June Jordan Prize

$300 will be awarded for the best undergraduate and graduate paper or creative project on the intersection of race, gender,and sexuality.

The Department of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies announces the new June Jordan Essay Prize in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies.Named in honor of June Jordan, Jamaican-American poet, playwright and essayist, one undergraduate and one graduate student will be awarded $300 for the best paper or creative project (i.e. creative essay, poem, art or digital project) on a topic exploring the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality. Students, from any discipline, are invited to submit papers. An interdisciplinary committee of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies faculty will review all submissions and make award decisions.

Deadline to submit a paper: March 18, 2024, 3 p.m.

Download:June Jordan Application

Paper requirements:

  • 8 to 25 pages of text in length (does not count bibliography or title page) or a creative project, poem, art or digital project.
  • Author's name should appear on title page
  • Author's name should not appear on any other page of the text
  • Pages of text must be numbered
  • Essay and projects must be accompanied by an application form.
  • electronic submission is required
  • Papers submitted for the Maddox Prize are eligible for consideration, but a new application and paper must be submitted.

Please send your electronic application and paper to Jan Rayburn at .

*Prizes will be processed through the Office of Financial Aid. This award can be combined with institutional aid up to the University's total direct cost of attendance plus a stipend. Direct costs include tuition, room, board, and books. U of L is required to adhere to all federal, state, and institutional guidelines. If your aid package is adjusted as a result, you will receive notification in your university e-mail. Policy information is available on-line at the UofL Financial Aid website.