English Awards and Scholarships

The English Department at Campbellsville University is proud to offer a range of awards and scholarships that recognize the hard work, talent, and dedication of our students. These honors provide opportunities for academic excellence, creative achievement, and leadership in the field of English. Whether through merit-based awards or writing competitions, students are supported in their educational journey with financial assistance and recognition for their accomplishments.

Annually, the English Department at Campbellsville University offers one award and two scholarships to recognize the hard work, talent, and dedication of our English majors. We encourage all English majors to explore the various scholarship options available and take advantage of the chance to showcase their skills and dedication.

 
 
 

Testimonial Name

“During my sophomore year at CU, I switched to the English department because I wanted to study the ways people use storytelling, better understand it, and effectively create my own written work. I’ve never looked back. In our department, I found an amazing group of like-minded people with big ambitions, and I have learned so much about language, literature, and analytical thinking. The faculty here are easily the smartest people I know, and they’ve been so encouraging and supportive in pushing me to achieve my goals. Becoming a part of the English department at CU is one of the best decisions I have ever made and has been life-changing."

Sophia, Senior English Student 
 
 
The Beth Kemper Endowed Memorial Scholarship is awarded to the winner of an essay contest announced each spring semester. Each contestant must be an English major with at least a 3.0 GPA and at least one semester remaining to complete his or her Bachelor's degree. Essays are judged by a committee of three English Department faculty, and the winner is announced in April at the University's annual Awards Day ceremony.
 

Awards and Scholarships 1

L. Beth Kemper (1967-2006)
B.A., Western Kentucky University, 1989
M.A., Western Kentucky University, 1990
Ph.D., University of Kentucky, 2003
 
Dr. Beth Kemper taught English at Campbellsville University from 1995-2006. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Kemper, established The Beth Kemper Endowed Memorial Scholarship during the 2006-07 academic year following Dr. Kemper's sudden death in an automobile accident the previous summer.
 
The deadline for essay submissions varies but usually falls in late March. Submissions should be accompanied by a very brief cover letter identifying the writer: his or her name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, projected month and year of graduation, and student identification number.
 
The essay itself should be approximately three typed, double-spaced pages long and should address the writer's love for the written word, in whatever way the writer chooses. The essay should attempt not to name the writer but should certainly include personal details as needed to enhance the essay. Dr. Kemper’s mother specifically requested that the committee evaluate the essays on the amount of “spark” they contained.
Digital copies of essays should be sent to: jacollins@campbellsville.edu. 
Hard copies of essays may also be mailed to:
Beth Kemper Memorial Scholarship Essay Evaluation Committee
Dr. Judith Collins, Chair
UPO Box 934

The L.M. Hamilton Scholarship is usually awarded to a junior English major with financial need who has demonstrated enthusiasm for literary study. The award is announced in April at the University's annual Awards Day ceremony.

Awards and Scholarships

L.M. (Lockard Mitchell) Hamilton (1918-1991)

A.B., Georgetown College
M.A., Georgetown College
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Mr. Hamilton taught English at Campbellsville College from 1959-1986. Campbellsville College students honored him for three successive years as “The Most Popular Professor.” The Alumni Association of Campbellsville College established the L.M. Hamilton Scholarship Fund when Mr. Hamilton retired, and the first recipient, Ms. Sarah Stafford (now Dr. Sarah Stafford Sims), has since achieved the rank of Chair of Campbellsville University's Division of Humanities.

The Ruby Curry Award for Excellence in English goes to the graduating senior English major with the highest overall G.P.A. The award is announced in April at the University's annual Awards Day ceremony.

Ruby Cotton Curry

 

Ruby Cotton Curry (1907-1999)

A.B., Bowling Green State University, 1928
M.A., Western Kentucky University, 1959
M.L.S., Spalding College, 1969.

Mrs. Curry taught English and Latin at Campbellsville College from 1967 to 1973 and served as coordinator of the Library Science program at Campbellsville College from 1970-1974.