2014-2015 Scholarship Recipients

E. Nelson James Junior Scholarship ($3,000 each)
	Amy Pollard St. Martin's University Kappa Upsilon Chapter Amy Pollard is a senior English major at Saint Martin's University in Lacey, WA, and President of the Kappa Upsilon Chapter. She has just returned from a semester abroad in Tanzania, where she studied Swahili and community development. After graduation, she would like to spend a year abroad and then pursue graduate studies in the U.S.
	Victoria Parker Rhode Island College Alpha Omicron Pi Chapter Victoria Parker is a senior at Rhode Island College in Providence, RI, pursuing her B.A. in English Literature with a minor in Creative Writing. She is currently Poetry Editor of Shoreline, Rhode Island College's literary arts magazine. Upon graduation she plans to earn her M.A. in English Literature and begin a career in the publishing industry.
Runner-up ($1,500)
	Wesley Peters Loyola University Maryland Rho Upsilon Chapter Wes Peters is an English major at Loyola University Maryland, and lives in Mendham, New Jersey. Wes began writing novels in 8th grade and published "Between the Doors" in April 2014 with Apprentice House Publishing. Wes enjoys surfing, pizza, and Scrubs and intends to pursue a career in health communications.
Elva Bell McLin Senior Scholarship ($4,000 each)
	Elizabeth Cachey Bradley University Beta Lambda Chapter Elizabeth Cachey graduated summa cum laude in May 2015 from Bradley University in Peoria, IL, with a B.A. in English and minors in Sociology and Women's Studies. She worked as a tutor in the university's learning center, wrote and edited for Hilltopics, Bradley’s alumni magazine, served as Prose Editor from 2014-2015 for Broadside, the university’s literary arts journal, and served as President of the Beta Lambda Chapter for the 2014-2015 academic year and Vice President from 2013-2014. Liz is pursuing her master’s at Illinois State University, where she was awarded a teaching assistantship.
	Margaret Cipriano Bradley University Beta Lambda Chapter Margaret Cipriano graduated summa cum laude from Bradley University in Peoria, IL, with a B.A. in English-Creative Writing and a minor in Marketing. She served two consecutive terms as Editor-in-Chief of the university’s literary arts journal, Broadside, was Publicist for her Sigma Tau Delta chapter, and in 2014, had a critical essay published in The Sigma Tau Delta Review. Margaret is pursuing an M.F.A. in poetry at The Ohio State University.
Runner-up ($2,000)
	Jeannette Schollaert Chatham University Alpha Delta Lambda Chapter Jeannette (Jenny) Schollaert graduated from Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA, with a B.A. in English and Women’s Studies. From 2014-2015 she served as President of the Alpha Delta Lambda Chapter and Associate Student Representative of Sigma Tau Delta’s Eastern Region. Jeannette attends the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where she is pursuing her M.A. in English with a focus in Women’s Literature.
Edwin L. Stockton, Jr., Graduate Scholarship ($4,000)
	Marley Stuart Southeastern Louisiana University Xi Rho Chapter Marley Stuart is Editorial Assistant for Louisiana Literature and is pursuing an M.A. in English at Southeastern Louisiana University as well as an M.F.A. in Fiction at the Bennington Writing Seminars. His fiction has appeared on Country Roads Magazine’s website and a poem of his is forthcoming in Down to the Dark River: an Anthology of Contemporary Poems about the Mississippi River (Louisiana Literature Press). He lives with his wife in New Orleans.
Runner-up ($2,000)
	Laura Hanna Auburn University Kappa Theta Chapter Laura Hanna earned an M.A. in English with a concentration in literature at Auburn University, where she also teaches freshman composition. Now pursuing doctoral studies with the ultimate goal of teaching full-time at the university level, Laura is also an assistant editor for Southern Humanities Review and the founder and editor-in-chief of These Fragile Lilacs, an online poetry journal.
William C. Johnson Distinguished Scholarship ($5,000)
	Cody Jarman University of Tennessee, Martin Omega Theta Chapter Cody Jarman is a senior at The University of Tennessee at Martin where he is pursuing a B.A. in English and a B.F.A. in Theatre Arts. He spent a year as President of the Omega Theta Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, worked at Martin’s Writing Center for over two years, served as the Co-Executive Editor for Beanswitch, Martin’s literary arts magazine, and recently had work featured in the Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research. Cody intends to pursue a Ph.D. in English Literature. His specific interests include British Modernism and Irish Literature.
Runner-up ($3,000)
	Nicole Godard Westfield State University Alpha Eta Sigma Chapter Nicole Godard graduated from Westfield State University in Westfield, MA, in May 2015 with a B.A. in English Literature, a minor in French/Francophone Literature, and an initial license to teach English at the secondary level. She plans to pursue a professional teacher's license and continue her career as an educator.
Sigma Tau Delta Study Abroad Scholarship ($3,000 each) First Round
	Rachel Burns Winthrop University Iota Mu Chapter Rachel Burns is a senior at Winthrop University in Rock Hill pursuing a B.A. in English with a focus on writing, and minors in History and International Studies. Her creative work has been published for three years in Winthrop's student publication, The Anthology, and appeared in the 2015 edition of The Sigma Tau Delta Rectangle. After graduation she hopes to combine her interest in travel and her love for writing by teaching abroad for a few years before attending graduate school for creative writing.
Runner-up ($1,500)
	Hannah Menendez Palm Beach Atlantic University Alpha Zeta Mu Chapter Hannah Menendez, a senior at Palm Beach Atlantic University, is an English major and Cross-cultural Studies minor. She is a writing coach at her university's writing center, as well as an editor of and contributor to the Living Waters Review, a student literary magazine. Currently she is in the UK studying abroad at Oxford University.
Second Round
	Jessica Brumley Western Kentucky University Pi Iota Chapter Jessica Brumley is a senior at Western Kentucky University majoring in Literature and English for Secondary Education. She is also a four-year student in Western Kentucky University's Chinese Flagship Program and has studied abroad in China, Taiwan, and Cuba. Jessica will use this scholarship to complete her student teaching semester in Baoding, China.
Regent Scholarships ($1,000 each) Eastern
	Niveda Anandan University of Toronto Scarborough Alpha Upsilon Eta Chapter Niveda Anandan, a graduate of the University of Toronto in Scarborough, ON, has completed a B.S. with a concentration in Psychology and Biology as well as English Literature. Now attending law school at the University of Toronto, she is pursuing a dual degree program allowing her to simultaneously earn a J.D. in law and an M.A. in English. She presented a paper at Sigma Tau Delta’s 2015 Convention in Albuquerque, NM, and currently serves as President of her Sigma Tau Delta chapter.
	Cayleigh Boniger Clarion University Rho Iota Chapter Cayleigh Boniger graduated in May 2015 with a B.A. in English and a concentration in general literature from Clarion University of Pennsylvania, where she served as the President of the Rho Iota Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta. Her poetry has been published in her university’s literary arts journal, Tobeco (which won third place in Sigma Tau Delta’s best literary journal award), and she has presented papers and panels at three Sigma Tau Delta conventions. She looks forward to pursuing Shakespearean and dramatic studies, with an interest in dramaturgy and criticism.
	Robyn Gold The College of New Jersey Alpha Epsilon Alpha Chapter Robyn Gold, a senior at The College of New Jersey, is pursuing a B.A. in English Secondary Education. She served as Vice President (2013-2014) and Co-President (2014-2015) of the Alpha Epsilon Alpha Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta and has presented her work at one Eastern Region conference and three Sigma Tau Delta international conventions. Robyn is already enrolled in an accelerated M.A. program in English at The College of New Jersey and ultimately hopes to teach high school English.
Far Western
	Braden Clinger Utah State University Rho Tau Chapter Braden Clinger is a senior at Utah State University pursuing B.A. degrees in English Literature and Spanish, and an Interdisciplinary Certificate in Medieval and Early Modern Studies. Braden has served as Vice President of his Sigma Tau Delta chapter in addition to working as a writing tutor and an archival scanning technician. He plans to teach English in Spain for a year or two before pursuing a Ph.D. in Spanish literature.
High Plains
	Celena Todora North Dakota State University Omicron Gamma Chapter Celena Todora, a senior at North Dakota State University, is triple-majoring in English, English Education, and International Studies. She served as Treasurer-Secretary of her Sigma Tau Delta chapter before becoming the current President, and plans to pursue an M.A. in English with an emphasis in rhetoric and composition.
	Zachary Walker Fort Hays State University Rho Psi Chapter Zach Walker is a senior at Fort Hays State University, pursuing a B.A. in English with an emphasis in secondary education and a minor in History. He has served as the Treasurer of FHSU’s Sigma Tau Delta chapter as well as the university mascot at FHSU for two years. Zach plans to become a middle or high school English teacher in Kansas.
Midwestern
	Ellie Schendzielos University of Minnesota, Morris Alpha Lambda Xi Chapter Ellie Schendzielos is a senior at the University of Minnesota, Morris (UMM), pursuing a B.A. in English and minor in Psychology. After studying abroad for six months at Lancaster University in England, Ellie has returned to UMM to complete the final semester of her degree. She is involved in event planning for the Alpha Lambda Xi Chapter, copy editing for the University Register, and writing for the poetry club.
	Julia Landrum University of Central Missouri Gamma Theta Chapter Julia Landrum, a senior at the University of Central Missouri (UCM), is pursuing a B.A. in English while double-minoring in Creative Writing and Technical Writing. She is Vice President of Sigma Tau Delta’s Gamma Theta Chapter, a tutor at the Writing Center, and Editor-in-Chief of Arcade, UCM’s student magazine. Her future plans include earning an M.F.A., continuing to work on writing projects, and designing a business idea to help writers of all styles with editing and research.
Southern
	Robert Durborow Northern Kentucky University Pi Omega Chapter Robert Durborow, a senior at Northern Kentucky University majoring in Creative Writing and Theater, will graduate in May 2016. He is the current senior Student Advisor on Sigma Tau Delta’s Board of Directors, and has served as a Student Leader since 2012. Robert also serves the Pi Omega Chapter as outgoing Vice President and incoming President.
	Joseph Brennan Northern Kentucky University Pi Omega Chapter Joseph Brennan graduated in May 2015 from Northern Kentucky University with a B.A. in English Literature, a B.A. in Spanish, and a minor in Honors. During the 2014-2015 school year, he served as both the President of the Pi Omega Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta and the Chief Editor of the chapter’s student literary journal, The Pentangle. Joseph intends to teach high school during and after his M.A.T. graduate studies at Thomas More College, and plans to continue translating the work of Nicolás Gómez Dávila and writing essays, poetry, fables, and wisdom literature.
Southwestern
	Tammy Hornbeck Midwestern State University Beta Xi Chapter Tammy Hornbeck completed her B.A. in English at Cameron University in July 2014. She has since entered Cameron University's Master of Education program, completed a Special Education Boot Camp where she became a Certified Special Education Teacher, and been hired by Waurika Public Schools in Oklahoma. Tammy has published two books of Christian poetry: Faith, Hope...and the greatest of these is LOVE! (Publish America 2008) and 100 Step in Faith (LuLu 2010), and her memoir, Breaking the Silence, is under consideration from Page Publishing.
P. C. Somerville Teaching Awards ($2,000 each)
	Maria Kioussis Central Michigan University Sigma Delta Chapter Maria Kioussis received her B.S. in Secondary Education from Central Michigan University (CMU), with a major in English and a minor is Speech. She was President of the Sigma Delta Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta and CMU’s National Council of Teachers of English Student Affiliate, as well as a consultant at the CMU Writing Center. Maria is passionate about using reading, writing, speaking, and listening to empower students to become active contributors to the world around them.
	Kimberly Tolson-Kolpek Lipscomb University Mu Zeta Chapter Kimberly Tolson-Kolpek earned an A.A. in General Studies from Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson, MS, where she served as V.P. of Scholarship for the Eta Omega Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. She then graduated from Lipscomb University in Nashville with a B.A. in English Teaching. At Lipscomb, she worked as a writing consultant in the university's Writing Studio. Kimberly looks forward to teaching high school English and to pursuing an M.Ed. in English.
Runners-up ($1,000 each)
	Shayla Hancock Olivet Nazaerene University Tau Theta Chapter Shayla Hancock graduated summa cum laude from Olivet Nazarene University in May 2015 with a B.S. in English Education and a minor in ESL Teaching. While at Olivet, she served as President of the Tau Theta Chapter and as a Departmental Assistant for the Department of English and Modern Languages. She looks forward to igniting a passion for literature and a love of literacy in her students.
	Jennifer Greene Lipscomb University Mu Zeta Chapter Jennifer Greene graduated in May 2015 from Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN, with a B.A. in both English Education and French. She was a member of the Mu Zeta Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta and completed her student teaching in an English classroom in Cameroon, Africa. Jennifer plans to teach English full-time in the Nashville area.
Part-Time Undergraduate Scholarship ($2,500)
	Kaycee Pancake University of Iowa Alpha Tau Iota Chapter Kaycee Pancake is a nontraditional student pursuing a B.A. in English with a minor in Educational Psychology while working full-time as a lead toddler teacher. Outside of work and school, she enjoys her community of fellow wordsmiths and literature enthusiasts in the Alpha Tau Iota Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta and is also a student leader at Campus Christian Fellowship. She plans to continue to pursue writing as a profession, but is learning to take it all in God’s time.
Summer Program Scholarship ($1,500 each)
	Kallista Kidd Oklahoma Christian University Rho Mu Chapter Kallista Kidd graduated in May 2015 from Oklahoma Christian University with a B.A. in English and a minor in Teaching English as a Foreign Language. She served as an officer for Sigma Tau Delta and as the Senior Editor of Soundings, a student literary and visual arts journal. She enjoys languages and traveled to Vienna, Austria, for 8 weeks of German language courses and immersion.
Alumni Epsilon Scholarship (up to $2,500)
Winner ($2,500)
	Tanya Schmidt Alumna of Santa Clara University Tanya Schmidt is an M.A. candidate in English at New York University. Her research interests include classical reception in the Renaissance, Shakespearean and other Elizabethan and Jacobean drama, and Milton's poetry and prose. She graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in English from Santa Clara University, where for two years she served as the Sigma Tau Delta Phi Phi Chapter President. She is grateful to stay involved with Sigma Tau Delta through the Alumni Epsilon Chapter.
Runner-up ($1,000)
	Rory Sellgren Alumnus of Alvernia University Rory (aka J.D.) Sellgren, is an alumnus of Alvernia University (Kappa Pi Chapter) where he graduated with a B.A. in English and Theology in 2005. He received his first M.A. in New Testament Theology from Claremont School of Theology in 2009, and received a second M.A. in Medieval Studies from the University of Leeds (UK) in 2010. Rory is currently working on a Ph.D. in Medieval Studies, with a focus on Christology and Dante's Divine Comedy, at the University of Leeds. After completing his Ph.D. he will pursue ordination through the United Methodist Church.