Essay Prizes: Submissions due May 2026
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Students are encouraged to participate in the Division of Literatures, Cultures, and Languages Academic Prize and Department Awards! Below is the form link for both students to submit their work and instructors to submit on a student’s behalf.
All submissions are due Friday May 8, 2026, by 5:00pm PDT.
* Before beginning, please make sure the student author's name is removed from the essay document to ensure fair judging. Sign into your Stanford account before clicking the link.
Submission form for DLCL Undergraduate Academic Prizes / Department Awards
Submission form for DLCL Graduate Academic Prizes / Department Awards
Undergraduate Awards List
The Herbert Lindenberger Prize for an Essay in Comparative Literature
Ralph M. Hester Prize and Laurence C. Franklin Prize: First-Year French (FRENLANG 1 through 2A)
Ralph M. Hester Prize and Laurence C. Franklin Prize: Second-Year French (FRENLANG 21-22-23)
Ralph M. Hester Prize and Laurence C. Franklin Prize: Advanced French I (FRENLANG 124)
Ralph M. Hester Prize and Laurence C. Franklin Prize: Advanced French I (FRENCH 120 - 130)
Ralph M. Hester Prize and Laurence C. Franklin Prize: Advanced French II (FRENCH 140 and above)
The Stanford Club of Germany Undergraduate Best Essay Award
The Stanford Club of Germany Best First-Year Language Student
Iberian and Latin American Cultures Outstanding Undergraduate Essay
Iberian and Latin American Cultures Spanish Language Essay
Paul Roberts and Nina Marton Prize for Italian Literature Essay written in Italian
Paul Roberts and Nina Marton Prize for Italian Literature Essay written in English
Galina Leytes Prize in Slavic Studies
Undergraduate Prizes Eligibility
- Papers written by undergraduate students and turned in as coursework for DLCL and Language Center courses during for Spring 2025 - Spring 2026.
- Cross-listed courses are allowed only if it was taught by a DLCL-affiliated instructor.
- Co-terms with open UG degree programs may submit papers for undergraduate or 200-level courses.
- Instructors are also encouraged to nominate student papers using the form at the link above.
- *FRENCH and FRENLANG papers should have the instructor's comments included, if given.
Graduate Awards List
The Stanford Club of Germany Best First-Year Graduate Essay
The Stanford Club of Germany Best Graduate Essay Award
Graduate Prizes Eligibility
- German prizes are for German Studies graduate students, and the paper must have been for a 300-level GERMAN class.
Generally, papers written in a language of the program (if relevant) will be given higher consideration than papers written in English. Creative works (prose, poetry) can be submitted if they meet the coursework requirements above.
If you have questions or difficulties submitting via the form, please email the Student Services Officer, kyra.wells [at] stanford.edu (Kyra Wells), or see the FAQ page here.
Submissions will not be accepted by email or in-person. Winners will be posted on the H&S website prior to Commencement.