Washington College: A Top-Tier Maryland Liberal Arts College

The Sophie Kerr Prize

Sophie Kerr, a prolific and popular American writer of the early 20th century, has left an indelible literary mark at Washington College, where the gift she bequeathed 40 years ago enabled the College to bring to campus a succession of the nation's top writers, editors and scholars. Edward Albee, Joseph Brodsky, Gwendolyn Brooks, Mary Karr, Lucille Clifton, James McBride, Eamon Grennan, Toni Morrison, Joyce Carol Oates, Robert Pinsky, Charles Simic and Jane Smiley are just a few of the other literary heavyweights who have inspired and instructed the next generation of American writers at Washington College.

In addition to the Sophie Kerr Series, the Sophie Kerr Gift provides scholarships for students who show literary promise, pays for library books, and supports various literary activities. The result is a wonderfully vibrant intellectual culture where the literary arts thrive. For more information about upcoming events, refer to Sophie Kerr Lecture Series Events page.

The Sophie Kerr Prize is awarded each year to the graduating senior who has the best ability and promise for future fulfillment in the field of literary endeavor. Valued at $68,814 in 2009, it is the nation's largest literary prize awarded solely to undergraduate students.

In the past, the prize has been awarded for both creative and critical writing alike. Student winners are chosen for their literary excellence, regardless of genre.

For graduating Washington College seniors, to learn more about preparing and submitting a portfolio for the Sophie Kerr Prize, click on "The Prize" and refer to the Sophie Kerr Manuscript Guidelines.

Sophie Kerr Manuscript Guidelines

If you plan to submit a manuscript for the Sophie Kerr Prize, your portfolio should adhere to the following guidelines:

Introductory Material should include:

• A coversheet including your name and the date.
• A table of contents.
• The Honor Code statement (any portfolio found to violate the Honor Code will be reported to the Dean's office. See the Important Note below).
• An introduction.

Format:

• All items should be in a single Word document, in their proper order.
• Insert page numbers (but no page number on the cover sheet).

Submission:

• Step 1: Print two hard copies for submission to the English Department. They must be in binders but good 3-ring notebooks (or similar) are acceptable. These must be delivered to Linda Powell in SMITH 224 on or before 4:30 pm on the last day of classes (Thursday, April 30, 2009).
• Step 2: Submit a complete electronic copy (final version) to Linda Powell on or before the deadline. Send this by e-mail attachment to lpowell4@washcoll.edu.

Important Note: Plagiarism is a serious academic and professional offense. Any Sophie Kerr prize submission found to contain plagiarized material will be considered in violation of the Honor Code and will be reported to the Dean's office. The consequences for plagiarizing may include expulsion from Washington College. Washington College has contracted with Turnitin.com, a web-based plagiarism prevention service. Portfolios submitted for the Sophie Kerr Prize may be submitted electronically to Turnitin.com.