James Ballowe Personal Essay Prizes are awarded to undergraduate or graduate students whose personal essays are judged by a committee of the Department of English to satisfy the criteria of originality and quality of style and content. The personal essay is a type of creative non-fiction, ranging from autobiography to first-person commentary on contemporary and historical events. The essay is limited to 3000 of the writer's own words. Quotations do not count in the total. 

Eligibility is limited to students who are pursuing a degree at Bradley University. 

The personal essay is a type of creative nonfiction, ranging from autobiography to first person commentary on nature, culture, contemporary or historical events. Creative nonfiction is often called a new “genre” because of the attempt to use the techniques of fiction (characterization, setting, dialogue, narration) for writing about real life, factual subjects. Well received books in this category include Natural History of the Senses by Diane Ackerman, Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junker, Arctic Dreams by Barry Lopez, and Pencil: A History of Design and Circumstance by Henry Petroski,, The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion, Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Galdwell, autobiographies and memoirs are included in this category.

2006-07 contest winners:
FIRST PRIZE:  $500
“Fish Sauce and Onion Grease” by Bailey Shaw
SECOND PRIZE: $250
"Summer Camp" by Lisa Stout 
THIRD PRIZE: $50
“Loop Your Letters or Die” by Matthew Shramm
THIRD PRIZE: $50
“The Perfect Still” by Ben Sparks

2005-2006 Prize Winners
First Prize:  $500 Myself Through Food by Abigail Feucht
Second Prize: $250 Woes of a Flat-chested English Major by Stephanie Mader 

2004-2005 First Prize:  $500  David VonBehren, “Angels.”
Second Prize: $250 James O’Connor, “Snoring Comma Rabbits.” Honorable Mention:
Cathy Buckingham: "My Son-the 10th Mountain Commando." 
Lyndsey Ronfeldt:   "Simply." 
Matthew Anderson: "Fish Out of Water."

2003-2004 FIRST PRIZE:  $500 Laurie McBride, graduate student, English “Baby Blues” 
SECOND PRIZE:$250 Sara Barfield, graduate student, English “Transplant Shock and the Letter ‘J’” 
Honorable Mentions: “Converstations with the Dead”by Kurt Ashton Wagner, Psychology Major
“Finding My Stories” by Lyndsey Ronfeldt,  English Major
“We Could Have Traded Pants” By Anna Crilly, English Major 
“Nighttime Realities” by Brian McMurray, Multimedia Major

2002-2003 First Prize Winner: William D. Mayo's "Indelible Marks--A Legacy in Letters" The judges also chose the following essayists to receive Honorable Mention certificates: 
"How to Become a Pray-er with Apologies to Lori Moore." by Barbara Love 
"My New York." by Maria King 
"Life Lessons." by Kara Chavez 
"Dear Mom, Thank You For My Underprivileged Childhood." by Matthew Crain 
"Live from Peoria." by Laurie McBride
2001-2002 Ballowe Personal Essay Prize winners
$500 First Prize: Sarah Wright, "Trading Spaces"
$250 Second Prize: Maria King, All-American Funny Man
 2000-2001 First Prize "Passing" by Kate Grimaldi Second Prize "A Touch of Sentimentality" by Vanessa Hall 
 1999-2001 First Prize"A Tender Squalor" by Vanessa Hall. 
Second Prize "My Next Life: Personal Reflections Dealing with Reincarnation, Strippers, and Cupcakes" by Matt Sheppo 
Honorable Mention: Lee Mather "Communions"; Jennifer Orr "Parental Guidance Required" Sarah Wright "Waltzing with Walden"
1998-1999 the Ballowe Prize winner Lisa Beliveau: Restoration
Jeff DeLaRosa: A Technophobic Confession-- 
Lee Mather:Like So Many Feathers in an Eagle's Wing.