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Saginaw Valley State University

English Department

Scholarships & Prizes for English Program Students

Seitz Creative Writing Scholarship

The English Department is proud to coordinate the annual Seitz Creative Writing Scholarship. The scholarship was created by Jim and Melissa Seitz to acknowledge excellence in the writing of poetry and/or fiction. A graduate of SVSU, Melissa Seitz is a retired member of the English Department much respected by her students and colleagues. The scholarship recipient typically receives $1,500 with the award split between the upcoming fall and winter semesters.

Deadline: March 1, 2026 | Chair: Tammy Migan |  Application Link (search keyword Seitz)

Seitz Creative Writing Scholarship Winners

First Year Writing Awards

The First Year Writing Awards showcase outstanding work by first year composition students in ENGL 080 and 111. Papers are judged by a committee comprised of the First Year Writing Coordinator and selected English Department faculty.

Deadline: February 27, 2026

FYW Award Winners (2018 – present)
Robert S.P. Yien FYW Award Winners (2013-2017)

The Tyner Prizes and Tyner-Roethke Award in Student Poetry

The Tyner Prizes and the Tyner-Roethke Award in Student Poetry recognize the best writing produced in English Department courses over the previous academic year. Read full description here.

Deadline: March 1, 2026  |  Chair: Tamara Migan

Tyner Prize Winners