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THE PORTER FUND

Celebrating Arkansas Writers

Est. 1984

The Porter Prize

Stay tuned for the 2026 ceremony announcement.

Inspired by a beloved writing professor, learn how The Porter Prize came to be. 

Past Porter Fund Literary Prize winners include poets, playwrights, novelists, and screenwriters

Awards, scholarships, speakers, and more

Dr. Ben Drew Kimpel
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A man with glasses and a black hat smiles warmly while sitting on a patterned couch. He wears a dark scarf and sweater, with colorful books in the background.

The Porter Fund offers an annual $5,000 scholarship to a student in the University of Central Arkansas MFA Creative Writing Program.

Email stephv@uca.edu for more information.

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The Porter Fund

The Porter Fund was founded in 1984 by novelist Jack Butler and novelist and lawyer Phil McMath to honor Dr. Ben Kimpel. Kimpel was a noted professor of English at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. The Porter Fund Literary Prize (aka The Porter Prize) is named in honor of Kimpel’s mother, Gladys Crane Kimpel Porter. The annual prize of $5,000 is given to an Arkansas writer of merit and has been awarded to more than 40 poets, novelists, non-fiction writers and playwrights. 

Email: arkansas.porterfund@gmail.com

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