The University of Dallas Marilyn Lendvay Short Story Award is made possible thanks to the generosity of her friends, especially Ken and Wanda Burghart.
Marilyn Ann Dickson Lendvay was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on August 28, 1948. She graduated Salutatorian at Mount Saint Mary Academy in Little Rock and went on to the University of Dallas, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in English in 1970, then stayed to earn her Master's Degree in English in 1976. The friends she made at the University became lifelong treasured companions, sharing humorous times and meaningful adventures.
After seeing her children into elementary school, Marilyn taught English and tutored students in writing at the Dallas Community College's Eastfield College campus for 17 years. Marilyn left teaching to pursue a degree in technical writing and worked as a technical writer until her retirement.
Throughout her lifetime, Marilyn appreciated books, gardening, the arts, and nature. Exposing her children to a world of arts, culture, beauty, and compassion, she inspired them to pursue their passions while making a difference in the world. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and mentor to many.
After battling a rare form of cancer, Marilyn died gracefully, surrounded by loved ones, on April 16, 2017, at age 68.
Her friends immediately instituted the Marilyn Lendvay Short Story Award, an annual award for the best short story from the UD English Literary Tradition IV course to honor her love for creative writing, especially the short story.
For more information, or to donate to this award, please contact Dr. Gregory Roper, Chair and Associate Professor of English, or Kris Muñoz Vetter, Vice President for Development and University Relations, in the University of Dallas Office of Development and University Relations.
Award Winners
2019 Jasmine Adams (Inaugural Award)
2020 (No Award due to COVID-19)
2021 Spencer Magee
2022
2023 Clarissa Skipworth
2024 Charlie Spurgin