This annual award celebrates outstanding student work in the field of cultural food traditions, recognizing excellence in original research and writing. It is open to undergraduate and graduate students at accredited institutions who submit an unpublished essay or research paper that explores foodways through a folkloric lens, typically ranging from around 1,500 to 9,000 words.
Eligible applicants must be currently enrolled and may include those pursuing ethnographic fieldwork or archival research related to food culture. Submissions should reflect strong analytical depth, cultural sensitivity, and engaging storytelling—a compelling blend of scholarship and narrative .
The submission process requires a single essay file (Word format), including title and author identification, and may include supplementary images if relevant. There is no fee to apply. All entries must be original, unpublished, and received by the mid-March deadline—typically around March 15.
Submissions are reviewed by a panel of experts who evaluate based on criteria such as cultural awareness, interpretive insight, writing quality, and contribution to foodways scholarship (americanfolkloresociety.org). Winners are notified by the end of March.
This opportunity is ideal for emerging scholars in folklife and food studies looking to gain recognition, receive publication, and connect with a wider scholarly community. It supports thoughtful, research-driven work that explores the meaning and social dimensions of food traditions.
