Scholarships

Unless otherwise noted, applications for the current scholarship and awards cycle are due by March 15, 2026.

Generous donors have established several scholarships for undergraduate English BA or BS Secondary English Education majors and graduate students in the English Department’s graduate degree programs (MA, MA-TESL, MFA, PHD).

Undergraduate and Graduate Students:

  • The Patricia Mapes Andersen English Scholarship
  • The Gary Kenneth Buettner Memorial Scholarship
  • The Sybil Hall Shott Scholarship
  • The Mary A. Hill English Scholarship*
  • The Charles E. Bull Award 
  • The Sarah Guidas Award for Literary Scholars of the Future
  • Bryan Short Memorial Fund

Undergraduates only:

  • The A. Elaine Bychinsky Award for Writers of Promise
  • The Gary Kane Semester Abroad Scholarship** (Due April 1, 2026)
  • The Ted Johnson Memorial Scholarship*** (Due April 15, 2026)

Creative Writing Graduate Students only:

  • Diana Gabaldon Graduate Creative Writing Award
  • The William M. Burke Scholarship

Rhetoric, Writing, and Digital Media Studies (RWDMS) Graduate Students only:

  • The Alex Weirich Memorial Scholarship

Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics and Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) Students only: 

  • Jean Zukowsky/Faust Memorial TESOL Fund

Eligibility

To be eligible for these scholarships, you must

  • have at least a minimum 3.0 GPA, except for the A. Elaine Bychinsky Award for Writers of Promise, the Gary Kenneth Buettner Memorial Scholarship, and the Sarah Guidas Scholarship (requires 2.5 or higher);
  • have at least sophomore status with a minimum of 6 completed hours of NAU English courses beyond composition (for undergraduates) or have completed a minimum of 9 completed hours at NAU (for graduate students) by the deadline;
  • be enrolled in courses for the academic year following when scholarship awards will be disbursed;

*For the Mary A. Hill English Scholarship only, you must also show evidence of financial need as determined by a FAFSA application through the NAU Office of Financial Aid analysis.

**For the Gary Kane Study Abroad Scholarship, you must show evidence of sophomore, junior, or senior standing at the time of the study abroad program.

***For the Ted Johnson Scholarship you must meet the following eligibility requirements:

A. Undergraduate students enrolled as English Majors, with a junior or senior status during the academic year of the scholarship disbursement;
B. At least 12 hours of English coursework beyond freshman composition (ENG 105) or its equivalent and enrolled the academic year of the scholarship disbursement; and
C. GPA of 2.7 or greater (where 4.0 = A)


Theodore (Ted) Johnson was the first African American faculty member at NAU. He was hired in 1969 in the English Department. For 30 years, he taught literature, minority literature, and composition. He retired from NAU in 1999. During his time at NAU, Ted was a quiet champion for diversity, equity, and minority-student needs. He had an open-door advising policy and was a mentor and counselor; he informally advised minority students from across majors at NAU.

During his early years in Flagstaff, Ted faced discrimination and NAU provided Ted and his family housing on campus in a North Union apartment. Ted was also a civic leader. He was a lifetime member of the NAACP. He served as President of the Coconino County Democratic Party, and for many years he was a major player in the local Democratic Party. He was also a member of the Coconino County Guidance Center.

Ted received an NAU Alumni Service Award and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Achievement Award from the NAU Black Student Union. The NAU Ethnic Studies program supports a yearly Ted Johnson Lecture Series, made possible by a generous gift from Booker T. Evans, Jr. (one of Ted Johnson’s early students at NAU) and others.

Ted Johnson passed away in 2002. The Ted Johnson Memorial Scholarship Endowment will help keep Ted Johnson’s legacy alive for years to come.

 

How to apply

Applications for scholarships and awards can be accessed through the Scholarship Universe website.

Brief overview of submission types

Charles E. Bull Scholarship: A story or poem.

Sarah Guidas Award for Literary Scholars of the Future: One letter of recommendation and a 500-word essay. 

Gary Kane Semester Abroad Scholarship: A 500-word essay outlining why you wish to study abroad in the country of your choice, including why you are deserving of this award.

Alex Weirich Memorial Scholarship: A letter of application stating your academic and career goals and writing sample from one of your RWDMS courses.

Jean Zukowsky/Faust Memorial TESOL Fund: Please contact Okim Kang for information about the required submission materials and deadline for submission.

Ted Johnson Scholarship: An essay, of no more than 100 words, in which the applicant answers this prompt: Describe (a) your understanding of Ted Johnson’s contributions to the university and community and (b) one specific way that your academic, leadership, or service activities relate to Ted Johnson’s legacy. Complete the 2026 Ted Johnson Scholarship Application and email it to English@nau.edu.

 All other scholarships and awards, submit:

  1. a copy of your current NAU undergraduate or graduate transcript as of the deadline (your unofficial LOUIE transcript is fine, but it should include transfer credit information);
  2. an up-to-date résumé or curriculum vitae specifying your school record, awards or recognitions, extracurricular and service activities, and work experience;
  3. a clear, inventive, professional-quality statement of approximately 500 words that describes your academic work and your progress toward your degree, explains information on your résumé that is particularly relevant to your application, and shows us your commitment to English study. The focus and coherence of this submission matter. Develop and explain the details or anecdotes that you include. And style counts, so carefully edit and proofread. Where necessary, solicit timely help in revising and polishing your statement.
Department of English
Location
Room 140 Building 18
Liberal Arts
705 S. Beaver Street
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-6032
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 6032
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-6032