Department Awards
The Department of English awards the Van Doren, Ledbetter, and Koa-Plumeria Literary Prizes annually. These prize opportunities available to all majors.
Mark Van Doren Prize for Poetry
The annual Mark Van Doren Poetry Prize ($1000) was first awarded in 1972. The prize became an endowed scholarship through the donations of poet Mark Van Doren’s sons, John and Charles Van Doren. Submit three to five poems for consideration.
Ledbetter Prize
The Ledbetter Prize ($500), made possible through the donation of Dr. Jack Ledbetter, is given annually to a Cal Lutheran student for the best written work in literary prose (fiction, nonfiction, and drama). One submission with a 3,000 word limit.
Koa-Plumeria Prizes
The Koa-Plumeria Prizes (presented by John PM Dillon) includes a $500 prize for the best ENGL-111 Prose Composition and $500 for the best Morning Glory literary submission.
Sigmar Schwarz Prize
The Sigmar Schwarz Prize ($100) was first awarded in 2017 and is given to the student with the best submission for a literary criticism paper.
Submission Guidelines
Submission Deadline: March 22th, 2024.
- Submit all works to englishda@CalLutheran.edu
- When sending in submissions, be sure to send your information from a callutheran.edu email, and specify which prize you are competing for in the subject line.
- If you have any questions, please email englishda@CalLutheran.edu.
Award Winners
2023
Mark Van Doren Poetry Prize - Tenchi Wells
Ledbetter Prize - Cecilia Lopez
Koa Prize - Justin Duverge
Plumeria Prize - Chandler Russell
2022
Mark Van Doren Poetry Prize - Angelina Leaños
Ledbetter Prize - Isabella Dephillipo
Koa Prize -
ENGL 110
Winner: Lindsey Titus
Runner up: Smitha Janet Joseph
ENGL 111
Winner: Justin Stanziano
Sigmar Schwartz - Patrick Lewis
Plumeria Prize - Zoe Monge
2021
(awards were paused in 2021 due to pandemic)
2020
Mark Van Doren Poetry Prize - Amelia (Lee) Cassidy
Ledbetter Prize - Riley Civerolo-Douglas
Koa Prize - Carrollyne Aasen
Sigmar Schwartz - Nyle de Leon
Plumeria Prize - Amelia (“Lee”) Cassidy
2019
Mark Van Doren Poetry Prize - Donaldo Lopez
Ledbetter Prize - Ellie Long
Koa Prize - Cole Comer
Plumeria Prize - Ellie Long
2018
Mark Van Doren Poetry Prize - Samantha Meyer
Ledbetter Prize - Garrett James Wyatt
Koa Prize - Isabella Breda
Plumeria Prize - Cassandra Jarin
2017
Mark Van Doren Poetry Prize - Imanya Supancic
Ledbetter Prize - Kayla Gibfried
Koa Prize - Julia Garcia
Plumeria Prize - Cassandra Jarin
Sigmar Schwarz Prize - Henry Studebaker