The Mountain Heritage Literary Festival
June 13-15, 2008

The Earl Hamner Scholarships

At the Mountain Heritage Literary Festival, we believe that the best writers of the region include those who are unknown, unpublished, and maybe even unaware of their own talent. That’s why we hope to foster new writers at our annual gathering. One way we’re doing that is by establishing the Earl Hamner Scholarships for the festival. Beginning this year, we will be offering two all-expenses paid scholarships to two writers.

Application is easy. Just write a short essay (1-2 pages) about why you want to come to the Mountain Heritage Literary Festival. There is no need to explain why you need financial assistance but we do ask that only those who apply be writers who find the festival difficult to afford. That way we’re sure to be encouraging talent that might not otherwise be able to attend such gatherings. Please be sure to include your name, email address, full address, and phone number. Send essays to Earl Hamner Scholarships, Lincoln Memorial University, Attn: Silas House, 6965 Cumberland Gap Parkway, Harrogate, TN 37752. To save paper, we are also accepting essays via email. Send those to Silas House at silas.house@lmunet.edu. Requests for scholarships must be received by May 1, 2008. Decisions will be made by that day and the winners will be contacted by May 5, 2008. If you have not heard from us by then you can assume that you should try again next year.

We’ve named our scholarships after Earl Hamner, Jr. because of his generosity and unfailing support to the Mountain Heritage Literary Festival. Mr. Hamner is the author of such classic books as Spencer’s Mountain, The Homecoming, and Fifty Roads to Town, and is the creator of one of the world’s best-loved television series, The Waltons. A native of Schulyer, Virginia, Mr. Hamner was our 2007 keynote speaker and is a great example of the spirit of kindness that exists in Appalachia.

Lincoln Memorial University
Cumberland Gap Parkway
P.O. Box 2005
Harrogate, TN 37752

Phone:
423.869.6432 or 800.325.0900, ext. 6432

Silas House presents Earl Hamner, Jr. with the first annual Lee Smith Award, which goes to an Appalachian who has gone above and beyond the call of duty in properly representing the region of Appalachia.

Earl Hamner signs a copy of his classic novel, The Homecoming at the 2007 Mountain Heritage Literary Festival.