Awards
Denise Gess Literary Awards
The competition, named in honor of the late Writing Arts Associate Professor Denise Gess, offers cash awards in poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction categories semi-annually. The awards consist of three different categories: Rowan University Award for Poetry, Edward J. Czwartacki Award for Short Fiction, and Pat B. Tweedie Award for Creative Nonfiction with cash prizes for first, second, and third place in each category and a list of honorable mentions. The award ceremonies feature brief readings from the winners, speakers, and refreshments.
Excellence in Writing Arts Medallion Award
The Excellence in Writing Arts Medallion is awarded to an undergraduate senior who has demonstrated outstanding course performance, strong leadership skills, and excellent career potential as a writer and as a teacher of writing. Eligible students are those who either graduated in December or are about to graduate in May with a BA in Writing Arts and a GPA of 3.5 or above.
Antoinette Libro Graduate Medallion Award
This medallion is awarded to a Master of Arts in Writing student who has demonstrated outstanding course performance, exceptional writing ability, and strong professionalism. This award is sponsored by Dr. Antoinette Libro, former dean of the College of Communication and Creative Arts.
Previous Scholarships/Contests
Write Rowan, Write Now!
The Rowan University Literary Writing Scholarship contest awarded scholarships of $20,000 for first place, $10,000 for second place, and $5,000 for third place to high school seniors who applied to and attended Rowan as Writing Arts majors beginning in Fall 2017. The winners of these awards may apply scholarship money within a given year or across years. Winners will be expected to participate in Rowan’s thriving community of creative writers, which includes the undergraduate literary magazine Avant, the Master of Arts literary magazine Glassworks, and the biannual Denise Gess Literary Awards.
Cliff Mautner Scholarship
The Cliff Mautner Photography Scholarship will recognize the academic achievements of a student with financial need who is majoring in Writing Arts in the Ric Edelman College of Communication and Creative Arts and demonstrates creativity and an entrepreneurial spirit.
Spring 2008 Hollybush Writing Competition
First Place, Frank Paladino
Second Place, Kevin Ialeggio
Third Place, Gary Rettberg
Second Place, Kevin Ialeggio
Third Place, Gary Rettberg