The Berlfein Prize is an annual writing award of $500 given to three undergraduate students who have produced an outstanding piece of nonfiction writing.
The Berlfein Prize was established by the family of Baruch alumnus Harold “Hal” Mattes Berlfein (’39), who wishes to encourage excellent undergraduate writing at Baruch after he was awarded a $100 scholarship for an essay he wrote. In memory of their father, his four daughters continue to reward the prize every year.
In addition to the cash prize, the authors of the winning pieces will be invited to read an excerpt from their prize-winning piece at the annual End-of-Year Celebration hosted by the Department of English.
All winners of the Berlfein Prize will have their writing published on our website.
To read more about Hal Berlfein, head to Our Sponsor.
The deadline for the 2025 Berlfein Prize is 11:59, April 30, 2025. Please submit your writing (up to four submissions) to refractmagazine@gmail.com
WINNERS OF THE BERLFEIN PRIZE
2024
Alicia Grechu, “The Subway Dilemma”
Trevor Lam, “Protect Ethnic Enclaves”
S. Tavera, “My Linguistic Autobiography”
2023
Muhammad Elbadri, “Ode to My Silky”
Brianna Jo Hobson, “WOMAN AS WITCH”
Kadeeja Mohammed, “Rainbows and Religion: My Struggle as a Queer Muslim”
2022
Laura Fasulo, “It's the Sociolinguistic Discrimination for Me”
Pin Yuan Zhu Lee, “The Real Cost of College”
Rebecca Newell, “A Visit to the Seer”
2021
Danyil Blyschak, “Arrhythmia” in the A Tale of Two New Yorks collection
Roshelle Ferguson, “Natural Hair Discrimination and How Society’s Impact Dictates Negative and Positive Perceptions of Black Hair and Hairstyles”
Maria Jacome, “A Father's Strength”
2020
Ashly Chen, “Know Her Name”
Cedeem Gumbs, “FX's Pose and the Importance of Representation in Media”
Jonathan Peralta, “America: Land of Unequal Opportunity”
2019
Noshin Hossain, “Woman at Point Zero”
Stephanie Jones, “A Vision of Healthcare”
Victoria Merlino, “My Uncle, The Dead Man”
2018
Chelsea Booth, “Under My Thumb”
Benjamin Wallin, “A Nazi by Any Other Name”
Deja Washington, “English is Not our Language”
2017
Vincent Nikolayev, “Video Games as Art”
Rebecca Simon, “Higher”
Ashley Somwaru, “Woman Like a Man: Blurring Gender Lines”