CW Scholarship

UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE

CREATIVE WRITING SCHOLARSHIPS and AWARDS

DEADLINE: March 24, 2025 no later than 11:59 P.M. attention Amanda Forsting, Undergraduate Department Coordinator,

Creative Writing Scholarships and Awards acknowledge excellence in creative writing by University of Louisville undergraduate and graduate students. You do not have to be an English major to apply. Judges for the competition are the members of the English Department Creative Writing Committee.

The monetary prize for the Leon V. Driskell Award (two awards in 2025) is $300 for each award; the Creative Writing Poetry award is $250. CW Excellence in Writing Scholarship funds (Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, Drama) are distributed in varying amounts of tuition reimbursement. 

Eligibility:

  • The scholarships and awards are open to University of Louisville students, both undergraduate and graduate, who have successfully completed at least one creative writing course in Spring 2024, Fall 2024 or are currently enrolled in a creative writing course in Spring 2025.
  • Students are eligible for scholarships if they plan to graduate AFTER July 1, 2025. Note: If you are graduating BEFORE July 1, 2025 (for example: spring commencement) you may be eligible for awards, but not for scholarships. Scholarship funds are distributed in the form of tuition reimbursement and are therefore open only to students who will be enrolled in classes in the following academic year.
  • Students who receive a scholarship must complete one creative writing course in the 2025-26 academic year. This does not apply to students who receive only a Leon V. Driskell Award.
  • Non-graduating undergraduate students are eligible for scholarships and the Leon V. Driskell Award or Poetry Award. Students graduating before July 1, 2025, are eligible for the Driskell Award or Poetry Award. A single application covers both opportunities.
  • Part-time status is acceptable if all other eligibility requirements are met.
  • Prior to release of funds, all scholarships and awards are subject to administrative review for eligibility.

Students who wish to apply should prepare a submission containing the following material (please follow the directions closely):

1) A cover letter of less than 300 words that speaks to your experience in the creative writing program, including your participation in creative writing events beyond your course work. The letter should include your name, address (including zip code), university e-mail address, telephone number, student ID number, date of birth, level in school, list of creative writing courses taken (noting semester and year) and the name of the instructor/s; eligible students should also include the course number/instructor name of a creative writing course you would plan to take in 2025-2026 if given a scholarship. For all applicants, you must indicate the year and semester you plan to graduate. Previous recipients of Creative Writing Scholarships and Awards must indicate the year and semester of their prior award(s). Note: as long as all other eligibility requirements are met, you remain eligible for scholarships, even if you received one in a previous year.

2) The writing sample should be 5-7 poems (one poem per page), 12-20 double-spaced pages of prose (fiction, creative nonfiction, or drama), or a mix of both, not exceeding 20 pages.