When University alumnus Avery Hopwood wrote his will in 1922, he left one-fifth of his estate to promote and encourage University students' creative writing.
The contributions of Hopwood and others helped to implement the Hopwood Program, which awarded more than $50,000 to University students this year alone.
"The Hopwoods were established to give student writers not only the financial ability to continue with their writing but also to give them a sense of emotional encouragement," said Bich Minh Nguyen, an English graduate student and recipient of $4,750.
The panel of judges traditionally consists of nationally-known writers and distinguished University faculty who evaluate essay, fiction, poetry and drama/screenplay entries. This year 205 manuscripts were submitted for competition.
"The judges look for potential as well as achievement," said Andrea Beauchamp, Program Associate for the Hopwood Program.
According to Hopwood's will, all writers and styles of writing are welcome and "the new, the unusual, and the radical shall be especially encouraged."
Nguyen's winning entry in the major essay category is titled "The Heart of the Dragon" and recounts her family's sudden immigration to the United States in 1975 after the fall of Saigon. Nguyen, who has participated in the Hopwood competition since her sophomore year, also won the major poetry contest.
She said that in order to be a successful writer one must "write even when you don't feel like it" and truly love it. Nguyen, who is considering a teaching career in writing, said the Hopwood Program encourages her to keep writing, and "the sense of community that (the Hopwood Program) fosters is one of the main assets to the Master of Fine Arts Program."
In addition to the Avery and Jule Hopwood Awards in Creative Writing, the Hopwood Program also administers numerous fellowship competitions and writing contests to University students.
LSA sophomore Aric Knuth, the 1997 winner of the $1,200 Dennis McIntyre Prize for Distinction in Playwriting, said the entire Hopwood Program is "really amazing."
"It encourages people in the (writing) field and lets them know that what they are doing is being recognized by someone and that they should keep doing it," Knuth said.
Knuth, who was one of only three sophomores to win an award, said students should not feel discouraged about entering the Hopwood Program because of their age.
"Each new work is a stepping stone," Knuth said. "Just write about what you know. Writing in general is all about that little spark in someone. Write for yourself. And if you don't win a Hopwood, don't let it discourage you."
Each year a distinguished writer, often who is also a former Hopwood winner, delivers the keynote address at the awards ceremony. Philip Lavine, a Pulitzer Prize winning author, lectured at this year's ceremony.