Scholarships

English and Foreign Languages Scholarships 

Department of Literature and Language

  • Matthew Barker, a white man with brown hair and a mustache, wearing a white One Piece shirt and backpack in front of a thick bamboo thicket holding up a peace sign.

    Matthew Barker, John D. Allen Graduate Award 2026

    My name is Matthew Barker, and I am a 2026 graduate of the English Graduate Program. In 2024, I graduated from ETSU with a Bachelor's in English and Japanese and a minor in Film and Media Studies. During my graduate studies I focused on interdisciplinary approaches to literary analysis, often using film analysis, cultural studies, and political theory to guide my analysis of literature. My culminating experience used political theory to explore masculinity in Vergil's Aeneid, and I presented research on Senegalese filmmaker Ousmane Sembene's film Emitai at the Boland Research Day and at the Southeast African Language Conference. I plan to use my degree and experience to pursue a career teaching English in either Higher ED or K-12 teaching. My favorite works of literature are White Teeth, Mother Night, Paradise Lost, the Aeneid, The Divine Commedia, Gobin Market, and the works of Takahashi Rumiko.

  • Lexi Bryant, a white woman with long lightly wavy dirty blonde hair, wearing a blue tank top dress. She is standing in front of a hedge and turned slightly to the left.

    Lexi Bryant, Outstanding Student in English 2026

    Lexi Bryant is currently a junior at ETSU and will be beginning her Residency program in Secondary English Education in Fall of 2026. She loves to read and write and is excited to bring this passion to students in her future classroom.

  • Jerry Kofie, a Black man with short dark brown hair and goatee, wearing graduation regalia leaning on a low brick wall with abundant foliage behind him. He is holding a graduation cap and certificate tube.

    Jerry Kofie, John D. Allen Graduate Award 2025

    Jerry Atta Kofie is an MA English graduate whose thesis looked at Ecological and Cultural Plasticity in Nii Ayikwei Parkes’ Tail of the Blue Bird. Originally from Ghana, he is boisterous and loves the thrill of knowledge acquisition. He is looking to specialize in ecocriticism and build his capacity as an educator.

  • Ben Bilderback, a white man with ginger hair and a clean shaven face, wearing a black overcoat, khakis, a messenger bag, and a newsboy hat. He is leaning on a lightpole in a small dusting of snow.

    Ben Bilderback, Black Moon Emerging Writers' Award 2026

    Ben Bilderback is a senior undergraduate student here at ETSU. As an English major with minors in Fine & Performing Arts Honors Studies, Creative Writing, and Storytelling; Ben spends his free time workshopping writing with friends and attending various creative writing events in downtown Johnson City. His work ranges from free-verse romantic poetry to horror short fiction, as well as theatre tech back in his hometown of Chattanooga, TN. In the future, he hopes to publish collections in both mediums of writing, while continuing to study the genre of horror professionally.

  • Casey Grindstaff, a white woman with dirty blonde hair bulled into a ponytail, wearing a dark gray t-shirt, jean capris, and blue boat shoes. She is sitting on landscaped rocks with her hands clasped together under her chin and elbows resting on her knees. Behind her are large trees and a house on a hill.

    Casey Grindstaff, Judith Bailey Slagle Transfer Scholarship 2026

    My name is Casey Grindstaff and I am a first-generation student set to graduate in Spring 2027. I previously completed two and a half years at Northeast State, and am now working towards my Bachelor’s in English Secondary Education for a prospective career as a high-school English teacher. I work part-time and am a full-time student with a love for reading, writing, and teaching others about the English language. My intent is to enter the field directly after graduating and go back to complete my Master’s after a few years in the workforce.

  • Joseph Scott, a white man with ginger hair and a full beard, wearing a black leather jacket, blue button-down, and black cowboy hat. He is standing in front of a brick building with a manicured lawn and shrubs surrounding it.

    Joseph Scott, Christa Thyson Hungate Endowment 2025

    Joseph Scott is from Westminster Maryland and is a senior here at ETSU who will be graduating in December of 2025. He is an avid language learner and history lover and can already speak multiple languages. He is the President of the German Club at ETSU, and a Member of the German Society of Maryland. Once he graduates, he hopes to work in the translation field where he can use his knowledge of languages to help others.

  • Anna Johnson, a white woman with tight curly red hair, wearing a light blue henley shirt and jeans. She is standing in front of a weathered brick wall with her right hand lightly in her pants pocket.

    Anna Johnson, Outstanding Student in World Languages 2026

    Anna Johnson is double majoring in English and World Languages, with concentrations in English teaching and Spanish. After graduating in May of 2028, she plans to teach English and potentially Spanish at the secondary level. She has a love for reading literature and learning Spanish and has enjoyed being a student at ETSU.

  • Bethanie Haga, a white woman with brown hair in a chin length bob style, wearing a light blue overshirt with a striped collar shirt underneath. She is standing under trees in the shade.

    Bethanie Haga, Golda M. Merrill Memorial Scholarship 2025

    Bethanie Haga is an English major with a minor in Secondary Education Teacher Preparation. After she graduates, Bethanie plans to become an English high school teacher with hopes to encourage and educate her students in the world of Literature and English. In her free time, Bethanie loves to write plays and short stories. She is beyond grateful for this opportunity!

  • Suzi Peter, a Black woman with long dark braided hair, wearing a blue patterned tank top and blue jean skirt. She is standing in front of a low stone wall with water and a small tree behind her. She is covering her eyes from the sun.

    Suzi Peter, McClellan Award 2025

    Suzi Peter is an English major with plans to pursue an MFA in Creative Writing and eventually teach at the collegiate level. She is originally from Knoxville, TN, and hopes to nurture her passion for poetry throughout the rest of her academic and professional career.

  • Kendall Robertson, a white woman with shoulder length dark brown hair, wearing a gray and blue patterned shirt with a gray cardigan over top. She has her left hand on her hip and is standing in front of a brick building and window.

    Kendall Robertson, Christa Thyson Hungate Endowment 2025

    Kendall Robertson is a junior at ETSU studying International Affairs and German. She enjoys being involved on campus through the Speech & Debate Team, Student Government Association, and Students of Finance Association. When she arrived at ETSU, Kendall didn’t intend to pursue language study, but soon realized the benefits a second language could provide personally and professionally. Looking forward, Kendall hopes to attend law school after graduating in May ‘26.

  • Zayda Carver, a white woman with shoulder length lightly curled blonde hair, wearing a short sleeve gray top and a small gold necklace. She stands in a field of sunflowers looking slightly up at the camera.

    Zayda Carver, Outstanding Student in World Languages

    Zayda Carver is a Spanish major, with minors in ESL and linguistics at ETSU. She is passionate about language acquisition and advocating for individuals struggling against a language barrier. She loves interacting with Spanish speakers in her community, and around the world. This summer she will be travelling to the Dominican Republic to teach English, and she hopes this one of many global ESL experiences. Zayda would like to commend the Spanish department at ETSU for being passionate, supportive, and inspirational.

  • Katherine Mazzei, a white woman with long auburn hair, wearing an ETSU sweatshirt and jeans. She is standing in front of a small river with woods behind it. She is showing off her sweatshirt by pulling it so the text is clearly visible.

    Katherine Mazzei, Golda M. Merrill Memorial Scholarship 2026

    Katherine Mazzei is an English major with a double minor in Music and Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Roots Studies. She plans to graduate in May of 2028 and move to Nashville to pursue a career in writing and music. Katherine is also a self-published author of two poetry collections titled Thoughts of a Teenage Girl and The Darkness Walks. She looks forward to growing as a writer and a musician during her time at ETSU and cannot wait to see what the future holds.

  • Rachel Brennan, a white woman with long straight dirty blonde hair, wearing a yellow tank top, jeans, and multicolor backpack. She is standing in front of a fur tree and other foliage.

    Rachel Brennan, Japanese Minor Scholarship 2025

    My name is Rachael Elaine Brennan and I am a Japanese minor and International Relations major. I'm a junior and a second-year Japanese student. I love learning about other nations histories especially Japan and its involvement in WW2. Because I want to work for the CIA, I wanted to learn a language with strong connections to our government and a big figure economics. The highlight of my week every week is going to Japanese table and getting to talk with Tezuka Sensei and Miku San. Learning Japanese is not easy, but it’s very rewarding. I have lots of passion for this language and I am grateful to receive this scholarship.

  • Adeline Rosebush, a white woman with shoulder length dark brown hair, wearing a black and white patterned shirt. She is posing on a red and white double-decker bus.

    Adeline Rosebush, Black Moon Emerging Writers' Award 2025

    My name is Adeline Rosebush, I'm an ETSU freshman majoring in English, originally from Gainesville, Georgia. I'm passionate about literature and history and hope to publish something of my own one day!

  • Jonathan Stokely, a white man with short brown hair and a goatee, wearing a pink button down shirt and glasses. He is standing in front of dark blue curtains.

    Jonathan Stokely, Jack Higgs Award for Graduate Research 2026

    Jonathan Stokely lives in Newport, Tennessee with his wife, Tara; his daughter, Amelia; two cats, and a hyperactive Siberian Husky. He is finishing his second year of ETSU’s Master of Arts in English program. He holds broad literary interests but has recently gravitated toward Appalachian Literature. Jonathan wrote his culminating experience project about Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead (2022) and the attention the novel draws toward underprivileged and exploited people within the economic and social spheres of Appalachia. After graduation, Jonathan hopes to continue his research into Appalachian literature by conferencing, writing, and pursuing future opportunities in academia.

  • Jared Huff, a white man with short light brown hair and clean shaven face, wearing a two piece blue suit with light blue button down and gold tie. He is standing at a corner of a gray building, facing the camera directly.

    Jared Huff, Tuff Torq Corporation Scholarship 2026

    Having lived internationally for seven years across multiple countries and visiting over 35 countries, I have developed a deep curiosity for foreign cultures and languages that has shaped who I am today. From ages 13 to 15, I lived in Okinawa, Japan, where my interest in Japanese language and culture first began. Studying Japanese has been the most challenging endeavor of my undergraduate experience, but also very rewarding. It has pushed me to think differently, persevere through difficulty, and recognize the capacity of the mind when stretched beyond its comfort zone. I am majoring in International Business Management with minors in Legal Studies and Global Citizenship. I plan to attend law school following graduation. During my time at ETSU, I have also been actively involved in Student Government, Mock Trial, TEDxETSU, Beta Upsilon Chi, and other campus organizations, all of which have further developed my leadership, communication, and service-oriented mindset.

  • Landon Tipton, a white woman with long brown hair, wearing a red and yellow floral pattern dress with a large butterfly necklace and heart earrings. She is standing outside in front of a small tree-covered hill in the background.

    Landon Tipton, Mary B. Herrin Memorial Scholarship 2025

English and Foreign Language majors are invited to apply for the following scholarships. Please read the criteria for each scholarship and complete the application form below. Awards vary, depending on the scholarship and the status of the fund. 

English and Foreign Languages Scholarship Application Form

 

Deadline for all scholarships is March 15, except for the Beasley Scholarship, which is March 1.

English:

  • Mary B. Herrin Memorial Scholarship: For undergraduate English and Communication majors. Recognizes superior scholarship. Local residents in need of financial aid are especially considered. This scholarship was established to honor the memory of Mary Bomar Herrin who served as a faculty member of English and Speech from 1963 to her death in 1972. Mrs. Herrin was committed to teaching, interested in student success, and devoted to the improvement of verbal and written communication skills. 
  • Harry G. Merrill, II Memorial Scholarship: For graduating senior English major who plans to pursue the Master's degree in English at ETSU. Minimum GPA of 3.20 in English, 3.00 overall, and demonstrated financial need. The award recognizes promise of success in the profession. This scholarship was created in 1994 after the passing of Dr. Harry G. Merrill, III to honor his father, Harry G. Merrill, II.
  • Jill MacLean Memorial Scholarship: For rising junior English majors. Minimum GPA of 3.00, full-time student, and demonstrated financial need. The award recognizes superior scholarship and potential. This scholarship honors the memory of Jill Cummins MacLean, a long-time supporter of the humanities in Johnson City.
  • Golda M. Merrill Memorial Scholarship: For junior English major who declares intent to complete B.A. in English. Minimum GPA of 3.20 in English, 3.00 overall, and demonstrated financial need. The award recognizes promise of success in the profession. This scholarship was created in 1994 after the passing of Dr. Harry G. Merrill, III to honor his mother, Golda M. Merrill.
  • Mary and Ambrose Manning Scholarship: For undergraduate rising junior or senior English majors in the secondary education curriculum. Completion of 60 hours with minimum 3.00 GPA and officially entered in curriculum for secondary education licensure in English. The award recognizes superior scholarship. The Mary and Ambrose Manning Scholarship was established in 1983 by the Mannings on their retirement after teaching in the department since 1948. 
  • Dugger Award: For undergraduate English majors except graduating seniors. The award recognizes superior scholarship and leadership. The Duggar Award was established in memory of Margaret Dugger, who taught in the department from 1950 until her retirement in 1973. 
  • McClellan Award: For undergraduate English majors except graduating seniors. The award recognizes superior writing ability. Applicants must submit two samples of their best writing with application. It was established in memory of David McClellan, outstanding teacher of English who joined the department in 1955, former newspaper-man, and Director of Public Relations for many years at ETSU until his passing in 1977.
  • Judith Bailey Slagle Transfer Scholarship: Provides an annual scholarship to an undergraduate student who has been accepted to the university and is entering his/her/their first academic year as a transfer student, has declared a Literature and Language English major, demonstrates financial need, and is in good academic standing. The Judith Bailey Slagle Transfer Scholarship was established in 2023 on Dr. Slagle's retirement. Dr. Slagle entered the department faculty in 1999, served as department chair from 2000-2014, served as interim dean of The Honor's College in 2014, served as dean of The Honor's College from 2015-2019, and returned to Literature and Language in 2019 to finish her tenure at the university. 
  • Black Moon Emerging Writers' Award: To support emerging writers in the Creative Writing minor in the Literature and Language Department. Applicants must meet the following criteria:
    • Applicants must submit a previously unpublished writing sample, with preference to hybrid works, of one of the following:
      • Up to a 4000-word prose piece or
      • Up to five pages of poetry
    • Applicants must be full-time students in good academic standing.
  • The Black Moon Emerging Writers' Award was created in 2022 by former Creative Writing students Sam Campbell and Matthew Gilbert. Sam Campbell was the Editor-in-Chief of The Mockingbird (Volume 47, 2020) and is now the fiction editor and co-founder of Black Moon Magazine. Matthew Gilbert was the Editor-in-Chief of The Mockingbird (Volume 46, 2019) and is now the poetry editor and co-founder of Black Moon Magazine.

Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies:

  • Karen Cajka Memorial Scholarship: For meritorious juniors or seniors enrolled in Literature and Language and/or Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies courses. Assists students of merit in furthering their educational journeys.
  • Barbara Murphy Brooks Scholarship: For Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies students who have shown personal and professional engagement in Women's Issues. Please fill out the application and personal financial statement, which can be found at the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies website. 

Foreign Language:

  • Christa Thyson Hungate Endowment: Provides scholarship assistance to superior undergraduate majors in German or French. May also be applied to ETSU study abroad. Students in graduate-level courses may also apply. The endowment was established in honor of Christa Thyson Hungate, an ETSU faculty member, who dedicated her life to teaching and assisting students and sharing her passion for the German and French languages.
  • Beginning German Award: Provides scholarship assistance to superior undergraduates who have successfully completed GERM 1010 in the Fall and who are enrolled in and doing superior work in GERM 1020.  May also be applied to ETSU study abroad.
  • Dr. Eduardo Zayas Bazán Scholarship: For students majoring or minoring in Spanish with a desire to participate in the Spanish summer abroad program. Evaluated based on GPA/Need/Written Response. This scholarship was established in honor of Dr. Eduardo Zayas Bazán, a long-time ETSU faculty member. To apply for this scholarship go to www.etsu.edu/scholarships and click on the red “Get Started” button.
  • SumiRiko Japanese Language Scholarship: Provides scholarship assistance to superior undergraduate Japanese Language students who are currently enrolled in second-year Japanese classes or in any Japanese upper-level course. Recipients must be a Japanese major with a minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA. SumiRiko Tennessee is a leading OEM automotive supplier of engineered anti-vibration, rubber hose, and urethane products. Through this scholarship, SumiRiko Tennessee wishes to encourage students to learn more about the Japanese culture and pursue their education goals. 
  • Tuff Torq Corporation Scholarship: Provides support to Japanese majors and/or minors who hold a 2.5 GPA and have successfully completed JAPN 2020. Tuff Torq Corporation is part of the Yanmar Global family of companies. Tuff Torq's Japanese heritage and "Yawaragi" spirit drive their commitment and dedication to creating a better world by achieving harmony with the demands of the marketplace.

 

College of Arts & Sciences:

  • The Ardis L. Nelson Language and Culture Scholarship: Applicants are required to be an incoming or current undergraduate or graduate student at ETSU. It is preferred that each applicant: 1) exemplify a commitment to the goals of the Language and Culture Resource Center; 2) be a bilingual student, with an interest in Spanish/English translation and/or Interpreting as a career; 3) show seriousness of purpose in his or her academic pursuits; 4) demonstrate a need based on economic considerations. Apply at http://www.etsu.edu/cas/lcrc/scholarships.php. This endowment was established in 2017 by Dr. Ardis L. Nelson, Professor of Hispanic Literature, Emerita and former Director of the Language and Culture Resource Center. 
  • William M. Beasley Scholarship:  Provides financial assistance to superior undergraduate students majoring in French, English or Mathematics. This scholarship was created to honor Mr. and Mrs. William M. Beasley. Mr. William Beasley served as a Registrar and mathematics faculty member, and Mrs. Louise Beasley was an instructor in the English department for many years. Deadline March 1. For this award, apply through the College of Arts & Sciences at: Math and Statistics Scholarships.

 

Students may also fill out a College of Arts and Sciences Scholarship Interest Form which will be forwarded to the appropriate department based on the applicant's information.