The Porter Prize, established in 1984 by the non-profit organization known as the Porter Fund Literary Prize, is awarded annually to a writer who has created a substantial body of work and has a significant connection with Arkansas. The $5000 prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in Arkansas. (The non-profit organization also awards a lifetime achievement award every five years and an annual scholarship to a student in the University of Central Arkansas Master of Fine Arts Creative Writing Program.) The Porter Prize was founded in honor of Ben Drew Kimpel.[1][2]