Leland Prize
Lowell and Virginia Leland Literary Prize
2018 Submission Deadline: Friday, March 15, 2019
The Lowell and Virginia Leland Literary Prize is awarded each year to the best paper written by a University Writing Program student in response to the book selected for the Common Reading Experience. This page includes information on the 2018-19 common reading experience, the award application, and a summary of recent award recipients.
Bowling Green State University students are encouraged to read Adam Alter's Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked for the 2018-19 Common Reading Experience.
All students enrolled in a University Writing Program (currently GSW) course during the 2018-19 academic year are encouraged to submit a project composed in response to Irresistible to the Leland Prize contest. The submission deadline for the 2018 Leland Prize is Friday, March 15, 2019. The official call for submissions is available for download at the link below.
Winners of the Lowell and Virginia Leland Literary Prize include:
2017-18
Jalin McDonald, "Lost in Middle America: My Response to Hillbilly Elegy," The Importance of Asking Questions," written in response to Hillbilly Elegy by J. D. Vance. McDonald composed this project for a GSW course with instructor Barb Toth.
2016-17
Luke Moore, "The Importance of Asking Questions," written in response to A More Beautiful Question by Warren Berger. Moore composed this project for his GSW 1110 course with instructor Barb Toth.
2014-15
Jessica Fenik, "The Absence of a Father," written in response to The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore. Fenik composed this essay for her GSW 1110 course with instructor Cheryl Lachowski.
2013-14
Lindsey Hylen, "Attitude Is Key To Anything Physical," written in response to Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. Hylen composed this essay for her GSW 1110 course with instructor Cheryl Lachowski.
Updated: 11/24/2025 02:56PM