Scholarships, Awards, Prizes

The Classics Department offers a number of scholarships, awards, and other opportunities for continuing and new students. You can find details of current competitions and opportunities below. Applications for scholarships and grants are normally due early in the Spring semester every year, while competitions are held later in the semester.
The triumph of Marcus Aurelius.

Scholarships and Grants

Please apply by letter of application/intent to the Chair, Pamela Gordon (pgordon@ku.edu) by Monday March 10, 2025 unless otherwise noted below.

 

Classics Study Abroad Scholarships

For majors and graduate students in Classics participating in appropriate programs abroad involving Classics. Statement of purpose (100-200 words) and the name of one reference in the Classics Department required.

Emergency Grants

One-time awards for extraordinary circumstances. You may apply when needed.

Tenney Frank Incoming Student Scholarships

Merit-based scholarship of up to $1,000 awarded to entering Classics majors. High school seniors and transfer students are encouraged to apply. In addition to the application materials required by the Office of Admissions and Scholarships, the Classics department requires two letters of recommendation (sent directly to the Classics Department, ATTN: Tenney Frank Scholarships). For more information, please contact Professor Pamela Gordon (pgordon@ku.edu) or at 1-785-864-2395. 

Tenney Frank Graduate Fellowship

Merit-based award to support study for the Master of Arts in Classical Languages. This fellowship, which supplements the stipend offered to graduate teaching assistants, supports full-time graduate work in Greek or Latin. Teaching responsibilities are limited to one course or equivalent.

Oliver C. Phillips Scholarship

For students intent on teaching Latin at any level. Two letters of recommendation are required for the application.

Fanny Hughes Durham Award

For an undergraduate student to continue coursework in Ancient Greek. Eligible students are nominated by faculty.

Michael Shaw Scholarship

For students attending programs at the American School of Classical Studies at Athens. The name of one reference in the Classics Department is required.

Classics Book Scholarship

For majors enrolled in at least one Classics course, up to $500. Apply by Friday September 27 for Fall, or Friday February 28 for Spring.

Conference or Academic Travel Scholarships

We also offer awards to present a paper at a conference in the field. In general, this funding is available only to students who have exhausted other funding opportunities at KU. There is a rolling deadline in Classics, but please be aware of early deadlines at the College or University level.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships

Currently include a stipend of approximately $15,500 per academic year, plus full tuition waiver and health benefits (renewable). Applicants should also apply for other Scholarships and Fellowships at the University of Kansas. Our application materials include information about the other opportunities. 

Competitions and Prizes

The 2025 deadline for essay and prepared translation competitions is Monday April 7 at 11:59pm. Essays and prepared translations need to be uploaded to the Classics Competitions Canvas site by the deadline. Please follow the links below to find the essay questions and original Greek and Latin texts.

The unseen translation competitions will be offered during the week of Monday April 7.

If you would like to participate in any of the competitions, please email Paul Touyz (touyz@ku.edu) by Friday April 4 to get access to the Canvas site and/or to set a time to sit the unseen translations.

 

Hannah Oliver Latin Prize 

Handicapped unseen Latin translation, open to undergraduate majors.

Graduate Student Latin Prize

Unseen Latin translation, open to graduate students.

Sterling-Walker Prize in Greek

Handicapped unseen Greek translation, open to any student enrolled in a Greek course (undergraduate or graduate).

Albert O. Greef Prize

For a polished, literary translation of a passage of Greek or Latin. Open to any student enrolled in a Latin or Greek course. Students can compete in both Greek and Latin.

Submissions need to be uploaded to the Classics Competitions Canvas site by Monday April 7.

Click here to download further instructions along with the Latin and Greek texts.

Mildred Lord Greef Essay Award

Awarded to any undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in a Classics course for the best paper on a classical topic written since the beginning of the previous spring semester. Thesis chapters are not eligible. 

Essays should:

  • be double-spaced
  • have no identifying markers (headers or titles)

All essays will be judged anonymously.

Submissions need to be uploaded to the Classics Competitions Canvas site by Monday April 7.

Classics for Everyone Essay Contest

A writing competition on a topic announced every year in the Spring. All students are eligible.

For the 2025 competition, we invite submissions that creatively reimagine or respond to the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Submissions can take any form: e.g. essay, creative writing, visual art, performance, film, or audio recording.

  • Written submissions have a word limit of 2000 words and should be submitted in PDF format.
  • Video or audio recordings have a time limit of 5 minutes and should be submitted in MP3/4 format.
  • Visual art submissions must be saved/scanned/photographed and submitted in JPEG/PNG/GIF format.

All submissions will be judged anonymously.

Submissions need to be uploaded to the Classics Competitions Canvas site by Monday April 7.

Click here to read previous winning submissions.

Anthony Corbeill Award

For overall outstanding graduate student. Eligible students are nominated by faculty.

Austin Lashbrook Award

For overall contribution to the Classics department. Eligible students are nominated by faculty.