For Graduate Student Presenters at the WLA Annual Conference

These awards honor Louis Owens for his contributions to western American and American Indian literary studies, and for his unfailing generosity as a colleague, teacher, and mentor. The primary goal of the Louis Owens Awards is to build for the future of the Western Literature Association by encouraging diverse graduate student participation at the annual conference through assistance with conference-related expenses including travel and accommodation. While these awards are intended to foster greater cultural diversity within the WLA membership, they are also intended to help broaden—as Louis Owens did—the field of western American literary studies. Therefore, while preference will be given to graduate students who are members of cultural groups currently underrepresented within the WLA—including African Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, Arab Americans, and Chicano/a Americans—these awards are also open to graduate students of ALL cultural backgrounds.

The prize will consist of a combination of a cash award, free accommodation at the conference hotel, and a ticket to the conference banquet. The total value of the prize is approximately $750. To be eligible for this award, applicants must be registered as graduate students at the time of the conference. To apply, please submit the following materials to the address specified on the application form:

1. A completed application form.

2. A line-item budget.

3. A 250-word abstract of the paper that the candidate proposes to deliver at the WLA annual conference. The paper must be no more than 20 minutes in length. (Please do not send a complete essay with this application.)

4. One letter of reference from a professor who is familiar with the candidate’s work. This letter should comment on the merits of both the candidate and the proposal, and should discuss how the candidate’s presence at the conference will further the goals of the Louis Owens Awards as described above. The letter may be included with the application in a sealed envelope signed by the referee, or it may be sent directly by the referee to the WLA President.

If you are interested in applying for this award, submit a paper proposal for participation in the conference by June 15. If your paper is accepted, you can then submit the above-mentioned award application materials by August 9.

Please see conference details here. If you have any questions regarding the 2008 Owens Award, please contact the Co-presidents Nicolas Witschi and Karen Ramirez.