English - Organizations & Awards

Clubs

English Club

English Club is a student-run organization of students who enjoy writing, literature and gathering for fun and friendship.  They sponsor the annual Halloween dance, do poetry readings, movie nights, haiku contests, and many other activities.  Students from all disciplines participate and it is one of the growing popular clubs on campus.

Sigma Tau Delta

Benedictine College English Department sponsors the Pi Sigma Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the International English honor society for students at four-year colleges and universities. Sigma Tau Delta was established in 1924 to confer distinction for high achievement in English language, literature, and writing, and is dedicated to fostering literacy and all aspects of the discipline of English. The Pi Sigma Chapter at Benedictine College was established in 1984 and has recently had a resurgence of membership.

Awards

Every year the English Department gives out the following awards at the Honors Ceremony held on campus.

Patricia Hattendorf Nerney Poetry Writing Award

The Patricia Hattendorf Nerney Poetry Writing Award is given in honor of an English Department alumna who became a distinguished high school teacher in Kansas City, Missouri. After Patricia’s sudden death in an accident, her family established this award with the hope that her energy, beauty, and love of life would enrich students who followed her as majors in the department she so fully enjoyed. This award is presented to an English student whose poetry was selected as outstanding by writing judges appointed by the English Department.  

Sister Scholastica Schuster Prose Writing Award

The Sister Scholastica Schuster Fiction Writing Award is given in honor of Sister Scholastica, a former Department Chair and revered teacher at the college. Sister Scholastica taught literature and composition with grace, gentle good will, and untold wisdom. Her appreciation of the spoken and written word, and her captivating teaching style remain legendary in the history of the department. This award is presented to an English student whose fiction writing received top honors.

Thomas Ross Award for a Promising Young Writer

This award is given in honor of Thomas Ross, a 1979 graduate of Benedictine College. A lover of words and poetry, he was a ready participant in college poetry readings. After graduating, he taught at Donnelly College in Kansas City. Later, he moved to New York, where he taught. Always, he continued writing and encouraging students to write. He died in 1985. A Thomas Ross Memorial was set up by his friends, and the Thomas Ross Award is given to the most promising young writer at Benedictine College. This annual award is given to a freshman or sophomore. 

Loomings Editor’s Award

The Loomings Editor’s Award is given in recognition of the dedication and many hours of work given so generously by the General Editor of Loomings.

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