NYC English Writing Awards and Writers Festival Honors Student Excellence

Pace University’s English Department will host its annual Writing Awards Ceremony and Writers Festival, recognizing undergraduate excellence across creative writing, journalism, literary criticism, language and linguistics studies, and writing on film. The event serves as a formal showcase for students who have excelled in English and FSS major-level courses, highlighting the intersection of academic rigor and artistic expression within the university’s curriculum.

The ceremony honors the legacy of the department’s former faculty through a series of endowed awards. Distinguished alumni and current students will gather to celebrate recipients recognized for their contributions to literary criticism, film writing, and language studies. These awards are named in honor of Sarah H. Willis, Richard Gill, Gerard Cannon, James Rose, and Curtis Owens—figures who shaped the department’s pedagogical foundation.

Recognizing Excellence in Poetry and Social Justice

A central feature of the festival is the presentation of the David A. Bickimer Promise of Learnings / Academy of American Poets Prize. This award, established at Pace by the renowned poet John Ashbery, identifies an outstanding poet from the university’s annual poetry competition.

Beyond traditional literary awards, the university will also present the Kelly Herbert Writing Award. This honor is facilitated by the LGBTQA and Social Justice Center, reflecting an institutional commitment to recognizing writing that engages with themes of identity, equity, and social advocacy.

The Future of Student Media

The festival also functions as a platform for emerging voices in campus journalism and literature. Editors from APHROS, the university’s literary magazine, will present the publication’s newest issue during the proceedings. The event will conclude with readings from selected APHROS contributors, followed by a session featuring student and guest writers sharing their own work.

This festival highlights the transition from classroom theory to public presentation. By providing a venue for students to read their work alongside peers and guests, the department emphasizes the practical application of writing skills in professional and creative spheres.

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