Awards and Scholarships
Each year, the English department (in some cases in conjunction with other departments or the Office of Financial Aid) chooses recipients of the following awards which are announced on Honors Day. These are not awards and scholarships that students apply for; the department chooses recipients based on information in its records and, in some cases, on personal experience.
1. The A. W. "Bud" Collins Prize in Creative Writing. To a graduating senior, regardless of major, who submits material showing creative achievement over a period of time and preferably in more than one genre.
Recipient in 2003: Nicole Fraser
Recipient in 2004: Laura Wright
Recipient in 2005: Rachel Babura
Recipient in 2006: Jennifer L. Shepard
Recipient in 2008: Marissa DeSantis
Recipients in 2009: Michael D’Agostino and David Magnus
Recipient in 2010: Alicia Hoisington
Recipients in 2011: Joshua Daum and Krystal Sierra
2. The Twila Haines Coxon Scholarship. To a sophomore or junior English major based on academic achievement and creative potential.
Recipient in 2003: Megan McClain
Recipient in 2004: Meridith Eliason
Recipients in 2005: Matthew Ashwood and Michelle Skupski
Recipient in 2006: Allyson M. Miller
Recipient in 2007: Claire Black and Mariss DeSantis
Recipient in 2008: David Magnus
Recipient in 2009: Alicia Hoisington and Nicholas Meloro
Recipients in 2010: Domenic Farinelli and Molly Gabriel
Recipients in 2011: Molly Gabriel and Lisa Kundmueller
3. The English Department Essay Prize. Made possible by a gift from J. Richard Hankins 
who taught at B-W for over 30 years and was also the first Director of the B-W Writing Lab, which he helped to establish. For an outstanding essay submitted in an English course.
Recipient in 2003: Ryann Doan
Recipient in 2004: Daniel Remein
Recipient in 2005: Michelle Skupski
Recipient in 2006: Alana Jochum
Recipient in 2007: Marissa DeSantis
Recipient in 2008: Christina Clayton-Petrencsik
Recipient in 2009: Carli Savage
Recipient in 2010: Walter Plummer
Recipient in 2011: Kathleen Riedel
4. The Amelia and Clara Harding Scholarship. Established by the Harding Family (Amelia, B-W 1936; Charles, B-W 1937; Clara). The Harding family have been benefactors to Baldwin-Wallace in many ways over the years, and Amelia Harding taught the English Methods course for the department. Preference is to be given to an academically superior student who intends to pursue a degree in secondary education. Consideration is given to candidates active on campus and/or in extra-curricular activities, and who show promise of making future contributions to society.
Recipient in 2003: Timothy Conrad
Recipient in 2004: Robert Buck
Recipient in 2005: Katelyn Vershall
Recipient in 2006: Katelyn E. Vershall
Recipients in 2007: Ryan Merriman, Jessica Neiger, and Samantha Trott
Recipients in 2008: Ryan Merriman and Samantha Trott
Recipients in 2009: John Caputo, Walter Plummer, and Andrew Stromberg
Recipients in 2010: John Caputo, Walter Plummer, and Andrew Stromberg
Recipients in 2011: Samantha Ania, Angela Elk, and Dominic Farinelli
5. The Robert Howells Memorial English Scholarship. Robert Howells served as Professor of English at B-W for over 20 years until his untimely death in 1988, and was awarded the Strosacker Award for Excellence in Teaching. For academic achievement, with preferable emphasis in American studies.
Recipients in 2003: Thomas Domzalski and Kristen Lillvis
Recipient in 2004: Kathleen Gonso
Recipient in 2005: Nicole Downs
Recipient in 2006: Katelyn E. Vershall
Recipient in 2007: Meredith Fitzsimmons
Recipient in 2008: Justin Washburne
Recipient in 2009: Margaret Campbell and Ashley DiGregorio
Recipient in 2010: Jessica Poiner
Recipients in 2011: Courtney Mere and Kathleen Riedel
6. The Ruby V. Redinger Prize. Ruby Redinger, member of the English Department from 1951 to 1980, winner of the Strosacker Award for Excellence in Teaching, was author of an acclaimed novel (The Golden Net, 1948), and highly-regarded biography (George Eliot: The Emergent Self, 1975). Presented to the graduating senior English major with the highest grade point average in English courses taken at B-W..
Recipients in 2003: Nicole Fraser, Sondra Livingston and Beth Mlady
Recipient in 2004: Natalie Kalich
Recipients in 2005: Kristine Garrett and Alana Jochum
Recipient in 2006: Meredith E. Birmingham
Recipient in 2007: Kattie Basnett
Recipient in 2008: Brittany Pindroh
Recipient in 2009: Samantha Trott
Recipient in 2010: Matthew O'Donnell
Recipient in 2011: Jessica Poiner
7. The Dr. Neille and Jeanne Shoemaker Scholarship. Neille Shoemaker was a member of the English Department for over 25 years, and was also distinguished for his scholarship and administrative leadership ability. The scholarship is awarded to an English major according to academic achievement.
Recipients in 2003: Meridith Eliason and Alana Jochum
Recipients in 2004: Shawn Gaines and Michelle Skupski
Recipients in 2005: Meredith Birmingham, Brooke Finlayson, and Ashley McMillin
Recipients in 2006: Kattie M. Basnett, Ashley E. McMillin, and Stephanie A. Olah
Recipients in 2007: Christine Culbertson, Brittany Pindroh, and Justin Washburne
Recipients in 2008: Michael D'Agostino, David Magnus, and Nicholas Meloro
Recipient in 2009: Jessica Federle, Matthew O’Donnell, and Jessica Poiner
Recipients in 2010: Shannon Bowens, Lisa Kundmueller, Benjamin Rafferty, and Erika Schmidt
Recipients in 2011: Brooke Hamilton, Erika Schmidt, and Elizabeth Wells
8. The Bertha Stiefel Scholarship. Bertha Stiefel was both English professor and Director of Placement at B-W. Her scholarship is awarded traditionally to a freshman English major who has shown unusual promise.
Recipient in 2003: Shawn Gaines
Recipients in 2004: Ashley McMillin and Stephanie Olah
Recipient in 2005: Courtney Vatis
Recipient in 2006: Ryan T. Merriman
Recipient in 2007: Matthew O'Donnell
Recipient in 2008: Nicole LaVecchia
Recipient in 2009: Molly Gabriel
Recipient in 2010: Julienne Hayes
Recipients in 2011: Talia DiRocco, Alexandra Farone, and Matthew Gesicki
9. The Robert Dolzani English Scholarship. Established by a gift from Robert Dolzani. Academic achievement as measured by GPA and/or other standard indicators is a consideration. However, preference is given to students whose scholarly work, as judged by the members of the English Department, exemplifies intellectual creativity, whether "creativity" is defined in terms of originality and inventiveness, or by degree of interpretive energy and depth of insight, or by both at once. This criterion, may at the discretion of the Department, take precedence over the first criterion.
Recipient in 2003: Natalie Kalich
Recipient in 2004: Alana Jochum
Recipient in 2005: Shawn Gaines
Recipients in 2006: Marissa A. DeSantis and Michelle L. Jones
Recipient in 2007: Claire Black
Recipient in 2008: Sara Tackett
Recipient in 2009: David Magnus and Sara Tackett
Recipient in 2010: Anna Risch
Recipients in 2011: Katherine Brink and Julienne Hayes
The scholarships listed below are not strictly for English majors, but English majors have been frequent recipients of them over the years.
10. The Georgianna and Alfred B. Bonds, Jr. Scholarship. Dr. Alfred B. Bonds was president of Baldwin-Wallace College from 1956 until 1982. The scholarship is an endowed fund providing scholarships for students with a distinguished academic record who are majoring in one of the humanities. Nomination and selection coordinated by the chair of the humanities division.
Recipient in 2003: Daniel Remein
Recipient in 2004: Megan McClain
Recipients in 2005: Mary Assad, Meredith Birmingham, and Ashley McMillin
Recipient in 2006: Leanora S. Lange
Recipient in 2008: Samantha Trott
Recipient in 2009: Ashley DiGregorio
11. The Lillian and Larry D. Bibbee Scholarship. Established to acknowledge deserving Baldwin-Wallace students who have demonstrated outstanding scholarship in the classroom, a keen interest in independent research beyond that required by the professor, and an active involvement in the college community. Chosen by a faculty selection committee.
Recipient in 2004: Meredith Birmingham
Recipient in 2007: Ryan Merriman
Recipient in 2010: Kathleen Reidel
Recipient in 2011: Brooke Hamilton
The following English majors and minors were selected as the recipients of other prizes awarded on Honors Day, 2011:
Outstanding Senior Award, 2011: John Caputo shared the award with nine other students
Fred E. Harris Award: Molly Gabriel
The following English majors and minors were selected as the recipients of other prizes awarded on Honors Day, 2010:
Alan Blumenthal Prize in Student Government, 2010: Albert Battistelli
Barbara H. Fortin Award for Outstanding First Year Resident Assistant, 2010: Katie Stiles
Outstanding Senior Award, 2010: Sara Tackett
Dorothy Marks McKelvey Scholarship, 2010: Jessica Poiner
The following English majors and minors were selected as the recipients of other prizes awarded on Honors Day, 2009:
Mark G. Noffsinger Award for Outstanding RA: Adam Bowers shared the award with another winner
Overmyer Achievement Award: Sara Tackett
Harold A. & Louise Cramer White Prize: John Caputo
The following English majors and minors were selected as the recipients of other prizes awarded on Honors Day, 2007:
Mark G. Noffsinger Award for Leadership: Joseph Levy
B-W Women's Club Chlora M. Leachman Scholarship: Cari Gornik
The Professor David Prok Humanitarian Award for Social Justice in Sex and Gender Diversity: Amanda Foulk shared the prize with two other winners
Albert Morrill Memorial Scholarship: Sara Tackett
Division of Education Scholarship Fund: Bethany Ray and Amanda Smith
Charles and Elsie Little Scholarship Fund: Susan Niese shared the award with 4 other winners
Dr. Ernest L. Welborn Scholarship in Psychology: Savanna Swiger shared the award with another winner
Dr. Ernest Knautz Award: Adam Spencer shared the award with another winner
Douglass Hall Memorial Theatre Scholarship: Christopher Susak
Joseph B. and Bernice K. Smith Drama Scholarship: Erin Butcher
Outstanding Senior Awards: Stephanie Olah shared the award with 4 other winners.
The following English majors were selected as the recipients of other prizes awarded on Honors Day, 2006:
B-W Women’s Club Dorothy Marks McKelvey Scholarship: Stephanie Olah
B-W Women’s Club Eloise Schaefer Tressel Scholarship: Cari Gornik
Overmyer Achievement Award: Joseph Levy shared the prize with another winner.
Outstanding Senior Awards: Carolyn Noll shared the prize with 6 other winners.
Dr. Harold Cole Scholarship: Meredith Fitzsimmons
Evening/Weekend Senior Student Awards: Kristine Garrett shared the prize with 4 other winners.
Fred E. Harris Award: Lisa Manocchio
Charles G. Irwin Memorial Scholarship: Stephanie Olah shared the prize with another winner.
The following English majors were selected as the recipients of other prizes awarded on Honors Day, 2005:
Mary & Hugh Burtner Student Prize in Religion: Jessica Julian
B-W Women’s Club Dorothy Marks McKelvey Scholarship: Stephanie Olah
George R. Grame Award: Candice Grame
Fred E. Harris Award: Michelle Skupski
Charles & Elsie Little Scholarship Fund: Kenneth Densmore shared the scholarship with 5 other winners
The Professor David Prok Humanitarian Award for Social Justice in Sex & Gender Diversity: Alana Jochum shared the award with another winner
William Prokasy Psychology Alumni Award: Elizabeth Matera shared the award with another winner
Outstanding Senior Award: Jennifer Dickey and Alana Jochum shared the award with 5 other students
The following English majors were selected as the recipients of other prizes awarded on Honors Day, 2004:
William & Mary Lou Allman Drama Scholarship: Megan McClain
Douglas Hall Memorial Theatre Scholarship: Brandon Dubeansky
Fred E. Harris Award: Rachel Mattis
Dr. Ernest Knautz Award: Alisa Krusiensky
Dr. E. S. Loomis Mathematics Prize: Kenneth Densmore shared the award with another winner
Mark G. Noffsinger Award for Leadership: Alana Jochum
Dr. Ernest L. Welborn Scholarship in Psychology: Alana Jochum
Outstanding Senior Award: Christy Burke shared the award with 8 other students
The following English majors were selected as the recipients of other prizes awarded on Honors Day, 2003:
Dr. Fred Harris Award: Amy Thacker
Lillian & Cecil W. Munk Scholarship Award: Anne Shinoskie