Awards and Prizes
2026 prize applications deadline: March 15, 2026, 11:59 PM
application portal: apply here
application requirements: find details for each prize below
The KWH is proud to offer a number of prizes to help people complete creative projects. Do you have a cool creative project that needs a bit of funding? Are you trying to complete a manuscript this summer but also need to pay the rent? Do you have an event in mind for the KWH? Consider applying for a KWH prize! All applications require cover letter and project description; most also request a writing sample.
Creative Ventures Capital Prizes: $2000 budget to develop a creative project
Goldstein Prize: $2000 budget to support writing projects in any genre
Kerry Sherin Wright Prize: $1000 prize + $2000 project budget for a public event
Universe In Verse Prize: $5000 prize for poetic project involving science
Creative Ventures Capital Prizes: $2000
Is there something you want to do, make, build, or learn? The Creative Ventures Program provides budgets of up to $2000 for innovative, entrepreneurial, or interdisciplinary projects and ideas. Creative Ventures Capital Prizes have funded astrophotography, travel, furniture refurbishing, filmmaking, culinary exploration, glass etching, embroidery, archival research, and more. This prize is open to any currently enrolled student (including seniors and grad students).
To apply, please compile as one PDF:
- • a short cover letter briefly introducing yourself and your project, describing any relevant coursework or experiences that prepare you to undertake your project;
- • a short but detailed one- to two-page proposal that describes a creative project you hope to complete in the coming year. (What is the project in a nutshell? What do you hope to learn or accomplish? What's at stake for you in this project?);
- • an estimate of all costs associated with the project;
- • (optional) writing or other relevant work sample, no longer than 10 pages.
Goldstein Prize: $2000
Do you need a financial cushion to support a writing project you want to work on this summer or next year? The Goldstein Prize is a "writing scholarship" intended to afford you some time to write. Prize awarded on the merits of proposed project; preference for award is given to students with demonstrated financial need. This prize is open to any currently enrolled student (including seniors and grad students).
To apply, please compile as one PDF:
- • a cover letter briefly introducing yourself and your project, describing any relevant coursework or experiences that prepare you to undertake your project;
- • a short but detailed one- to two-page proposal that describes your proposed writing project. (What is the project in a nutshell? What’s at stake for you? How does this writing project relate to your writing goals?);
- • a short, informal description of your financial need, no longer than a page;
- • a writing sample, no longer than 10 pages.
The Kerry Sherin Wright Prize: $1000 for you, $2000 for project
Do you have an idea for a public event or other project to take place at the KWH next academic year? Named for Kerry Sherin Wright, the first director of the Writers House, the Kerry Prize funds proposals that match Kerry's vision for this space: intellectually open events and projects that celebrate writing and take advantage of KWH as a community gathering space for writers and artists. Kerry Prize programs and projects have included readings by visiting authors, reading/writing clubs, art installations, conversations and panel discussions, and other gatherings. This prize is open to any member of the KWH community.
To apply, please compile as one PDF:
- • a cover letter introducing yourself. (How has the KWH been part of your Penn life? What KWH events have most inspired you?);
- • a short but detailed one- to two-page proposal that describes an event or other project you hope to enact in the coming academic year. (Is there a writer you want to invite? Explain why! Do you have an idea for an event that’s perfect for KWH? Describe it! Are you hoping to start a club but need a bit of funding to get it going? What’s the plan?);
- • an estimate of all costs associated with your event / project.
Universe In Verse Prize: $5000
Do you have a project that combines scientific and poetic exploration? Open to currently enrolled Penn students, the Universe in Verse Prize encourages the writing of poetry that engages with science. Applicants should propose to undertake or complete a poetic project that connects with science — its discoveries, its human histories, its processes — or with scientific thinking.
To apply, please compile as one PDF:
- • a short cover letter briefly introducing yourself and your proposed project, describing any relevant coursework or experiences that prepare you to undertake your project;
- • a short but detailed two-page proposal that describes a poetry writing project that you propose to undertake. (How will your project engage scientific discovery, history, or process? In what ways do you expect poetic and scientific concerns to intersect through your work? When do you plan to complete this work?);
- • a writing sample, no longer than 10 pages.
