Samuel C. Irving Prize for American Wit and Humor
Established in 1911
Description. The Samuel C. Irving Prize for American Wit and Humor is awarded for the best anecdote, story, poem, drawing, or play illustrative of American wit and humor. Both graduates and undergraduates may apply. For complete information read the General Rules.
Prize Amount. A $750 prize is awarded. Federal financial aid regulations require that all awards received by a student can not exceed their financial aid need as determined by a congressional formula. It is possible, therefore, that the cash award for a prize could reduce some component of a needy student’s package of financial aid awards. In these cases, the Financial Aid Office attempts first to reduce loan or work aid; fellowships, grants, or scholarships are only reduced as a last resort.
Deadline. Submissions must be hand-delivered by the author to the Undergraduate Scholarships, Prizes, and Honors Office, 220 Sproul Hall, no later than 4 p.m on December 1. The author's name must not appear on the entry.
History of the Prize. The Regents' Minutes of September 12, 1911 note acceptance of the following gift:
August 17, 1911
In a letter to the UC President, Mr. Irving stated:
"Through you, I give to the University of California five bonds of the Bohemian Club, from the income of which I desire an annual prize to be awarded to a member of the student body for the best anecdote, story, poem or drawing illustrative of American wit and humor. I do this to encourage sunshine in our daily life."
In a letter to the Chair of the Committee on Prizes, Samuel C. Irving's son, Livingston G. Irving stated:
July 4, 1957
"It was with pleasure that I received your letter of 22 June, 1957 informing me that Mathew Palmer Mitchell was the winner of the Irving Prize for American Wit and Humor for 1956-57."
"The origin of the prize was a somewhat facetious letter I had written my Dad, Samuel C. Irving, U.C. 1879, while he was attending the High Jinks at the Bohemian Grove on the Russian River in 1914. He read the letter to a group around the camp-fire in the evening and the inspiration for the prize was born."
2010-11: 17 entries; Emmeline Sun ($750)
2009-10: 19 entries; Kim Oja ($750)
2008-09: 20 entries; Ezra Carlsen ($800)
2007-08: 6 entries; Matthew McKenna ($750)
2006-07: 22 entries; Teresa Hovis and Mark Massoud ($375 each)
2005-06: 23 entries; Vivek Rao ($750)
2004-05: 24 entries; Adam Manfredi ($750)
2003-04: 12 entries; 1st Prize Cawa Tran ($75); 2nd Prize Timothy Tau Hsieh ($25)
2002-03: 15 entries; Albert Ofrecia ($100)
2001-02: 9 entries; Emily Teplin ($100)
2000-01: 8 entries; Not awarded
1999-00: 1st Prize Elissa McKay ($200); 2nd Prize Jose Alaniz ($150)
1998-99: 19 entries; 1st Prizes Joanne Palamountain and Jennifer Stroud ($100 each).
1997-98: 14 entries; Bryce Maritano ($100)