The Sebastian Herbstein Memorial Scholarship in Fiction Writing will be awarded to an undergraduate student engaged in any major or discipline of study at the University of Maryland who shares Sebastian’s passion for fiction writing and excellence in storytelling.

Two cash prizes, $1,000 for first prize and $600 for second prize, will be awarded for works of short fiction of 5,000 words or less. At the discretion of the judges, an honorable mention might also be recognized. In accepting the award, the recipients will provide information on how the monetary prize will be used in pursuit of creative writing. The winning pieces will be posted on the Sebastian Herbstein Memorial Award Website, together with a photograph and short bio of the winners. The award winners may list the honor in her or his resumes. Learn more about the Herbstein scholarship here.

The 2023-24 application is now open. Click here to apply. Applications are due by Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 5 PM.

Questions regarding the scholarships or the application process can be directed to bsos-scholarships@umd.edu. Please include “Herbstein Scholarship” in the subject line when sending an e-mail inquiry.