The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences is pleased to announce the 2022 winners of the Herbstein Scholarship in Fiction Writing, Gwendolyn Griffiths and Emily Kasprzyk.

The Sebastian Herbstein Memorial Scholarship in Fiction Writing was established in 2012 by Judith Freidenberg, Sebastian’s mother, a professor in the Department of Anthropology.

The scholarship is awarded in memory of Sebastian, a young aspiring fiction writer, a 1996 graduate of Colby College and a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity, who passed away June 20, 2002. The BSOS and UMD communities join with Professor Freidenberg in celebrating the life and honoring the memory of this talented writer, dedicated scholar, caring family member and loyal friend.

First Prize: 
Gwendolyn Griffiths, ’25
Psychology and Criminology and Criminal Justice double major
“My Own Interpretation of the Ending of Beowulf”
Award Amount: $900

Second Prize:
Emily Kasprzyk, ’23
English Literature and French Language double major
“Incendiary”
Award Amount: $500

In addition to writing and possibly enrolling in a writing workshop, Griffiths hopes to work in the fields of psychology and criminology. Specifically, she is interested in prison system reform.  

Kasprzyk works part-time at McKeldin Library, and is a member of the Jiménez-Porter Writers’ House, a living-learning community for creative writers.