The Donald E. Barnett Essay Awards

Each year, the English Department recognizes excellent writing in English 1101 and 1102 by presenting three Barnett Awards. Named in honor of Donald E. Barnett, who directed the Freshman English Program for many years, the awards consist of cash prizes and publication of the winning essays on our website. Below are links to the Barnett Award-winning essays from recent years.

2024 Barnett Essays

• Homeowners Associations: Facilitating Segregation in the Modern American South by Vivian Poley

2023 Barnett Essays

• Franny Choi’s Criticisms of U.S. Capitalism and Imperialism in Soft Science by Maristella Tuazon

2022 Barnett Essays

• Russia's Third Reich by Will Sumner
• Communicating Emotion: Identity Formation in Native Guard and The Things They Carried by Torin Smith

2021 Barnett Essays

• Loving Your Mother and Her Earth by Helen Sorme

2019-2020 Barnett Essays

• Quackery in India by Shiva Byroju
• Technology as a Parent by Juliana Lutz