A national poetry award for college students, funded in part by the English Department and in part by the College. College-wide award with an open competition; submissions are welcome from any student registered full time at Hope College, any major or discipline, on any topic, and in any poetic form.

2002-2003 -- Laura H. Pearson
2003-2004 -- Lauren S. Jensen, Amanda A. Dykstra
2004-2005 -- Maggie Machledt, Melissa Sexton
2005-2006 -- Lara Wagner
2006-2007 -- Anna West, Christian Piers (Honorable Mention)
2007-2008 -- Joannie Colner
2008-2009 -- Matthew Baker and Karly Fogelsonger
2009-2010 -- Emily Henry
2010-2011 -- Jacob Bullard
2011-2012 -- Taylor Rebhan, Emily Henry (Honorable Mention)

Birkhoff Essay Contest

The George Birkhoff English Prize is a $75 cash award designed to pro-mote study of the English literature and language. The prize is awarded for an essay on a topic selected by the English Department and submitted to the department for this competition. The prize was established in 1888 by George Birkhoff, a benefactor of the college. His original intent had been to support and encourage the study of both English and Dutch Literature, and so two prizes were awarded for several years: one in the sophomore class in English Literature and one in the freshman class in Dutch Literature. In 1902, the prize became the dominion of the junior and senior classes. Later, in the 1940's, 50's, and 60's the topic was chosen by the faculty to relate to classroom work done in one of the literature classes open to junior and senior students, but today the prize may be won by any excellent paper on a literary subject. In 1914, the Birkhoff Prize in Dutch was discontinued. (The English prize winners are listed first, the Dutch second. Then, subject and winner are listed.)

1887-88 Herbert G. Keppel, Gilbert G. Haan
1888-89 John M. Van der Meulen, John Luxen
1889-90 Herman Van der Ploeg, James Sterenberg
1890-91 Henry Huizenga, Klaas J. Dykema
1891-92 Gerrit Tysse, John Van de Erve
1892-93 John Van de Erve, Bert Dykstra
1893-94 John Van der Meulen, Jacob G. Van den Bosch
1894-95 Gustave Watermuelder, Cornelius Kuyper
1895-96 J. W. Beardslee, Benjamin Eefting
1896-97 William N. Birchby, Siebe C. Nettinga
1897-98 Siebe C. Nettinga, J. Wesselink
1898-99 John Steunenberg, B. Bruins
1899-00 John Van der Beek, Anthony Karreman
1900-01 Edward Strick, Alice Kollen, John Van Zomeren
1901-02 Grace Hoekje, Willis Hoekje, M. C. Ruissard
1902-03 Keats -- Willis J. Hoekje, Peter Grooters
1903-04 Tennyson -- Abraham J. Muste, John A. Van Zomeran
1904-05 DeQuincey -- A. Judson Kolyn, Dirk Muyshens
1905-06 The Medieval Romance in English Literature -- Paul Hinkamp, Richard de Zeeuw
1906-07 John Keats -- Adolph D. Schaefer, George Hankamp
1907-08 William Wordsworth -- Wynand Wichers
1908-09 John Milton -- John Wichers, Henry Schut
1909-10 Joseph Addison -- Eldred C. VanderLaan
1910-11 The Lakists -- Stanley M. Fortuine, Eldred C. VanderLaan
1911-12 Jane Austen As Novelist -- Helena de Maagd, Oliver G. Droppers
1912-13 Matthew Arnold -- Charles Heman Peet
1913-14 John Keats -- Dorothy Pieters
1914-15 Tennyson -- Theodore Zwemer
1915-16 Charles Dickens -- Sophia Van Vessem
1916-17 Matthew Arnold as Poet and Critic -- Walter A. Scholten
1917-18 The Pre-Raphaelite Movement in English Literature -- Gerrit A. Lyzenga
1918-19 Macaulay -- Evelyn Zwemer
1919-20 What Has the World War contributed to English Literature? -- Katherine Irene Schmid
1920-21 Ralph Waldo Emerson -- Richard John Hager
1921-22 Rudyard Kipling, Poet and Novelist -- Bert Brower
1922-23 James Russell Lowell, Poet and Critic -- Nelle Kole
1923-24 Arthur Christopher Benson as a Stylist -- Frances Tate
1924-25 The Romanticism of Wordsworth --
1925-26 Matthew Arnold, Poet and Critic -- Russell Damstra
1926-27 John Ruskin -- Ardean Van Arendonk
1927-28 Alexander Pope: Poet or Versifier? -- Willis Mackay Oosterhof
1928-29 Matthew Arnold -- Carl C. Postma
1929-30 Macaulay -- Bertha K. Olgers
1930-31 Arthur C. Benson -- Justin Vander Kolk
1931-32 Jane Austin, Great English Novelist -- Louise Kieft
1932-33 Samuel Johnson -- Beatrice Visser
1933-34 Tennyson as Mid-Victorian -- Marian Wray
1934-35 Keats -- Anne Dethmers
1935-36 Marlowe -- Sarah Dykstra
1936-37 Rudyard Kipling, "The Blind Promethean" -- Sylvia Huxtable
1937-38 Emily Dickinson -- Jean Hoekje
1938-39 Gilbert Chesterton -- Dean Dykstra
1939-40 Reflections on Maxwell Anderson -- Wilfrid Hasbrouck
1940-41 Shakespeare Today -- Eugene tenBrink
1941-42 The poetry of John Donne -- Daniel Fylstra
1942-43 Mark Twain as the Interpreter of the Middle West; used in the American Literature class with sophomores and up; De Graaf -- Marie Jenkins
1943-44 The Evidence of Radical Political-Social Trends in the American Drama of the 1930s; Miss Ross's drama course -- Vivian Tardiff Cook
1944-45 A Comparison of the Religious Concepts of Tennyson and Browning as Expressed in their Poetry; Victorian Literature class; Oggel -- Clarice Peterson
1945-46 Milton's Concept of Human Freedom; Milton course, De Graaf -- Suzanne Lutsma
1946-47 Dicken's Art of Character Portrayal; Hollenbach's novel course -- Bernard Rowan
1947-48 The Comic Characters in Shakespeare's Drama; Kruithof -- not awarded
1948-49 Romantic Poets and Social Reform; De Graaf -- Van Haitsma
1949-50 A piece of original writing in the field of belles-lettres; Brand -- Mary Heartman
1950-51 The Educational Theories of the Great Victorian Prose Writers -- not awarded
1951-52 The Use of Symbolism in Contemporary Drama; Snow -- not awarded
1952-53 Problems in the Interpretation of Shakespeare's Tragedies; Ten Hoor --Stanley Vander Aarde
1953-54 Tradition and Revolt in the Works of a Major American Author; Hollenbach's Junior American Literature -- Mary Foster, "Dos Passos"
1954-55 Social Criticism in the American Novel of the 20th Century; Prins's Novel Course -- Mary Anne Meyers
1955-56 The Treatment of Nature by any Major English Poet; De Graaf's English Survey -- Don Pangbarn, Coleridge
1956-57 Analysis of an Auden poem; Prins's Literary Criticism -- Mary Alice Ferguson and Larry Van Lare ($12.50 each)
1957-58 An Original Short Story; Brand -- James Adams Clark
1958-59 The Poet as Interpreter of American Life--Talbert, E. E. Cummings --Donald Gallo
1959-60 Creative Writing for Special Freshman Comp. Classes; Protheroe -- Judson Emerrick, $10; Paul Lucas, Walvoord, Adams, $5 each
1960-61 Literary Criticism; Prins --Jerry Wondra
1961-62 Caucer paper; Mueller -- Janet Rietveld
1962-63 Offered to Reeverts in Victorian Lit. Default
1963-64 Shakespeare; Ten Hoor, 2nd semester -- Earl Johnson
1964-65 Spenser; Mueller -- Veronica Skinner
1965-66 18th Century; Protheroe -- Charlotte Goodrich, Judith Thomas
1966-67 Reniassance; ten Hoor/Mueller/Huttar -- Carole Osterink, "Spenser's Code of Courtesie"
1967-68 Linda Kloote
1968-69 not awarded
1969-70 Robert Kieft
1970-71 Chad Busk
1971-72 American Literature -- David Bast, "Flannery O'Connor: Short Stories"
1972-73 British Literature -- Judy Henkel
1973-74 Explicating a Poem -- Ken DeBoer, "Limestone: The Soul of Love. A Study of W. H. Auden's 'In Praise of Limestone'"
1974-75 A Critical Paper -- Steve Mancinelli (Faulkner), "Karma and the Wheel of Life"
1975-76 American Heritage -- Deb Cox, "Women in Willa Cather"
1976-77 Drama -- David Soubly
1977-78 A Critical Essay on a Literary Topic -- Stephen Paffrath, "Faulkner's Sensitive Idealists in Conflict with Reality"
1978-79 A Critical Essay on a Work of Fiction or a Writer of Fiction, Based on Primary Sources -- Karl H. Stegenga, "Catalysis in Fathers and Sons, Resurrection, and Crime and Punishment"
1979-80 Essay -- Deborah Eggebeen, "The Dutch Window in Japan's Closed Era (1624-1854)"
1980-81 Essay on some religious aspect of literature -- Carol Bechtel
1981-82 Christianity and Pagan Culture -- Matthew Fike
1982-83 Women and Literature -- Leslie Ortquist
1983-84 Literature and Politics -- Julia Antoinetta, "Juno and the Paycock: Ireland in Microcosm"
1984-85 Literature and International Understanding -- Gwenaelle Coignard, "The 'Proteus' Chapter in Joyce's Ulysses: A Chaotic Interpretation," and MaryJane Rhoades, "The Sound of Silence, Echo of Exile, and Key of Cunning in Joyce's Portrait of a Young Man"
1985-86 Psychology and Literature -- Elizabeth Sands, "The Four Humours of Elizabethan Psychology and their Relationship to Dream in Shakespeare's Plays"
1986-87 The Multicultural Experience (judges: M. Jellema, Schakel)--Richard L. Bourne, "Home Across the Horizon"
1987-88 Best Essay on Literature (judges: Verduin, Julie Fiedler, Huttar) -- Janilyn Sue Brouwer, "The Vision of Imagination in 'The Eolian Harp'"
1988-89 Best Essay on Literature (judges: Bach, Cox, Smith) -- Christine A. Modey, "'No More Mythologies; "The Destruction of the Sorceress"
1989-90 Best Essay on Literature (judges: John Hollenbach, Lars Granberg, Evelyn Smallegan) -- Christine A. Modey, "Awakening to Power: Rich's Snapshots of a Daughter-in-Law"
1990-91 Best Essay on Literature (judges: ---, ---) -- Nicole M. Mueller, "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Pilgrim: Seamus Heaney's 'Station Island'"
1991-92 Best Essay on Literature (judges: Willilam Bloemendaal, Peg Van Grouw, Richard Oudersluis) -- Weston T. Thompson, "Biblical Imagery in Eugene O'Neill's Desire under the Elms"
1992-93 Best Familiar Essay (judges:
1993-94 Best Essay on a Literary Topic (judges: Lars Granberg, Margaret VanGrow, Margaret DeHaan) -- Eric John Emig, "Listening to Paul Blackburn Play Sonny Rollins"
1994-95 Best Essay on a Literary Topic (judges: Lars Granberg, Margaret VanGrow, Libby Brown [Laura VerPlank?]) -- Gabriela Deckinga, "God and Humans Connecting: George Herbert's `Prayer(1)'"
1995-96 Best Essay on Literature by a Woman or a Member of an Ethnic Minority (judges: Lars Granberg, Margaret VanGrow, Laura VerPlank) -- Ann Paeth, "Defamiliarization and Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse"
1996-97 Best Essay Applying an Interdisciplinary Approach to Literature (judges: Lars Granberg, Margaret VanGrouw, Laura VerPlank) - Miriam K. Beyer
1997-98 Best paper on any Literary Topic (judges: Lars Granberg, Margaret VanGrouw, Laura VerPlank) - Kristin A. Kelley, "Fantasy, Childhood, and Children's Literature: 1860-1920," and Amy J. Sanders, "Sophistication and Simplicity in the Poetry of Gwendolyn Brooks"
1998-99 Best Paper on any Literary Topic (judges: Lars Granberg, Margaret VanGrouw, Laura VerPlank) - Marie L. Keuning, "Ernest Gaines's Use of First Person Narration in A Gathering of Old Men"
1999-2000: No topic set. Prize awarded to: Matthew Reynolds as a cumulative award, for his superior writing and overall performance throughout his English major.
2000-2001: Best Paper on Any Literary Topic (English faculty emeriti, judges) -- Jane E. Bast, "Down the Labyrinthine Ways: Graham Greene and Grace;" Jennifer Frayer, "The Weight of Our Stones: A Story of Virginia Woolf"
2001-2002: Best Paper on Any Literary Topic (English faculty emeriti, judges) -- Joshua C. Hauser, "Antigone and Greek Democracy: An Affirmation and Admonition"
2002-2003: Best Paper on Any Literary Topic (Charles Huttar, Julie Kipp, Peter Schakel, judges): Melissa S. Sexton, "'Stalemate of Duct and Desire;' Crisis of Faith and Paradox in Faulkner's Quentin Compson"
2003-2004: Best Paper on Any Literary Topic (Francis Fike, Charles Huttar, Nancy Nicodemus, judges): Kerilyn A. Harkaway, "The Ideological Becoming of the Wife of Bath: A Bakhtinian Reading"
2004-2005: Jessica Bodtke, "Melting into Dreams: Reality and Dream in Keats's 'The Eve of St. Agnes'"
2005-2006: Jon D. Dean, "Dethroning the Queens of the Castle in the Sky: Willa Cather and Mary Elizabeth Braddon on the Danger Posed by the Idol Figure to Homosocial Society"
2006-2007: Emily Wilson, “Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Dark Heroine Embodied: Margaret Fuller and Hawthorne’s Augmented Definition of Womanhood”
2007-2008: Lauren Eriks, “The Moral and Artistic Consciousnesses: the Conservative Narrative and its Complications in Hanna More’s Coelebs in Search of a Wife and Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park”
2008-2009: Laura Shears, “The Society of Friends in The Heart of Midlothian: Jeanie Dean as a Quaker Woman”
2009-2010: Andrew Gehl, “The Road from Galloway to Big Sur: Jack Kerouac’s Search for Style”
2010-2011: Matthew Vermaire, “It Strikes Where It Doth Love: Comic Hope and Tragic Suffering in Othello”
2011-2012: Leigh Clouse, “A War of the Heart: Spinsterhood and Marriage in the Life and Short Stories of Mary E. Wilkins Freeman" and Cory Lakatos, “Victims of Mistaken Zeal: Androgyny and Orientalism in The Missionary and Frankenstein”

Erika Brubaker (Class of 1992) Senior Award for Proficiency in Literature

A cash award in memory of Erika Brubaker and presented to a senior English major who has shown exceptional proficiency in the study of literature.

1995-96 -- Sarah McClure / Robert Harrison
1996-97 -- Rebecca Martin / Hans Weinburger
1997-98 -- Miriam Kathleen Beyer / Sufjan Stevens
1998-99 -- Jill Marie Pierson / Christina Marie Malkowski
1999-2000 -- Erin Joy Rodenhouse / Erin Ruth Selmer
2000-2001 -- Andrew L. Lotz / Kirsten E. Slotten
2001-2002 -- Katherine Bode-Lang / Julie Green
2002-2003 -- Carol L. Friedrich / Lindsey A. Spoolstra
2003-2004 -- Jessica M. Gumbs and Megan E. Hoeksema
2004-2005 -- Stephanie Judd and Joshua Morse
2005-2006 -- Jessica Bodtke and Kathryn Randa
2006-2007 -- Laura Peterson and Christian Piers
2007-2008 -- Lindsey Manthei and Katherine Masterton
2008-2009 -- Jessica Jones and Laura Shears
2009-2010 -- Jonathan Hertel and Rachel Whitney
2010-2011 -- Mike Debowski and Kara Shetler
2011-2012 -- Katelyn Hemmeke and Bethany Stripp

Erika Brubaker (Class of 1992) Awards for Promising Achievements in the Study of Literature

Up to ten awards in memory of Erika Brubaker and in the form of bookstore certificates for declared English majors or minors who are at least one year from graduation and who have shown exceptional promise in the study of literature. A student will be eligible to receive this award only once.

1995-96 -- Robert Abbott, Patience Graybill, Jocelyn Kwiatkowski, Paul Kurdziel, Rebecca Martin, Ann Paeth, Ryan Pazdur, Sufjan Stevens, Sara VanAntwerp, Hans Weinburger
1996-97 -- Kathryn Balcer, Angela Benson, Miriam Beyer, Gabriela Deckinga, Amanda Hill, Marie Keuning, Andrew Lang, Miluska Monroy, Nathan Oostendorp, Matthew Sterenberg, Carrie Waterloo
1998-98 -- Janelle L. Coffey, Corrine J. Cravotta, Noah J. Dale, Katherine L. Folkert, Stephanie L. Freriks, Emily S. Horton, Christina M. Malkowski, Emily R. Ratering, Erin J. Rodenhouse, Erin R. Selmer, Christine J. Trinh, Amy J. Sanders
1998-99 -- Meredith Arwady, Melissa Coll, Jennifer Frayer, Angella Huddleston, Jennifer Huber, Dana Lamers, Sara Lamers, Kyla Moore, Matt Reynolds, Sally Smits, Jasmine Swaney, Amy VanderMeer
1999-2000 -- Allyson Boggess, Laura Donnelly, Erin Hoopes, Heather Johnson, Aaron Keck, Andrew Lotz, Rachael Pridgeon, James Schirmer, Michelle Schoob, Kirsten Slotten, Noah Tucker and Charlie White
2000-2001 -- Jane Bast, Katherie Bode-Lang, Julie Green, Mike Hanley, Patrick Kinne, Elizabeth Lomasney, Andrew Mezeske, Katherine Paarlberg, Lindsay Pollard, Kristin Pott, Christina VanRegenmorter
2001-2002 -- Carol Friedrich, Kerilyn Harkaway, Rebecca Haynes, Katherine Klein, Joshua Morse, Matthew Nickel, Mary Otterness, Laura Pearson, Lindsay Pollard, Christoher Roecker, Lindsay Spoolstra, Dee Svreck
2002-2003 -- Peter C. Derby, Amanda A. Dykstra, Jessica M. Gumbs, Erica D. Heeg, Jason E. Kingma, Christopher E. McGarvey, Benjamin P. Ost, Chanchiang Saetern, Melissa S. Sexton, Karen M. Schuen, Phillip L. Waalkes
2003-2004 -- Elizabeth A. Fredericks, Jared L. Gall, Lindsey J. Greene, Emily J. Howard, Stephanie L. Judd, NoahDavid S. Lein, Glenn A. Lester, Morgan L. Machledt, Stephanie S. McCann, Lindsey M. Schaap, Nicholas A. Vidoni
2004-2005 -- Nicole Brace, Annika Carlson, Sandra Deitz, Kara Francisco, Katherine Larsen, Laura Peterson, Ashley Perez, Andrew Prout, Rachel Schutte
2005-2006 -- Brianne Carpenter, Matthew Dannenberg, Nathaniel DeYoung, Bradley Haveman, Kristin Olson, Christian Piers, Tally Reeverts, Paris TerKeurst, Elena Valle
2006-2007 -- Matthew Baker, Jeremy Benson, Jake Boone, Joan Colner, Gray Emerson, Lauren Eriks, Susan Krueger, Lindsey Manthei, Melissa Murray, Elizabeth Sutter
2007-2008 -- Patrick Crumb, Karly Fogelsonger, Colin Hoogerwerf, Danielle Johnson, Jessica Jones, Rachel Larson, Travis Love, Grace Olson, Matthew Oosterhouse, Anna Pizzimenti, Jessica Schmidt, Laura Shears, Rachel Whitney
2008-2009 -- Silvia Diffenderfer, Carl Dunker, Arin Fisher, Andrew Gehl, Peter Kleczynski, Kevin Raley, Emily Sicard, Ella Vandervlugt, Matthew Vermaire, Emily West, Jonathan Ytterock
2009-2010 -- Wyatt Baldwin, Rebecca Fry, Paul Hile, Amanda Karby, Cory Lakatos, Ian Magrath, Chris McKinnon, Magdalene Reishus, Leslie Vaas, Emily Wheeler, Laura Wilson
2010-2011 -- Lauren Bull, Anneliese Goetz, Samuel Hirt, Cynthia Schutt, Anne Harrison, Daisy Hernandez, Brooke McDonald, Julie Oosterink, Erik Westenbroek, Alexandra Day
2011-2012 -- Leigh Clouse, Irma Cruz, Emily Dammer, Elizabeth Gerometta, Erin Gilbert, Melody Hughes, Noah McLaren, Kayleigh Forlow, Cecelia Meserve, Alex Mouw, Sharon Hecker, Kathleen Tolentino

The Clarence DeGraaf English Award

An award to be presented to the senior whose interest and achievement in the field of English, as indicated by academic record, most merits recognition in the judgment of the English Department faculty. The award begun with 1988 Honors Convocation, and is named in honor of Clarence DeGraaf, long-time chair of the English Department at Hope College. The award was established by his daughter and son-in-law Ruth DeGraaf and Lamont Dirkse and his son Daniel DeGraaf.

1987-88 Janilyn Sue Brouwer / Sue Ellen Christian
1988-89 Jennifer L. Schakel
1989-90 Jennifer L. Haskin / Christine A. Modey
1990-91 James Dale Monnett, Jr.
1991-92 Michael J. Theune
1992-93 Nicole M. Mueller / Derek Voskuil
1993-94 Kathleen Anita tenHaken / Jane M. Ruiter
1994-95 Richard A. Frontjes
1995-96 Patricia Carlson
1996-97 Patience Graybill / Kremena Todorova
1997-98 Gabriela Lorena Deckinga / Matthew Kane Sterenberg
1998-99 Andrew Lang
1999-2000 Christine Trinh
2002-2001 -- Sally L. Smits
2001-2002 -- Rachael Pridgeon and Katherine Paarlberg
2002-2003 -- Christina J. VanRegenmorter
2003-2004 -- Jason E.Kingma and Karen M. Schuen
2004-2005 -- Christopher McGarvey and Melissa Sexton
2005-2006 -- Rachel Schutte Baird
2006-2007 -- Nicole Brace
2007-2008 -- Brianne Carpenter and Lauren Eriks
2008-2009 -- Matthew Baker
2009-2010 -- Karly Fogelsonger and Peter Kleczynski
2010-2011 -- Andrew Gehl
2011-2012 -- Cory Lakatos

William B. Eerdmans' Prize

Begun in June, 1951, the William B. Eerdmans's prize awards the student judged best in creative writing, poetry, and the student judged best in creative writing, prose by an outside judge. Prizes were announced by William B. Eerdmans, Sr. at the spring English majors' banquet; now announced at Honors Convocation. The Eerdmans company is under no obligation to publish.

(Poetry winner is listed first, prose winner second)

1950-51 Marjorie Pickens, Mary Hartman
1951-52 Carol Cust, Don Veldman
1952-53 Harold Saunders, Earl Laman
1953-54 Don Prentice, Maude Dyen
1954-55 Jonathan Hinkamp, Julia Herrick
1955-56 Ke Bum Han, Joseph Gross
1956-57 Servell Hayes, James A. Clark, Charles Lemmen, Sharon Crosswell
1957-58 James Adams Clark, Paul Van Reynen
1958-59 James Holmes, Dudley Beekman
1959-60 Richard Jaarsma, Paul VanReyen
1960-61 Lynne Adams, Richard Jaaosma
1961-62 Mary De Velder, Barbara Walvoord
1962-63 Lewis Scudder, James Combs
1963-64 James Howell, Mary Essebaggers
1964-65 Robert Werger, Mary Essebaggers, John Killmaster
1965-66 Delwyn Sneller, Mary Essebaggers
1966-67 Delwyn Sneller, Jane Bouman
1967-68 Bruce Ronda, David Havinga
1968-69 Janet Hildebrand, Roger Rose
1969-70 William Schutter, Nancy Flier
1970-71 Steve Farrar, Nancy Flier
1971-72 Steve Farrar, Gerald Swieringa
1972-73 David Beattie, Raymond Fitch
1973-74 Steve Mancinelli, Carol Yeckel
1974-75 Wendy Sanders, Carol Yeckel
1975-76 Coleen Maloney, David Cochrane
1976-77 Kathryn Solms, David Fouts
1977-78 David Soubly, Mark L. Ongley
1978-79 Mark F. Hillringhouse, Mark L. Ongley
1979-80 Debra Hall, Milton Sikkema
1980-81 Janet Lootens, Kimberly Mooi
1981-82 Heather Uecker, Kevin Hillstrom
1982-83 Leslie Ortquist, Tom Andrews
1983-84 Tom Andrews, Elizabeth Trembley
1984-85 Susan Marks, Margaret Marsters
1985-86 Todd Van Grouw, Reka Jellema
1986-87 Marji S. Lindner, Gregory S. Olgers
1987-88 Elizabeth Cross, Carla J. Vissers
1988-89 E. Reka Jellema, Peter J. Fonken
1989-90 Matthew Vonk, Michael J. Theune
1990-91 Michael J. Theune, Nicole M. Mueller
1991-92 Kathleen tenHaken, Scott C. Bishop
1992-93 Foley Schuler, Pablo Peschiera
1993-94 Kristie L. Evans, Andrew J. DeGraves
1994-95 Lisa Zoetewey, Kristie L. Evans
1995-96 Kristen A. Knippenberg, Sufjan Stevens
1996-97 Ann Paeth, Andrew Lang
1997-98 Sufjan Stevens, Melissa S. Herwaldt
1998-99 Erin R. Selmer, Noah D. Tucker
1999-2000 Jennifer E. Frayer, Anna J. Cook
2000-2001 -- Dana Lamers, Noah Tucker
2001-2002 -- Glen A. Lester, Matthew J. Cook
2002-2003 -- Glen A. Lester, Jane E. Bast
2003-2004 -- Megan J. Vescolani, Kent D. Osborn
2004-2005 -- Melissa Sexton, Kevin Steinbach
2005-2006 -- Kathryn Frens, Kristin Olson
2006-2007 -- Matthew Baker
2007-2008 -- First Place: Amanda Karby; Second Place: Matthew Baker; Hon Mention: Gray Emerson
2008-2009 -- Matthew Baker
2009-2010 -- Grace Olson, Andrew Gehl
2010-2011 -- Jordan Walters, Andrew Gehl
2011-2012 -- Cecelia Meserve, Megan Stevens and Emily Wheeler

The Sandrene Schutt Award

The Sandrene Schutt Award for Proficiency in the Study of English Literature was established in 1967 in honor of Sandrene Schutt, English teacher at Grand Haven High School for 37 1/2 years. A $100 award will be presented to the senior who has shown this proficiency in English literature and expresses an intent to enter the teaching profession in this field.

1967-68 Robert Schwegler
1968-69 Bruce Ronda
1969-70 Barbara Skidmore
1970-71 Nancy Flier
1971-72 Gerald Swieringa
1972-73 Carolyn Tank
1973-74 Harold L. Morrow, Jr.
1974-75 Barbara Brehm Taylor
1975-76 Deb Cox, Mia Fagerstrom, David James, William Moreau
1976-77 Lynn Raffety
1977-78 David Soubly
1978-79 Jane Visser VanderVelde
1979-80 Marilyn Pool
1980-81 Janet Lootens, Christopher Wiers
1981-82 Matthew Fike, Larry Helder, Nancy MacArthur
1982-83 Leslie Ortquist
1983-84 Deborah Morrison
1984-85 Elizabeth Trembley
1985-86 Linda Davis
1986-87 Kirk Kraetzer
1987-88 Kathryn A. Miller, Heather S. Raak
1988-89 Mary A. Taylor
1989-90 Christine A. Modey, Zan S. Ceeley
1990-91 Joy Rae Lyn Brumels, James Ralph Hall
1991-92 Weston T. Thompson
1992-93 Libbie J. Freed
1993-94 Erinn Jean Raymond, Timothy John Ewald
1994-95 Lisa J. Hoffman, Carrie A. Mitchell and Lisa R. Zoetewey
1995-96 Heidi Aronson
1996-97 Jill Mulder and Rebeka Scholten
1997-98 Amanda Suzanne Hill
1998-99 Jodie Leigh Grabill
1999-2000 Sarah Elizabeth Martin
2000-2001 Kyla M. Moore
2001-2002 Patrick Kinne
2002-2003 Sarah F. McCluskey and Danielle A. Svrcek
2003-2004 Kim N. Daelhousen, Mary J. Otterness
2004-2005 Lindsey Greene, Erica Heeg
2005-2006 Emily Howard and Julie Lancaster
2006-2007 Tally Reeverts
2007-2008 Emily Wegemer
2008-2009 Elizabeth Rypma
2009-2010 Anna Pizzimenti
2010-2011 Andrea Miller and Madalyn Clark
2011-2012 Lauren Bull and Molly Vass

The Stephenson First-Year Writing Prize

This prize, awarded each semester to the author of the paper selected as the best submitted in the first-year writing course, is given to encourage young writers. The award is a gift certificate from the Hope Geneva Bookstore.

Fall 1995, Julie Mickey
Spring 1996, Julie Meyers
Fall 1996, Sarah Katterhenry, "Gangrene of the Spirit"
Spring 1997, not awarded
Fall 1997, Claire Krukowski, for "Metamorphosis: Waking Up In Someone Else's Skin"
Spring 1998, Sandra Snitchler VanConant, "Artificial Joy"
Fall 1998, Anna Cook, "Writing My Own Story"
Spring 1999, Rachel Kuhl, "Smile With Us"
Fall 1999, Matthew VanderHyde, "A Look at Irony in La Guma's Time of the Butcherbird"
Spring 2000, Jenna Wassink, "The Trouble With Harry"
Fall 2000 -- Fatu Kamara, "Links Between the Liberian Civil War and the Holocaust" and Ashley Koebel, "A Misfit Among Misfits"
Spring 2001 -- Rachel Peckenpaugh, "Classic Creations"
Fall 2001 -- Ryan Boes, "Summer of Music"
Spring 2002 -- Joseph Tolton, "Disharmonic Realtions: Delacroix and Percy in Stephen King's The Green Mile"
Fall 2002 -- Anna VanWyck, "The Racial Reality of Manzanar Relocation Camp"
Spring 2003 -- Nicholas DeKoster, "Who Runs the Race"
Fall 2003 -- Octavia M. Reese, "True SHEroes"
Spring 2004 -- Meghan P. Florian, "Lyrics and Religion: Defining a Genre"
Fall 2004 -- Hilary Cason, "It's What's Inside the Braid"
Spring 2005 -- E. Rose Wilson, "Musical Mnemonics"
Fall 2005 -- Katie Mehari, "The Mouse and the Cockroach"
Spring 2006 -- Molly VanDeursen, "The American Country Store" and Michael Kronek, "These Are the Hands"
Fall 2006 -- Glennyce Paetzmann, "Not My Daddy's Girl" and Joseph Barker, "A Cry for Help: Oil and Oppression in Nigeria"
Spring 2007 -- Rachel Whitney, "Etched in Rhythm"
Fall 2007 -- Silvia Diffenderfer, "Colleges that Change Lives"
Spring 2008 -- Hannah Green, "The Meat Heart"
Fall 2008 -- Stacy Victory, "The Trap of Tradition"
Spring 2009 -- Amanda Sutton, "The Power of Music"
Fall 2009 -- Anne Harrison, "The True Nature of Womanhood" and Jillian Haverkate, "Forgotton Shoes"
Spring 2010 -- Emily Cobb, "An Outsider's Perspective on Alzheimer's Disease"
Fall 2010 -- Jacob LaViolet, "The Best Medicine: Laughter in One Flew Over the Cukoo's Nest"
Spring 2011 -- Kelsey Wilson, "The Shining: Good Use of Bad Taste?"
Fall 2011 -- Zilong Zheng, “Is China A Communist Country?”
Spring 2012 -- Samantha Newbound, "Ghosts from the Past and the Return of the Wasps: Symbolism in Stephen King's The Shining"

Theune Family Award

An annual award established by Peter '65 and Judith Theune in 1992 in honor of their son Michael J. Theune '92, to recognize one or more outstanding students, with preference given to students majoring in philosophy and/or English.

1991-92 Schott C. Bishop and Erika Brubaker
1992-93 Brian Douglas Paige / Eric Wampler
1993-94 Kathleen Anita tenHaken
1994-95 Kgothatso Semela
1995-96 Elizabeth Anker and Anna Barnett
1996-97 Ann Paeth
1997-98 Matthew Kane Sterenberg
1998-99 Emily Horton and Noah Dale
1999-2000 Cathleen M. Jaworowski
2000-2001 Aaron Keck
2001-2002 Blair Johnson
2002-2003 Jane E. Bast
2003-2004 Tim S. Kirkman and Kerilyn A. Harkaway
2004-2005 Daniel Carter and David Jorgenson
2006-2007 Matthew Dannenberg
2007-2008 Rob Kenagy
2008-2009 Gray Emerson
2009-2010 Andreas VanDenend
2010-2011 Carl Dunker
2011-2012 Matthew Vermaire

Jennifer Young Award in Creative Writing and Literature

This cash award ($200), begun in 2008, and renamed for former faculty member Jennifer Young Tait in 2011, will be presented each year to the senior whose interest and achievement as a creative writer and student of literature most merit recognition in the judgment of the English department faculty.

2007-2008: Elena Valle
2008-2009: Jon Dean and Krista Mehari
2009-2010: Raina Khatri and Grace Olson
2010-2011: Charlie Walter
2011-2012: Emily Wheeler

Stanley Kunitz Emerging Writer Award

A cash award to the student who exhibits notable and promising talent in the literary arts. The award, initiated by Ellen Bryant Voigt, is named for Stanley Kunitz to honor his poetry, his teaching, and his generosity toward young writers.

1992-93 Andrew J. DeGraves
1993-94 Daniel J. Schutt
1994-95 not awarded
1995-96 not awarded
1996-97 not awarded
1997-98 not awarded
1998-99 not awarded
1999-2000 Award cancelled

Hope College Department of English 126 E. 10th St. Holland, MI 49423 english@hope.eduphone: 616.395.7620fax: 616.395.7134

Full List of Awards and Prizes

The Academy of American Poets Prize