The Cornwell Prize for Excellence in Writing

Best-selling mystery writer and alumna Patricia Cornwell generously gives each entering class from one to four scholarships for promising writers in the amount of $20,000, renewable for four years. Cornwell Prize applicants submit samples of their writing along with their applications to the College; the English Department then selects from five to ten candidates to interview in the late spring. Ms. Cornwell, who participates in the interviewing, makes the final choices. Cornwell Scholarships ensure that each class of first-year students includes a core of already accomplished and ambitious writers who will provide leadership and creativity throughout their career at Davidson.

The Henry T. Lilly Endowment

The Henry T. Lilly Endowment for the Study of English, a living memorial to one of Davidson's great teachers, has been created by the Davidson Department of English as a source of permanent endowed funding for Davidson students.

The endowment enriches the majors' study of English in a variety of ways—by supporting speakers, making possible the development of programs for junior and senior majors, and offering recognition of and reward for outstanding performance in the major. The Lilly Endowment provides funds which can be used at the discretion of the English Department to supplement classroom instruction with a variety of opportunities for advanced study of English literary history, poetry, nonfiction, criticism, and drama, as well as for the exploration of current topics concerning the evolution of the English language:

• Study abroad grants which allow needy students to go to England for the College's summer session at the University of Cambridge.
• Funds to cover the cost of taking classes of students to plays, conferences, and other events which illuminate their studies, such as a trip for a seminar on Edith Wharton to her home in Massachusetts.
• A substantially increased endowment which will regularly bring widely recognized scholars, critics, and writers of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction to campus to speak, participate in classes and seminars, and critique student work.
• Research stipends which will be available to students in the Honors in English program, giving them the opportunity to spend time away from campus pursuing original research at museums, historical sites and archives.
• Support for the senior academic experience in the Senior Colloquium and recognition of seniors' accomplishments through events and awards.

The Davidson Summer Program at Cambridge

Need-based financial aid is available on a limited basis for study on the Cambridge Program.

Click here to go to Information on the Cambridge Program

Students who wish to apply for funds should see the Chair of the Department.