Department Resources

Resources for English Students and Community

Explore the opportunities that enrich the English Department experience at Valparaiso University. From scholarships and writing awards to speaker series and literary events like Wordfest and Books & Coffee, these resources support student growth, celebrate achievement, and foster meaningful connections across campus and beyond.

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Wordfest Writers Series

The Wordfest annual writers series features readings, lectures, and discussions by practicing writers of poetry, drama, fiction, and nonfiction prose.

Overview

Professional writers present their own creative works and stimulate students’ writing during Valparaiso University’s Wordfest annual writers series. Visiting writers often meet with classes, hold workshops, and confer with students who aspire to writing careers.

Among the poets, fiction writers, nonfiction writers, and playwrights who have visited Valparaiso University to offer presentations of their works and meet with students are a winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, Poet Laureates of the United States, and various authors who have been recipients of the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award, or other distinguished honors for their writing.

Wordfest also sponsors an annual writing contest for undergraduates, recognizing outstanding works in poetry, short fiction, creative nonfiction, dramatic writing, and critical essay.

Scholarships and Awards

These scholarships and prizes offer rewards to excellent students of English literature and promising writers at Valparaiso University.

The Sieb Scholarship

Established in 1966, each spring the department announces the recipient(s) of the Vera L. Sieb Scholarship, established by Floyd W. Sieb in honor of his sister, who taught English for many years at Valparaiso High School. The scholarship is normally awarded for the senior year but may be awarded to an outstanding student or students for the junior year. The amount of the awards will vary depending on endowment performance, but generally ranges upward from $1,000. Awards are made solely in recognition of the merit of an English major’s work

The Paul F. Phipps Merit in English Scholarship

Established in 1994, an appropriate memorial to the work of Professor Paul F. Phipps, a distinguished member of the English department for almost 40 years, this scholarship encourages excellent students of literature and language. The scholarship, created by Professor Phipps’ widow, Arline Phipps, and the English department, is based solely on academic performance and merit. It is awarded each year to a sophomore or upperclass English major.

The Margot Ann Uehling Prize for Writing

Established in 1992, this scholarship honors the memory of Margot Ann Uehling, a gifted writer and teacher of literature. It awards the undergraduate student who writes the best essay during the academic year. Any undergraduate may submit up to one essay, either personal or scholarly, of 1,000 words or more. There are no restrictions on subject or format. The winner will be chosen by members of the English department and notified mid-summer. Submissions should be sent as an attachment in an e-mail to UehlingPrize@Valpo.Edu by a deadline announced during spring semester.

The Wordfest Writing Contest

Established in 1977, seven prizes are awarded to Valpo students in this annual contest, which is associated with Wordfest, the Valpo English department’s celebration of books and authors:

The Wordfest Poetry Award
The Wordfest Short Fiction Award
The Wordfest Creative Nonfiction Award
The Wordfest Dramatic Writing Award
The Wordfest Critical Essay Award
The Academy of American Poets Award
The Anna Zink Springsteen Prize

Cash prizes will be awarded in all categories. The judges will choose first-, second-, and third-place winners, as well as works recognized for honorable mention in each genre.

All Valparaiso University undergraduate students are encouraged to compete. Students may submit to more than one category. Submissions are limited to one entry in each: poetry, short fiction, critical essay, and creative nonfiction.

Submit your works (short story, creative nonfiction, critical essay, poetry, dramatic writing) by e-mail as Word attachments (addressed to wordfest@valpo.edu). Each genre must be in its own Word file attachment. Also, include a cover note containing your name, campus address, phone number, age, home postal address, e-mail address, genre(s) submitted, and title of the work(s) submitted. Guidelines must be followed. Deadline will be announced in March. The contests are sponsored by Wordfest of the English department.

The Anna Zink Springsteen Prize

Established in 1985, this prize is awarded to a senior, usually an English major, who has made a substantial contribution to campus literary life, preferably with special gifts in poetry composition.

Books and Coffee

On seven Thursdays of the spring semester, members from various parts of the University review books from the New York Times bestseller list.

The audience — townspeople as well as students, faculty, and staff — is noteworthy for its lively discussion. Students are encouraged to attend to hear stimulating reviews of important works of fiction and nonfiction and to meet an interesting group of people.

The Books and Coffee series, sponsored by the English department, is free and open to the public. All events are held in the Harre Union, from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.