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Congratulations Scholarship Recipients

Scholarship RecipientsPlease join us in congratulating the 2016-2017 Sigma Tau Delta Scholarship Recipients. Read on to learn more about this year’s winners of the Nelson James Junior Scholarships, Elva Bell McLin Senior Scholarships, Edwin L. Stockton Jr. Graduate Scholarships, William C. Johnson Distinguished Scholarships, Regent Scholarships, P. C. Somerville Teaching Awards, Part-Time Undergraduate Scholarship, Study Abroad Scholarships, Summer Program Scholarships, and Alumni Epsilon Scholarships.

Nelson James Junior Scholarships

rbeckerRebekah Becker
Nelson James Junior Scholarship Recipient ($3,000)
Alpha Kappa Chapter
Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee, WI

Rebekah Becker is an English and Writing major at Cardinal Stritch University. She is the associate editor of Clare Literary Magazine and was most recently published in the 2017 Sigma Tau Delta Rectangle, winning the Herbert L. Hughes Short Fiction Award. She looks forward to a career as a book editor and author and hopes to help publish engaging and evocative literature that inspires young readers and captivates experienced ones.


rraleyRobert Raley
E. Nelson James Junior Scholarship Recipient ($3,000)
Alpha Sigma Sigma Chapter
University of South Carolina Beaufort, Bluffton, SC

Robert Raley is a rising senior at the University of South Carolina Beaufort and serves as Vice President of the Alpha Sigma Sigma Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta; he also tutors both writing and logic for the university. Sam is an English major and a Philosophy minor and plans to attend law school after receiving his BA. In fall 2017 is will pursue coursework and an internship in DC as a participant in the Washington Semester Program.


sgardenerStephanie Gardener
E. Nelson James Junior Scholarship Runner-Up ($1,500)
Sigma Beta Chapter
Chadron State College, Chadron, NE

Stephanie Gardener is a junior at Chadron State College, pursuing a BA in English with minors in History and Nutrition. She is currently serving as an editor of the CSC literary journal, 10th Street Miscellany, the Vice President of the Sigma Beta Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta and is the 2017-2018 High Plains Associate Student Representative. She presented a panel on one of her stories at the recent Sigma Tau Delta 2017 International Convention. After completing her BA, she plans to pursue an MFA in creative writing and a PhD in English with a focus in Gender and Sexuality.


smcclimentSarah McCliment
E. Nelson James Junior Scholarship Runner-Up ($1,500)
Alpha Rho Chapter
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA

Sarah McCliment is a rising senior at Virginia Tech. She is majoring in Creative Writing and Literature and Language with a minor in Cinema.


vtagliaVeronica Taglia
E. Nelson James Junior Scholarship Runner-Up ($1,500)
Iota Lambda Chapter
SUNY, College at Geneseo, Geneseo, NY

Veronica Taglia is a senior at the State University of New York At Geneseo with a double major in English Literature and American Studies and a minor in Psychology. Currently, she serves as President of SUNY Geneseo’s chapter of Sigma Tau Delta and works as a writing tutor and teaching assistant for ESOL students. She attended the Yeats International Summer School in Sligo, Ireland, last summer, and plans on attending graduate school with a focus in Irish literature.

Elva Bell McLin Senior Scholarships

lroccoLaura Rocco
Elva Bell McLin Senior Scholarship Recipient ($4,000)
Lambda Delta Chapter
Illinois State University, Normal, IL

Laura Rocco graduated from Illinois State University with a BA in English Publishing Studies and a minor in Classical Studies. She will seek a master’s degree in Library and Information Sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, will she will study academic librarianship and archival practices. Laura is passionate about print and digital literacies and about information access.


jwilliamson-reaJacob Williamson-Rea
Elva Bell McLin Senior Scholarship Recipient ($4,000)
Alpha Pi Omicron Chapter
University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Johnstown, PA

Jacob Williamson-Rea graduated magna cum laude from University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown with a BA in English Literature and Writing, and with a minor in Geology. He served as the President of the Alpha Pi Omicron Chapter from 2015-2017, and works as a naturalist and educator at the Carnegie Museum’s Powdermill Nature Reserve. Jacob is pursuing an MA in Science Writing at Johns Hopkins University, and upon completion of this program he plans to pursue a PhD in Environmental Literature, or a JD focused in Environmental Law.


abilesAbigail Biles
Elva Bell McLin Senior Scholarship Runner-Up ($2,000)
Alpha Rho Pi Chapter
Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA

Abigail Biles graduated magna cum laude in May from Agnes Scott College with a BA in English Literature. She will attend the University of York in the fall for an MA in 18th Century Literature, with a focus in Gothic Literature and the Romantics. She plans to pursue a PhD in English.


mlaudenbachMichael Laudenbach
Elva Bell McLin Senior Scholarship Runner-Up ($2,000)
Alpha Epsilon Alpha Chapter
The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ

Michael Laudenbach received a BA in English and Philosophy from The College of New Jersey, where he is also pursuing an MA in English.  He plans to attain a PhD in Rhetoric and Composition and to forge a career in academia.


rtoblerRebekah Tobler
Elva Bell McLin Senior Scholarship Runner-Up ($2,000)
Alpha Eta Nu Chapter
Southern Utah University, Cedar City, UT

Rebekah Tobler is pursuing her BA in English Literature and Technical Writing at Southern Utah University. She works at the campus Writing Center as a student director, and is President of the Alpha Eta Nu Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta. Rebekah is most interested in studying rhetoric and plans to pursue a PhD in Rhetoric and Composition.

Edwin L. Stockton, Jr., Graduate Scholarships

rhudginsRebecca Hudgins
Edwin L. Stockton, Jr., Graduate Scholarship Recipient ($4,000)
Alpha Pi Iota Chapter
The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

Rebecca Hudgins is an MA/PhD student studying rhetoric, composition, and literacy at Ohio State University. Her research focuses on writing centers and composition pedagogy as informed by a disability studies perspective. She is currently working on a project that investigates ways writing centers can be made more accessible for tutors with disabilities.


ajurgensenAmber Jurgensen
Edwin L. Stockton, Jr., Graduate Scholarship Recipient ($4,000)
Rho Gamma Chapter
Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA

Amber Jurgensen graduated summa cum laude from Louisiana Tech University (LTU) in May 2016 with a BA in English and History, and a minor in International Studies. She held the positions of Secretary and President for the Rho Gamma Chapter, is the current Vice President, and was 2015-2016 Southern Student Representative. She currently is pursuing an MA in English at LTU and teaching an English 101 course, with plans to obtain a PhD specializing in Nineteenth-Century British literature and the Victorian novel.


lwilsonLucas Wilson
Edwin L. Stockton, Jr., Graduate Scholarship Recipient ($4,000)
Kappa Rho Chapter
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL

After graduating summa cum laude from Liberty University with his BA in English Lucas Wilson received his MA in English from McMaster University and his MTS from Vanderbilt University with a certificate in Jewish Studies. He is currently a Presidential Fellow and a PhD student in Comparative Studies at Florida Atlantic University. Under the supervision of Dr. Alan L. Berger, he studies second-generation Holocaust literature and oral history.

William C. Johnson Distinguished Scholarships

seudySara Elizabeth Eudy
William C. Johnson Distinguished Scholarship Recipient ($5,000)
Beta Sigma Chapter
University of North Carolina Charlotte, Charlotte, NC

Sara Eudy graduated summa cum laude in May 2017 from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She currently is pursuing her MA in English Literature. Her research deals predominantly in 19th and 20th Century African American Literary Studies. Other areas of interest include Early Modern studies, Women’s and Gender Studies, and Holocaust Genocide and Human Rights Studies.


egutierrezEvanne Gutierrez
William C. Johnson Distinguished Scholarship Runner-Up ($3,000)
Alpha Zeta Nu Chapter
Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ

Evanne Gutierrez is a senior attending Northern Arizona University (NAU) with double majors in English and Spanish and an emphasis in applied linguistics. She served as the President for NAU’s chapter of Sigma Tau Delta. Her future plans involve pursuing a master’s degree in Adult Education with a specialization in TESOL and working with a nonprofit to teach English to recent Latin American and Caribbean migrants and refugees in Southern Arizona.

Regent Scholarships

amillerAshley Miller
Eastern Regent Scholarship Recipient ($1,000)
Alpha Upsilon Omega Chapter
Gordon College, Wenham, MA

Ashley Miller is a senior undergraduate student at Gordon College in Wenham, MA. She is an English major with a concentration in Creative Writing and a minor in Art. Her current and past positions include Treasurer of Sigma Tau Delta chapter; staff writer for the campus newspaper, the Tartan; staff editor for the Princemere Academic Journal; writing tutor at Gordon College’s Writing Center; high honors academic scholar based on GPA requirements; and 2016-2017 cohort member of the Jerusalem & Athens Forum Honors Program at Gordon College. She is interested in pursuing a career in the literary publishing field upon her graduation.


rmunsey-kanoRose Munsey-Kano
Eastern Regent Scholarship Recipient ($1,000)
Omega Psi Chapter
Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY

Rose Munsey-Kano is a senior at Ithaca College, pursuing a BS in English with a minor in Writing. She is a member of the Honors Program, an Administrative Writing Tutor at the college’s Writing Center, the head intern for the Ithaca College New Voices Literary Festival, and the Co-President of the Omega Psi Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta.


jcferminJuan Carlos Fermin
Far Western Regent Scholarship Recipient ($1,000)
Alpha Delta Zeta Chapter
California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA

Juan Carlos Fermin is a senior majoring in Comparative Literature, English, and Philosophy at California State University, Fullerton, where he served as conference coordinator for his school’s Sigma Tau Delta chapter; he currently is Treasurer. He has presented his work at Sigma Tau Delta’s 2015 and 2016 Far Western Regional Conferences as well as at the 2016 and 2017 International Conventions.


mwhiteMadison White
High Plains Regent Scholarship Recipient ($1,000)
Alpha Theta Omicron Chapter
Wichita State University, Wichita, KS

Madison White is graduating summa cum laude from Wichita State University with BA’s in Creative Writing and English Language and Literature. She has served as Treasurer for the Alpha Theta Omicron Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta while working in her university’s writing center and library. Having studied abroad in the United Kingdom during her undergraduate degree, she plans to return in the fall and pursue an MA in Creative Writing at the University of Manchester. Her research interests include transatlantic contemporary poetry and ecocriticism.


npopeNatalie Pope
Midwestern Regent Scholarship Recipient ($1,000)
Alpha Lambda Xi Chapter
University of Minnesota, Morris, Morris, MN

Natalie Pope graduated with two degrees (BA in English and BA in Gender, Women, & Sexuality Studies) from the University of Minnesota Morris in May 2017. Natalie currently attends the University of Colorado Boulder‘s English Master’s degree program with plans to graduate in May of 2019.


mwagleMorgan Wagle
Midwestern Regent Scholarship Recipient ($1,000)
Epsilon Gamma Chapter
Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, MO

Morgan Wagle is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Writing with a minor in Animal Science at Northwest Missouri State University. She is the Vice President of the Epsilon Gamma Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, an editorial assistant for GreenTower Press, and copy editor for the Northwest Missourian. She presented a short story at the 2017 Sigma Tau Delta 2017 International Convention and has works published in Medium Weight Forks.


bbarronBrittany Barron
Southern Regent Scholarship Recipient ($1,000)
Sigma Rho Chapter
Georgia College & State University, Milledgeville, GA

Brittany J. Barron graduated from the University of North Georgia in May 2016 with a BA in English and minor in Gender Studies. Her undergraduate research has been recognized by The Edith Wharton Review as well as Gender Forum; most recently, Brittany placed third in the 2016 Fitzgerald Museum Poetry Contest. Currently, Brittany is an upcoming second-year MFA candidate in poetry at Georgia College & State University.


acrawfordAddie Crawford
Southern Regent Scholarship Recipient ($1,000)
Iota Mu Chapter
Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC

Addie Crawford earned her BA from Winthrop University and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in English at the University of Tennessee. She plans to continue in academia and eventually become a professor of English.


bsellersBridget Sellers
Southern Regent Scholarship Recipient ($1,000)
Alpha Epsilon Chi Chapter
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN

Bridget Sellers graduated summa cum laude from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in May 2017 with a BA in English, where she served as the Vice President for the Alpha Epsilon Chi Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta. She will pursue an MA in English at Georgetown University starting fall 2017, after which she will pursue her PhD with a focus on contemporary and multimodal literature.


keastKingsley East
Southwestern Regent Scholarship Recipient ($1,000)
Lambda Alpha Chapter
Baylor University, Waco, TX

Kingsley East is a Professional Writing major with a minor in Religion at Baylor University. Kingsley is passionate about using writing, literature, and theology to connect people with themselves, others, and the world. She plans to attend graduate school and aspires to gain and share knowledge with others for the rest of her life through academia and education.

P. C. Somerville Teaching Awards

kduryeaKayla Duryea
P. C. Somerville Teaching Award Recipient ($2,000)
Alpha Omicron Alpha Chapter
Walsh University, North Canton, OH

Kayla Duryea received her BA in Integrated Language Arts Education and English from Walsh University. She served as the 2016-2017 President of the Alpha Omicron Alpha Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta and presented original poetry and short stories at two International Sigma Tau Delta conventions. This fall she will begin her teaching career in the classroom as a 10th and 11th grade Language Arts teacher in Lexington, OH.


knewKimberly New
P. C. Somerville Teaching Award Recipient ($2,000)
Alpha Pi Epsilon Chapter
Dixie State University, Saint George, UT

Kimberly is a newly graduated cum laude from Dixie State University, where she served as the 2015-2016 DSU Sigma Tau Delta President, with a BS in English: Secondary Education and a Minor in History. She will be employed at Pine View High School where she will teach Sophomore English and Senior English.

Part-Time Undergraduate Scholarship

ksteddumKristine Steddum
Part-Time Undergraduate Scholarship Recipient ($2,500)
Omega Chi Chapter
University of Arkansas, Monticello, Monticello, AR

Kristine Steddum is a poet, writer, and artist residing in southwest Missouri. She earned a BA in English, Creative Writing, from Missouri Southern State University and is pursuing an MFA from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

Study Abroad Scholarships

shovetSarah Hovet
Spring 2017 Study Abroad Scholarship Recipient ($3,000)
Alpha Tau Phi Chapter
University of Oregon, Eugene, OR

Sarah Hovet is a senior at the University of Oregon Robert D. Clark Honors College, where she is double-majoring in English and Journalism with a minor in Creative Writing. She is President of the Alpha Tau Phi Chapter, as well as 2017-2018 Far Western Student Representative. She has studied abroad at the National University of Ireland Galway and enjoys reading, writing, and running in her free time.


gwilkeGabriella Wilke ($1,500)
Spring 2017 Study Abroad Scholarship Runner-Up ($1,500)
Alpha Lambda Xi Chapter
University of Minnesota, Morris, Morris, MN

Gabriella Wilke graduated in Summer 2017 with a BA in English, a minor in History, and an emphasis in Medieval Studies from the University of Minnesota, Morris. She served as President of her Alpha Lambda Xi Chapter and was also involved on her campus as convocations co-chair and hall director. She currently works at Commonweal Magazine in New York City.


estapletonErica Stapleton ($1,000)
Spring 2017 Study Abroad Scholarship Runner-Up ($1,000)
Delta Epsilon Chapter
University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY

Erica Stapleton attends the University of Kentucky and will be graduating with her BA in English. She also has a minor in International Studies, Italian Studies, and a certificate in Creative Writing. Currently, she is studying Irish cultural heritage and literature at Maynooth University in Ireland. After graduation she hopes to teach ESL abroad.

Summer Program Scholarships

sromeroShelly Romero
Spring 2017 Summer Program Scholarship Recipient ($1,500)
Alpha Epsilon Eta Chapter
Stephens College, Columbia, MO

Shelly Romero graduated magna cum laude from Stephens College in May 2017 with a BA in English. She previously served as the 2015-2016 Midwestern Student Representative and as the 2016-2017Associate Student Representative. At Stephens, she was the 2017 co-editor-chief of Habringer, an award-winning literary magazine. She attended the 2017 NYU Summer Publishing Institute in New York City and hopes to work in the publishing industry following her completion of the program.


kdaloiaKatie Daloia
Spring 2017 Summer Program Scholarship Runner-Up ($1,000)
Tau Rho Chapter
SUNY, College at Potsdam, Potsdam, NY

Katie Daloia graduated magna cum laude from SUNY Potsdam in 2017 with a BA in both Communication and Professional Writing. Currently, she is a first-year graduate student pursuing an MS in Publishing: Digital and Print Media at New York University. Upon graduation, she plans to enter the field of magazine publishing to combine her love of writing and editing.


mpaplhamMary Paplham
Spring 2017 Summer Program Scholarship Runner-Up ($1,000)
Alpha Tau Chapter
St. Norbert College, De Pere, WI

Mary Paplham graduated summa cum laude from St. Norbert College with a BA in English (emphasis in Creative Writing) and minors in Communication Studies and Classical Studies. This summer, she is attending the Columbia Publishing Course at Columbia University in New York before pursuing a career in publishing.

Alumni Epsilon Scholarships

oandersonOlivia Anderson
Alumni Epsilon Scholarship Recipient ($1,750)
Alumna of Palm Beach Atlantic University, Orlando, FL

Olivia Anderson is a doctoral candidate in English at the University of Oxford. Her research focuses on the literary effects of religious persecution in late seventeenth-century England. She graduated summa cum laude with a BA in English from Palm Beach Atlantic University, and an MSt in Renaissance Literature from Oxford. Olivia’s creative writing has been published in the 2016 Sigma Tau Delta Rectangle, 30 N, and Living Waters Review.


cferrariCarlyn Ferrari
Alumni Epsilon Scholarship Recipient ($1,750)
Alumna of Pacific Union College, Angwin, CA

Carlyn Ferrari is a doctoral candidate in the W.E.B. Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies at University of Massachusetts Amherst.  Her research interests include Twentieth-Century African American literature with concentrations on New Negro Renaissance women writers; Ecocriticism; African Diasporic literatures; and Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies. Currently, she is writing her dissertation entitled Do Not Separate Her from Her Garden: Anne Spencer’s Ecopoetics.

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