Undergraduate Writing Awards

The Writing Program administers four undergraduate writing awards: the Alexandra L. Rowan Writing Award, The Melissa Difatta Undergraduate Nonfiction Award, The Taube Award in Fiction, and the Academy of American Poets Undergraduate Award. Scroll down for award guidelines. See the Award Winners page for previous prize recipients.

Alexandra L. Rowan Writing Award

The Alexandra L. Rowan Writing Award is named after Alexandra L. Rowan, a graduate of the Writing Program who died tragically in 2013, and is endowed by the foundation that bears her name. The award is given annually to a woman poet, fiction writer, and writer of nonfiction, each of whom receives $2,000 in recognition of the excellence of her work. The award is judged by a distinguished writer, who makes the presentation and gives a reading and talk at the Alexandra Rowan Writing Festival. The 2019 Awards will be judged by the writer Caitlin Hottocks, who will present them on April 12. Questions? Contact Andrea Laurion

The Melissa Difatta Undergraduate Nonfiction Award 

Prizes totaling $200 will be awarded for a first, second, and third place nonfiction manuscript written by an undergraduate student enrolled in a nonfiction course at Pitt during the 2018-19 academic year. This year's award will be judged by Rachel Mabe. 

Submission Deadline: March 9, 2018

The Taube Award in Fiction

Prizes totalling $1000 will be awarded for a first, second and third place fiction piece written by a Pitt undergraduate student. This year's award will be judged by Morgan Treadway Kayser. 

Submission Deadline: March 9, 2018

Questions? Contact Andrea Laurion

Academy of American Poets Undergraduate Award

A $100 prize, plus a $50 membership from the Academy of American Poets, will be awarded for a poem written by a Pitt undergraduate student. Students may submit up to three poems. This year's award will be judged by Malcolm Friend. 

Submission Deadline:  March 9, 2018

To submit your work, go to
pittwritingcontests.submittable.com.

For more information, contact Andrea
Laurion: arl117@pitt.edu; 412-624-6508

Winners will be announced at the Creative Writing Awards ceremony on April 12, 2019 and their names will be posted on the English Department website.