Scholarships and Prizes for Undergraduate Projects
Appleman Research Fund
Rhetoric and Writing majors are now encouraged to apply for Appleman scholarship funds through the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Research Award. Eligible students can apply for these awards in the fall and spring semesters. The applications open on the first class day.
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Trimble Prize for Excellence in Writing
John R. Trimble, a Distinguished Teaching Professor of English Emeritus, also taught for many years in the Department of Rhetoric & Writing. Over his 36-year career at UT, he inspired generations of students to achieve excellence in writing.
The Department of Rhetoric and Writing accepts applications annually for the Trimble Prize forExcellence in Writing. Awards are given for exceptional undergraduate work in nonfiction, whether argumentative, research, expository, self-expressive, multi-modal, or cross-genre. We welcome both digital projects and traditional essays.
A prize of $1,000 is awarded to the Rhetoric and Writing major who submits the winning paper or project.
Your materials must be submitted by midnight on Monday, March 25, 2024.
Witt Family Scholarship
The Witt Family Scholarship is awarded every other year to a Rhetoric and Writing major who submits a two-page essay on a prompt given out with the application. Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Declared major in Rhetoric and Writing
- Minimum 3.3 UT Austin cumulative GPA
- 45 completed credit hours, including 24 hours in residence
- 9 completed credit hours in Rhetoric and Writing, including 6 hours in residence.
- Undergraduate standing
- Recipients must be enrolled full-time at UT Austin for the following academic year
The next Witt Family Scholarship application cycle will occur in the 2022-2023 academic year.
Undergraduate Research Funding
The School of Undergraduate Studies offers three different funding sources for undergraduate students pursuing research interests. Applications are accepted through the School of Undergraduate Studies.
School of Undergraduate Studies Writing Flag Award
The School of Undergraduate Studies runs a competition each year to award the best written paper for a writing flag course. From the Undergraduate Studies award page, papers must fall into one of three categories:
- Research: Writing that uses primary and/or secondary sources to pursue an original line of inquiry—4,000-word limit. Judges in this category will look particularly for depth of scholarship, insight, and originality.
- Persuasive/critical: Writing that aims to change readers’ opinions. May or may not use outside sources —3,000-word limit. Judges in this category will look particularly for artful treatment of the subject, logic, voice, and style.
- Creative/Reflective: Poems, plays, fiction, and creative non-fiction—3,000-word limit. Judges in this category will look particularly for inventiveness, insight, and narrative expression.
College of Liberal Arts Scholarships and Awards
The College of Liberal Arts offers competitive scholarships and awards based on merit and research. Rhetoric and Writing majors are encouraged to apply. Students may apply via the Longhorn Awards and Student Scholarship Opportunities site
