Prizes
General
Summer Travel/Study for Sophomores and Juniors
Application Deadline: Extended – Wednesday, April 1, 2026
Description of the Grant
The Dressler Family Traveling Grant was established thanks to a gift from Dr. and Mrs. Robert E. Dressler. Open to sophomores and juniors only, it is for the purpose of travel and study in a country where a Romance language is spoken (e.g. France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Romania, and Latin America). The Dressler Grant is to be awarded at the discretion of the Chair of the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, based on the recommendation of a selection committee. The purpose of the grant is to afford students who have completed at least one course in Romance Languages and Literatures at Harvard the opportunity to travel and study in these countries in order to further their understanding of language, literature, politics, history, culture, etc. Financial need is a requirement for application.
Eligibility Requirements
- Only current sophomores and juniors at Harvard College may apply.
- Students must have completed at least one course in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures (any level) at the time of application.
- Students must currently be recipients of financial aid.
The grant may only be used for summer travel/study.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many grants are awarded per year?
Normally, only one grant is awarded each year. On occasion, two grants are awarded.
What is the selection committee looking for?
It is impossible to provide an exact recipe for a "winning project." Past recipients of the Dressler grant have conducted research on extremely different subjects in a wide variety of destinations. For instance, one grant winner traveled to Peru in order to study the interaction of native and European traditions in local religious festivals; another traveled throughout Italy to explore the influence that the great 19th-century composer Giuseppe Verdi still exerts over Italian popular culture. As you can see from these two examples, Dressler grant recipients typically perform on-site field research, experience direct cultural contact with local populations, and conduct their daily activities exclusively in the target language. They could not have brought their projects to fruition within the confines of a library, either at Harvard University or anywhere else.
How should I write the proposal?
State your research goal as clearly and precisely as possible. What exact steps do you intend to take while abroad towards achieving your desired end? You may also wish to describe whatever research you have already conducted on your subject, and how a trip abroad is essential to pursuing your goal.
How many applicants are there each year?
This information varies so much from year to year that it is impossible to predict the number of applicants in a given year.
Application Instructions
Please apply through CARAT, Harvard's common application process.
Questions? Please contact Cathy Downey.
This prize recognizes the best senior thesis on the topic of ethnicity, human rights, indigeneity, or migration. Individual professors, departments, or concentrations may nominate candidates, or candidates may nominate their own thesis. For further information, please contact the Committee on Ethnicity, Migration, Rights.
French
Application Deadline: Extended – Wednesday, April 1, 2026
The French section of the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, based on the recommendation of a selection committee, will give support to a restricted number of Harvard undergraduates who wish to pursue summer study, research, or internships in France. Grant monies are awarded based on financial need and merit. Maximum grant amount per student is $2,500 (two thousand and five hundred dollars). Preference is given to concentrators in Romance Languages and Literatures and students attending Harvard's summer program in Paris.
Eligibility Requirements
- Students must be in good academic standing at Harvard.
- Students must be recipients of financial aid from Harvard College.
- The grant may only be used for summer travel or study to France.
Application Instructions
Please apply through CARAT, Harvard's common application process.
Jeremy Belknap Prize for Best Writing in French by a First-Year Student
Submission Deadline: TBA
By the gift of Philippe Belknap Marcou, of the Class of 1876, the Jeremy Belknap Prize Fund was established. The prize is awarded for the best writing sample in French completed for a course offered by the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures during the academic year.
- Prize is open to current first-year students only.
- Essay must have been written for a course offered by the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures this academic year.
- Students must have had no previous immersion in the French languages, such as living for an extended period in a French-speaking country or living in a household where French is spoken.
- Writing sample may be of any length and may concern any topic but must be non-fictional in nature: literature, film, culture, history, etc.
- Submit graded work with instructor’s comments. If there is more than one draft, please include all drafts.
- You may not approach anyone for additional assistance with your submission.
- You may submit a maximum of two separate essays.
- A selection committee awards the prize of $500
Please submit your essay(s) electronically as a .pdf to Cathy Downey with the subject header, "Jeremy Belknap Prize Essay(s)"
Italian
Overview:
The Diaco Prize for Best Composition in Italian is awarded annually to recognize outstanding undergraduate work in Italian composition at Harvard University. This prestigious prize, funded at $5,000 per year, aims to encourage and celebrate excellence in Italian language and literature among students who have completed their studies in Italian through a citation, secondary field, or concentration.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Nick Diaco (Class of 2004) and the Diaco family for their generous support of this prize in honor of the family patriarch Teodoro Raffaele Diaco, who emigrated to the United States from Calabria in 1920 after serving in the first world war. Their commitment to fostering a love for the Italian language and culture among students reflects a profound appreciation for the arts and education. This prize not only honors exceptional student work but also serves as a testament to the Diaco family’s dedication to nurturing future generations of students who cherish and celebrate Italian language and culture.
Eligibility:
To be eligible for the Diaco Prize, applicants must:
• Be an undergraduate student in good standing at Harvard University.
• Have completed or be on track to complete by the end of Spring term the study of Italian through a citation, secondary field, or concentration.
• Submit an original composition in Italian that demonstrates creativity, linguistic proficiency, and an understanding of Italian culture.
Submission Guidelines:
Proposals must include:
1. Original Composition: A piece of writing in Italian (e.g., essay, short story, poem) – minimum 1000 words and not exceeding 2,500 words – or a multimodal composition (e.g., video, digital storytelling) not exceeding 10 minutes in length, all in Italian.
2. Cover Letter: A brief letter, in English or Italian, introducing yourself, your contact information, your course of study, and your interest in the Italian language and culture.
3. Statement of Purpose: A one-page introduction to your submission, in English or Italian,explaining the inspiration behind your composition, the themes explored, and its significance in the context of your studies in Italian.
4. Eligibility Verification: A document verifying your completion of the required Italian studies (e.g., transcript or confirmation from your advisor).
Honor code
All submissions must adhere to Harvard University’s Honor Code, which prohibits the use of artificial intelligence, online translation tools, or collaborative work in the creation of your composition. Each applicant is required to certify that their submission is entirely their own original work. This ensures the integrity of the prize and upholds the academic values of originality and authenticity.
Use of Funds:
The recipient of the Diaco Prize is expected to use the $5,000 award to travel to Italy, experiencing the culture and language firsthand. Upon returning, the recipient will write a thank-you letter to the Diaco family, sharing insights from their Italian journey.
Submission Process:
• All materials should be submitted electronically as a single PDF file to Dr. Chiara Trebaiocchi (ctrebaiocchi@fas.harvard.edu) by Wednesday, April 1st, 2026
• Late submissions will not be considered.
Evaluation Criteria:
Submissions will be evaluated based on:
• Creativity and Originality: Uniqueness of the composition and effective use of the Italian language.
• Language Proficiency: Command of Italian grammar, vocabulary, and stylistic elements.
• Cultural and Literary Engagement: Depth of engagement with Italian culture and language.
Award Committee:
• Nicholas and Miriam Diaco
• Chiara Trebaiocchi, Senior Preceptor and Coordinator of the Italian Language Program, Harvard University
• Elvira Di Fabio, Honorary Associate of Romance Languages and Literatures, Harvard University
Award Announcement:
The recipient of the Diaco Prize will be announced at a celebratory Italian merenda in Boylston Hall on April 22, 2026, at the end of the Spring term, and might be invited to present their work to students in the Italian language courses.
For inquiries, please contact Dr. Chiara Trebaiocchi, ctrebaiocchi@fas.harvard.edu
Important Requirement for Prize Recipient
Students who receive the award after their time abroad must send a letter of appreciation (in English) to Mr. and Mrs. Diaco no later than August 30, 2026. A copy of the same letter should also be sent via email to Nicholas Diaco. More information will be sent directly to prize recipient.
We look forward to your submissions and celebrating the remarkable talents of our undergraduate students in Italian studies!
Application Deadline: Wednesday, April 1st, 2026
Open to all Harvard undergraduates interested in summer study in Italy. The Italian section of the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures has received a generous gift from the Diaco family, honoring the memory of Teodoro Raffaele Diaco, to support Harvard College undergraduates who wish to conduct summer study in Italy, in Italian. Since Mr. Diaco was from Calabria, his family has stipulated thatpreference be given to support Harvard students studying in Calabria, Italy, though a number of grants have been awarded to students engaged in Italian language study elsewhere in Italy. The grant monies are awarded based on financial need (primary) and merit. Winner(s) will be required to write a brief letter to the Diaco family describing their experience in Italy.
Please apply through CARAT.
The Dante Society of America offers a prize for the best essay on a subject related to the life or works of Dante written by an undergraduate student or by anyone not enrolled as a graduate student who has received the degree of A.B. or its equivalent within the past year. Essays should be submitted to the Dante Society of America by the deadline. Inquiries concerning this prize may be addressed to the Secretary of the Dante Society of America.
The Patterson Fellowship is in memoriam to John Thomas Patterson and is intended to inspire the Harvard community to share John’s love for travel and for Italy. In his lifetime, John led bicycling tours through Europe and traveled with his friends. Together, they visited museums, historical sights, and restaurants. Inevitably, his students and friends acquired his enthusiasm for the places they visited. John was a demanding tour guide, eager to teach others the value and beauty of another culture. Of all the places he traveled, he loved Italy best.
As a law student and a graduate student in legal history, John was the head teaching fellow for several Harvard courses and a tutor in Mather House. A generation of undergraduates admired him for his intellect and his wisdom. John lived with AIDS for seven years and died on October 9, 1997. In 1998, his family and friends established this fellowship in his memory.
The award is intended to introduce Italy to a student who has little familiarity with the country. Applicants should propose a trip that would be intellectually purposeful and personally enriching, but it need not contribute in any way to an academic project. The award is for travel that would not otherwise have happened, rather than for funding travel that the student would have undertaken anyway.
Funding and application details found here.
Portuguese
The Cecília Meireles Prize is awarded annually for the best paper about Brazilian culture or literature and comes with a prize of $100.
Requirements
- Open to undergraduates only
- Paper must have been submitted as a requirement for a course offered by the Department of Romance Languages & Literatures
- Paper must be written in Portuguese and must be about Brazilian culture or literature
- Minimum of 3 pages
- Student’s name should not appear on the essay
- Include your full name and contact information in the email you send
Deadline for submission: TBA
Please email your submission(s) to Cathy Downey.
The Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen Prize is awarded annually for the best paper about Portuguese culture or literature and comes with a prize of $100.
Requirements
- Open to undergraduates only
- Paper must have been submitted as a requirement for a course offered by the Department of Romance Languages & Literatures
- Paper must be written in Portuguese and must be on a topic related to Portuguese culture or literature
- Minimum of 3 pages
- Student’s name should not appear on the essay
- Include your full name and contact information in the email you send
Deadline for submission: TBA
Please email your submission(s) to Cathy Downey.
This prize was established to recognize the best Harvard College senior thesis on a subject related to Brazil. Candidates may be nominated by their department, concentration or instructional committee, or candidates may nominate their own theses. This annual prize is funded by a gift to DRCLAS from Professor Kenneth Maxwell. The winner is determined in late May and announced at the DRCLAS Certificate Ceremony during Commencement Week. This prize carries a monetary award of $500.
For more information, including instructions on how to submit a nomination, please see the DRCLAS website.
Spanish
From the bequest of Francis Sales, A.M. 1835, a prize is offered to the best student in Spanish "who shall have commenced the study of that language at Harvard College and whose scholarship shall be determined by his proficiency in Spanish composition." The competition is open to undergraduates only.
Students have one hour to write an essay in Spanish on a topic distributed at the moment of the competition. No aids may be used. A selection committee awards the prize of $500. Students in all levels of Spanish are welcome.
Eligibility: Students MUST have begun their study of Spanish here at Harvard in Spanish 10 or Spanish 15.
Please contact Cathy Downey to sign up for the competition.
Application Deadline: TBA
These prizes were instituted in 1908 by Professor Murray Anthony Potter in memory of his mother, Susan Anthony Potter, and endowed in 1957 through a bequest of his wife, Bessie Lincoln Potter. In Romance Languages and Literatures, two prizes are offered for the best essays on a subject dealing with Spanish literature of the Golden Age, i.e. Spanish and Hispanic American literature from 1492 to 1700: a first prize and a second prize. The competition is open to undergraduates in Harvard College.
Awarded annually for the best essay on Spanish Literature of the Golden Age, two monetary awards will be given.
Essays may be of any length.
- Each student may submit up to two essays.
- Essays must treat Spanish or Spanish-American literature from 1492 through 1700.
- Prizes: First Place $2500, Second Place $1250
Please submit essays to Cathy Downey.
The Joan Morthland Hutchins Thesis Prize is awarded to recognize the Harvard College senior who writes the best thesis on a subject concerning Latinos (either recent immigrants or established communities of Latin American descent in the United States). It was established by gift from Joan Morthland Hutchins. Candidates may be nominated by their department, concentration, instructional committee, or they may nominate their own theses. The winner is determined in late May, and announced at the DRCLAS Certificate Ceremony held on the Wednesday before Commencement. This prize carries a monetary award.
For more information, please consult the DRCLAS website.