Students will be able to nominate themselves for the award at the end of the semester in which they are enrolled in First-Year Writing. Students will receive email notification and information from their professors regarding the window for nomination each semester.
The nomination deadline for the fall 2024 semester is January 6, 2025.
Students may nominate themselves for the award by completing the Rebecca Summerhays Award for Growth in Writing Nomination Form. Students must notify their professors of their self-nomination.
Each submission should include the following:
Two samples of your writing. These can be a draft and revision of the same paper or writing done for two different assignments
The associated assignment prompt(s)
A short reflection (about 150-200 words) that reflects on the two submitted papers and uses them to demonstrate how your sense of yourself as a writer evolved over the semester
As you write your reflection, keep in mind that the judges will want to understand specific issues you tackled in your writing and what strategies you used to improve your process, develop your confidence, find your voice, or otherwise strengthen your writing skills. Students who are chosen as recipients of the Summerhays Award will have their reflection essay published on the Writing Program website.