The Ursinus College Creative Writing Award is a $40,000 per year major scholarship for creative writers of outstanding originality and potential. The award winner will have the honor of living in the dorm room once occupied by J.D. Salinger, who attended Ursinus. In the spirit of Holden Caulfield and Catcher in the Rye, we are looking for an unusual perspective, for quirky brilliance, for a voice. Applicants will submit a portfolio of no more than 10 (double spaced) pages of creative work in fiction, poetry, or some combination of genres. Candidates must achieve admission to Ursinus. Standardized test scores are not required for most Ursinus applicants.
The winner will be chosen by a committee of past winners, finalists, and faculty. This $40,000 scholarship is renewable all four years. The scholarship includes the opportunity to occupy during her or his first academic year the residence room where J. D. Salinger lived as well as leadership standing in the Ursinus writing community. The winner will be expected to join the previous award winners in reading subsequent creative portfolios, and will help the Office of Admission in selecting the next winner. Award winners are also expected to be prominent members of Ursinus’ Literary Society, The Lantern, and the creative writing community.