship award amounts may vary.
LaVergne Tuck Woody ’48 Scholarship in English
This scholarship is awarded to a UMW student majoring in English with demonstrated financial need and plans to receive teacher certification at the high school level. The average annual award budget is $1,700. Individual scholarship amounts may vary. Sandra Lee Ball ’57 established this scholarship in 2007 in honor of LaVergne Tuck Woody, a close and well-respected friend. LaVergne began her studies at Mary Washington and later graduated from Longwood College. She was known for her excellence in teaching and her mastery of the subject of English by generations of high school students at Bassett High School in Henry County, Virginia.
Marguerite J. Helbush ’41 Scholarship in English
This scholarship for English majors is given to two students and typically has an award amount of $2,600 each. Individual scholarship award amounts may vary. It was established by Marguerite Jennings Helbush from her estate in 2005. She felt her experience at Mary Washington was the beginning of a fulfilling career as a social worker, and she wanted to assist future alumni in achieving their goals.
Susan J. Hanna Endowed Scholarship
This scholarship benefits an academically outstanding English major with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. The average annual award budget is $2,600. Individual scholarship award amounts may vary. This scholarship was established in 1994 by friends and family in memory of Dr. Susan J. Hanna as a lasting tribute to her service teaching English for 26 years.
Taddesse Adera Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship is for a declared major in English. Candidates must write an essay on how postcolonial literary studies have enriched their experiences as an English major. The average annual award budget is $900. Individual scholarship award amounts may vary. In 2014, colleagues, family, friends, and former students of Professor Taddesse Adera established this scholarship in his memory. He joined Mary Washington as an assistant professor of English in 1989 and became a full professor in 2001. Dr. Adera received numerous awards including Virginia’s Outstanding Faculty Award and the University’s Jepson Fellow Award for distinctive contributions in teaching and service.
Marjorie Jean Frost ’44 Scholarship
This scholarship, shared equally between the Department of Classics, Philosophy, and Religion, the Department of English and Linguistics, and the Department of Political Science and International Affairs, benefits students with financial need and a declared major in political science or with career plans related to law or journalism. The scholarship was created in 2010 through the estate of Marjorie Frost. The award annual amount per department is typically $6000 and is most often shared by two or three recipients per department.
Kendra Lynn Williams ’95 Scholarship
The scholarship shall be awarded to a student with a formally declared major in English based on the quality of their academic record. This scholarship was established by the parents of Kendra Lynn Williams, class of 1995, who studied for four at Mary Washington where she took an active role in the campus newspaper, including serving as editor in her senior year and writing several articles for the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star. The award honors Kendra’s lifelong love of writing.