English/Languages Scholarships
All scholarships require full-time attendance (12 hours for undergraduate; 6 hours
for graduate) unless indicated otherwise.
All scholarships require a 3.0 cumulative GPA unless indicated otherwise.
All scholarships are for fall and/or spring semester only (summer not included) unless
indicated otherwise.
All recipients are recommended by the department, with final approval by the ECU Foundation
Scholarship Committee.
Any exceptions must be approved by the department chair and the Foundation Scholarship
Committee.
Gary and Linda Ainsworth Russia Travel Scholarship
This scholarship will be awarded to assist students who travel to Russia and was established by Linda Ainsworth in memory of her husband Gary.
Billie Ruth Auten Barger & Phyllis Joe Auten Winton English Education Scholarship
This scholarship will be awarded to students from rural Oklahoma areas such as Stonewall, Tupelo, Sasakwa, Roff, Vanoss, Allen, Konawa etc. that demonstrate strong academic achievement as shown with a 3.0 or above GPA. The recipient must have a declared major of English Education and exhibit leadership characteristics through involvement in campus and/or community organizations. This scholarship was established in loving memory of Billie Ruth Auten Barger and Phyllis Joe Auten Winton, two devoted sisters from Stonewall, Oklahoma, whose lives reflected an extraordinary commitment to education, service, and student success. Billie Ruth Auten Barger graduated from McLish High School and later earned her 1965 certification in English and Physical Education. She was an active member of Phi Delta Zeta and devoted 42 years of her teaching career to Tulsa Public Schools. Throughout her career, she not only inspired students in the classroom but was also actively involved in women’s sports in the Tulsa area. Her dedication to academics and athletics left a lasting impact on countless students and athletes. Her sister, Phyllis Joe Auten Winton, graduated from Stonewall High School and completed her degree in 1960 with a major in Business Education and a minor in English. She dedicated 25 years of her teaching career to Sasakwa School. Phyllis had a deep love for her students and was passionate about helping them grow academically and personally. She worked tirelessly to encourage an prepare students for continued education and future success. Both sisters were determined educators who believed strongly in helping students reach their goals and advance to the next level of education. Their legacy is one of encouragement, high standards, compassion, and unwavering support for rural students. This scholarship celebrates the vital role of rural educators and encourages future teachers to follow in their footsteps by making a meaningful difference in their communities.
Molly Shi Boren English Scholarship
This scholarship will be awarded to an incoming freshman who plans to major in English and who exhibits financial need. The scholarship may be continued if a minimum 2.0 GPA is maintained. Mrs. Boren taught at ECU for several years and her husband, Governor David Boren, established this scholarship in her honor.
Briles Scholarship
This scholarship will be awarded based on need and a minimum 2.5 GPA. Originally established as part of the Federal Student Loan Program, this scholarship was transferred to the ECU Foundation in 1995.
May Sanders Burns Scholarship
This scholarship will be awarded to a freshman who plans to major in English, and who has a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above. The recipient will be chosen based on need and the inability to qualify for any other scholarship assistance. This scholarship was endowed by Mrs. Anita Floyd of Ada, Ms. Burns' niece.
Judy Carroll Memorial English Scholarship
This scholarship will be awarded to an English major who is a sophomore or above, and who has maintained a minimum 3.0 GPA. Mrs. Carroll was a long-time educator and counselor in the Ada area and this scholarship was established in her memory by family, friends, and colleagues.
Lemoine Crabtree Russian Scholarship
In recognition of its founder’s desire to acknowledge and support academic excellence in foreign language study in Russian, the Lemoine Crabtree Russian Award recognizes an ECU student who demonstrates both an exemplary level of academic achievement and dedication to the study of Russian language and culture. This award is recommended by the Department of English and Languages.
J.H. and Joyce Criswell Memorial Scholarship
In recognition of the wishes of its founders and with support of the Ada Arts and Humanities Council, the Criswell Memorial Scholarship is awarded to ECU students majoring in English who have demonstrated excellence in creative writing and show promise for future creative endeavors. The Criswell family were long-time residents of Ada and established this scholarship as part of their estate planning.
Wanita Danley English Honors Scholarship
This scholarship will be awarded to an upperclassman majoring in English who is a member of the Honors Program. Mrs. Danley was a long-time member of the English department and this scholarship was established in her honor and memory by family, friends, and colleagues.
C.B. and Eleanor Dedmon Spanish Minor Scholarship
This scholarship will be awarded to incoming freshmen with a minimum ACT of 25 and a declared major within the English/Languages Department. A GPA of 3.25 or above is required for the continuation of this scholarship. The Dedmon’s established both this scholarship and the Ozella Waner English Scholarship in gratitude for their education at ECU.
Daisy Moore Duvall Scholarship
This scholarship will be awarded to an English major who is a sophomore or higher in classification and who has maintained a minimum 3.25 GPA. Ms. Duvall was a long-time English/History teacher and this was established by her family and friends in her honor and memory.
Luther Edge Spanish-Speaking Scholarship
This scholarship will be awarded at the discretion of the department with preference to a student who speaks Spanish as a first language or who comes from a Spanish-speaking country or area. The student must have a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA.
English Department Special Scholarship
This scholarship will be awarded at the discretion of the department. Special consideration will be given to a student with a strong work ethic, consistent class attendance, participation in department activities, and more.
English Department Student Teaching Scholarship
This scholarship will be awarded in the spring semester at the discretion of the department to an English Teacher Certification major currently in their final semester student teaching.
English/Languages Department Scholarship
This scholarship will be awarded at the discretion of the department with special consideration for an ECU student actively engaged with foreign language studies.
Higginbotham Family English Scholarship
This scholarship will be awarded to either an incoming transfer student who plans to major in English or a current English major if no transfer student is available. The student must have completed between 30 and 70 credit hours and maintained a minimum 3.0 GPA. Dorothy Higginbotham was an ECU alumna who understood and recognized the value of higher education and established this scholarship as part of her estate planning.
Higginbotham Family Language Scholarship
The Higginbotham Family established this scholarship to celebrate and foster excellence in the study of Foreign Language. The Higginbotham Family Scholarship in Language is awarded to an ECU student minoring in a foreign language who exhibits a high level of academic achievement evidenced by the fact that he or she has a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above.
Paul Hughes Writing Award
This award is presented to winners of the annual Creative Writing Competition sponsored by the English/Languages Department. Any type of creative writing will be eligible for consideration including poetry, fiction, non-fiction, or articles. This fund was established by the family of Mr. Hughes.
Little Family Professional Writing Scholarship
This scholarship will be awarded to an outstanding student in the area of Professional Writing. This scholarship was established with funds donated in memory of William Little Sr. and his son William Little Jr. The elder Little was editor of the Ada newspaper for years and his son-in-law, George Gurley, continued on in this traditional family occupation.
Margaret (Peggy) Nims Writing Scholarship
This scholarship will be awarded to an English major of sophomore classification or above who has maintained a minimum 3.0 GPA. Mrs. Nims was a long-time faculty member in the English department at ECU and this scholarship was established in her honor by family, friends, and colleagues.
Oscar L. Parker Spanish Scholarship
This scholarship will be awarded at the discretion of the department with preference given to an ECU student actively engaged with studying Spanish language, literature, or culture. Paul Swinford, a former student of Mr. Parker’s, established this scholarship in his honor and memory. Mr. Parker was a long-time employee of ECU and was also a founding member of the ECU Foundation, Inc. in 1970, and served as its first director.
Sara Randall Memorial English Scholarship
This scholarship will be awarded to a junior or senior English major who has maintained a minimum 3.25 GPA. Ms. Randall was a junior English major at ECU at the time of her death; this scholarship was established in her memory by her family.
Lynda A. Stephenson English Scholarship
This scholarship will be awarded to students with a declared major of English that are classified at the junior level or above. Recipients must have and maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA and this scholarship may be awarded for subsequent semesters if all criteria is met. This scholarship was established by Dr. C. Gene and Lynda Adkins Stephenson. Mrs. Stephenson began her teaching career as a part-time instructor in the East Central English Department in 1965. In 1980, she became a full-time Assistant Professor in the English Department all the while raising two children. When Dr. and Mrs. Stephenson relocated to Edmond, OK in 1997, Lynda began a new career as a writer and has published 4 books.
Sukholutskaya Family Russia and Ukraine Travel Scholarship
This scholarship will be used at the discretion of the Global Education Committee. Dr. Sukholutskaya is a long-time ECU faculty member and this scholarship was established in memory of her mother.
Ozella Elizabeth Waner English Scholarship
This scholarship will be awarded to an incoming freshman with a minimum 25 ACT who plans to major or minor in English. A minimum GPA of 3.25 is required for the continuation of this scholarship. Ms. Waner was house mother for several years to residents of Fentem Hall. This scholarship was established in her honor and memory by her daughter and son-in-law, Eleanor and Burt Dedmon.
Reed Loving Watt Scholarship
This scholarship will be awarded to an English/Languages student who has earned at least 12 semester hours of credit and has maintained a minimum 3.0 GPA. This scholarship was established with the proceeds from the sale of property donated by the Watt's family to the Oklahoma State Board of Regents.
Young Family English Scholarship
This scholarship will be awarded to an English major who has completed a minimum of 59 semester hours. Barbara Young taught for several years in the English department and this scholarship was established by her family and friends in her honor.