English Department::Keene State College

The Fred Fosher Excellence in Writing Award

This annual award was established in 2005 to acknowledge the inspired work of a student in any discipline who rises to the intellectual challenge of writing clear and purposeful expository prose. The award is made possible by the generous support of Bruce Levine Mellion and Linda Zucker Mellion . It honors the work of Professor Emeritus Fred Fosher, who taught English at Keene State College from 1967 until 1992. The recipient receives $1,000.00 and is personally recognized at the Spring Honors Convocation. Applicants may apply or be nominated by a faculty member and must be full-time matriculated students with junior or senior status.

The recipient of the second annual Fosher Award for Excellence in Writing is Steve Glidden. A native of Rochester, New Hampshire, Steve came to college considering a major in econmics and graphic arts. Economics seemed promising because one of his high school teachers suggested it, and he enjoyed graphic design. However, after taking some English classes, Steve found himself reading books he might not ever have picked up on his own. In addition, he decided that to become a decent writer he would need to take as many writing and literature courses as he could. And even though he reports never being fully comfortable in a group discussion, he is a careful listener and is actively engaged. "Literature," Steve writes, "is fun." Steve reads widely and counts among his favorite authors Haruki Murakami, George R.R. Martin, Stephen King, H.P. Lovecraft, William Faulkner, Willa Cather, Sir Thomas Malory, and T. S. Eliot. Steve's post-graduation goals include working in the publishing industry nd writing in his free time. He also hopes to work in the wrestling industry--maybe as a referee.

Each Spring semester the English department invites applications for the Battenfeld Award. For more information about the Fred Fosher Excellence in Writing Award, or an application and portfolio guidelines, please contact the department Chair, Dr. Mark C. Long, at 358.2695 or mlong@keene.edu.

Previous Award Winners:
2005 Sarah Spykman