Scholarships & Fellowships
The College of Arts & Sciences and our generous donors are proud to help you achieve your goals through scholarships, travel funding and other financial support.
View past scholarship recipients
Dr. Susan Naramore Maher Scholarship for Best Undergraduate and Graduate Research Essay
The Dr. Susan Naramore Maher Scholarship for Best Undergraduate Research Essay and the Dr. Susan Naramore Maher Scholarship for Best Graduate Research Essay were both established in the spring of 2017 through the generosity of contributors to the English Honoring Fund, a fund started by Dr. Maher in January of 2006. These scholarships are open to English majors and minors and English graduate students.
Named in her honor, Dr. Maher was the first female chair of the Department of English, chairing from 2005-2010. While chair, she initiated the practice of celebrating students’ achievements at the English Honoring Ceremony.
Requirements
Students interested in eligibility guidelines and applying should follow the information links below for the Undergraduate Scholarship or the Graduate Scholarship. The deadline for application is the second Friday in February. Students winning scholarships are honored at the English Department's Honoring Ceremony each April.
Application Instructions
| Undergraduate Research Scholarship |
| Graduate Research Scholarship |
2024 Dr. Susan Naramore Maher Scholarship Winners
- Natalie Pearson, Best Undergraduate Research Paper, “The Multilayered Landscapes of The Snake’s Pass”
- Morgan Harms-Abasolo, Best Graduate Research Paper, “Autie-biography: Naoki Higashida’s Pursuit of Autistic Authority in The Reason I Jump”
John J. McKenna Undergraduate Scholarship and Graduate Fellowship
The John J. McKenna Graduate Fellowship in Creative Nonfiction and the John J. McKenna Undergraduate Scholarship in Creative Nonfiction were both established in the fall of 2011 through the generous contribution of the Kinney Family Foundation. The fellowship and scholarship are open to all students.
The awards are named in honor of one of the founders of the Creative Nonfiction program at UNO. Professor McKenna, a celebrated teacher, writer, and scholar, retired from the Department of English in Spring of 2011 after more than forty years of teaching and service to the University. His legacy is commemorated by the generosity of benefactors Yvette and Doug Kinney, who established the funds to honor Ms. Kinney's former teacher and mentor and to support both undergraduate and graduate students devoted to the study creative nonfiction.
Requirements
Students interested in eligibility guidelines and applying should follow the information links below for the Undergraduate Scholarship or the Graduate Fellowship. The deadline for application is during the spring semester, and students should check back for specific dates. Students winning awards for the next year will be honored at the English Department's Honoring Ceremony in April.
Application Instructions
| Undergraduate Scholarship in Creative Nonfiction |
| Graduate Fellowship in Creative Nonfiction |
2024 John J. McKenna Undergraduate Scholarship and Graduate Fellowship Winners
- Undergraduate: Sarah Larsen, “Survived By”
- Graduate: Korina Roberts, “Strangers and Roommates: Dorm Life in a Homeless Shelter”
View past scholarship recipients
Additional Scholarships
Each year, English students are selected by faculty to receive scholarships. There is no application required for these scholarships.
Wardle, Spire, and Lane Graduate Fellowship
Requirements
- Completed 6 graduate hours of English at UNO
- Minimum 3.5 GPA
- Must be enrolled in the MA program
2024 Wardle, Spire, and Lane Graduate Fellowship Winners
- Denise Forrest
- Kenneth Michael
- Micaela Weber
- Sara Wilson
View past scholarship recipients
Helen Basler Anderson Scholarship for Excellence in the Major
Helen Basler Anderson Scholarship Fund supports scholarships in English in memory of Helen Basler Anderson.
Donors: The Estate of Richard W. Anderson
Requirements
- Completed 18 undergraduate hours of English at UNO
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- Must be an enrolled Senior/Junior English major
2024 Helen Basler Anderson Scholarship Winners
- Hannah Opp
- Ashley Yelovich
View past scholarship recipients
Marian Basler Scholarship for Outstanding Writing in the Major
The Marian Basler Scholarship Fund supports scholarships in English in memory of Marian Basler.
Donors: The Estate of Richard W. Anderson
Requirements
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- Must be an enrolled Senior/Junior English major
2024 Marian Basler Scholarship Winner
Natalie Pearson
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James C. Horejs Scholarship for Distinction in the Major
This fund provides scholarships for undergraduate English majors at UNO. James C. Horejs graduated from UNO in 1949, and in 1978 made his first contribution to the fund.
Donor: James C. Horejs
Requirements
- Must be an enrolled English major
2024 James C. Horejs Scholarship Winners
- Kyley Bishop
- Chance Dunn
- Izzy Martin
- Jordan Pope
- Heidi Prentice
- Sophia Ryan
- Abby Swoboda
- Abigail Williamson