Established by the Ledfords in April 1993 and is an annual cash award. Robert Ledford was the president of Ledford Associates, Inc. He passed away in September 2010. Their daughter, Angie Ledford Hutchison, graduated from JMU in 1994 with a B.A. in English.

Established in 2015, in memory of her grandmother, by Cheryl (“Cherie”) Myers Warfield, ’85 alumna and legacy parent who serves on the James Madison University Parent’s Council. Ms. Warfield has made provisions to permanently endow this scholarship through her estate. The scholarship is intended to recognize and support the intellectual spark in an exceptional junior or senior English major.

Awarded, during the spring semester for use in the subsequent academic year, by the faculty in the Department of English to a rising sophomore or junior who has demonstrated excellence in the study of the English language and linguistics or of literature written in the English language. This is an annual cash award.

Established February 2018 by John, Linda and the Taschek family to support an English major with a 3.3 or above overall GPA who has completed at least three English courses.

Established in Say’s memory, provides an annual cash award to a rising junior or senior English major.

Provides an annual cash award to an eligible English major. This scholarship was established in 2010 with a gift from the estate of Flora Morris, a graduate of the class of 1943.

Established in 2017, is awarded in honor of Mark Facknitz, a Professor of English at JMU for 34 years. Dr. Facknitz earned a BA in French from Lawrence University, an MFA from the Writer’s Workshop, University of Iowa, and a Ph.D. from the University of New Mexico. He taught creative writing, twentieth century American and British Literature, and Critical Theory. He was deeply committed to teaching English 299: Writing about Literature, the gateway course to the English major, which prepares students to read, write, and research in the field.

An endowed scholarship established by Michael Szymanski (’77) in honor of Professor Emerita Joan Frederick. Mr. Szymanski has described Professor Frederick as a professor who had three amazing attributes. She clearly loved educating and challenging students, she had a vast knowledge of literature which she shared, and her office door was always open for pleasant conversation, coursework or otherwise. He appreciated her insight, both academically and personally, and has never forgotten the encouragement and kindness she showed him. Professor Frederick helped nurture his love of English and writing, both skills he uses in his business and personal life. 

Established in 2018 in memory of Sandra Hepp Eagle, a JMU graduate (’62, ’80) and a longtime member of the English Department faculty. The scholarship is awarded to a “deserving” Junior or Senior English major with a GPA of 3.0 or greater; it is renewable for a Junior if the recipient continues to meet the criteria.  Sandra’s mother, Rita Hepp Hawley has made provisions to permanently endow this scholarship in her estate plans. 

An endowed scholarship established by Professor Emerita Jean Wampler Cash. This scholarship will provide financial resources annually to one or more outstanding undergraduate junior or senior scholars who demonstrate exceptional achievement in the study of Southern Literature.