Awards

Congratulations to our awardees and to all CWRU writers and writing instructors! For more information about our awards, please email writing@case.edu.

Writing Awards

The Writing Program recognizes outstanding student writing in its Academic Inquiry Seminars (AIQS). We currently recognize students in the following categories:

  • The Karl Lemmerman Prize for First-Year Writing
    • Analytical Writing: This award recognizes exceptional analyses of a text, image, theme, idea, or event. The AIQS essay should deeply explore its topic and present an insightful, well-supported argument.
  • The Holden Writing Prizes 
    • Narrative or Creative Writing: This award recognizes exceptional examples of imaginative writing in a variety of genres, composed in AIQS courses. Examples may include (but are not limited to): short stories, personal reflections or memoirs, poems, speeches, songs, plays and screenplays.
    • Multimodal Writing: This award recognizes exceptional AIQS writing projects combining two or more modes of communication, such as written, oral, audio, visual, and non-verbal. Examples of such projects may include (but are not limited to): comics and graphic novels, original song compositions, dance performances, websites and digital design, podcasts, and presentations. 

These awards are judged annually and recognized at the university's commencement and student awards ceremonies each spring. Please use the button on the right to nominate your own or a student's AIQS writing.

In addition, the English department scholarships, prizes and fellowships recognize creative, journalistic, and academic achievement.

Teaching Awards

The Writing Program is honored to work with an outstanding group of faculty whose teaching, advising, and consulting efforts make CWRU a great place for student writers.  

More information about our Teaching Awards:

Past Prizes

Prior to Academic Year 2024-2025, the Writing Program administered awards for writers in seminars offered through the SAGES curriculum. Award-winning student work is available in the SAGES Writing Awards archive folder (viewable with CWRU login). 

First Seminar Essay Prize

The SAGES First Seminar Essay Awards were part of the general education curriculum (2005-2023). They highlighted the best student writing produced in SAGES First Seminars each fall. The winning essays were selected from those nominated by SAGES faculty for this award each academic year. 

University Seminar Essay Prize

The SAGES University Seminar Essay Awards highlighted the best student writing produced in SAGES University Seminars each year. The essays recognized were selected from those nominated by SAGES faculty for this award. 

SAGES Excellence in Writing Instruction Award 

This award was given annually (2010-2022) to an instructor in the SAGES program who demonstrated outstanding commitment to and success in teaching academic writing to Case Western Reserve University undergraduates. This award was designed to recognize faculty working in SAGES First and/or University Seminars.