The Thomas Wolfe Prize and Lecture honors the memory of one of The  University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s most famous alumni, Thomas  Clayton Wolfe (Class of 1920). Established in 1999 the program recognizes contemporary  writers with distinguished bodies of work. The Department of English bestows this prize each fall, around the  time of Wolfe’s October 3 birthday. In addition to receiving prize money  and a medal, the honored writer comes to campus as the University’s  guest and delivers a lecture, which is free and open to the public. Past winners include: Jill McCorkle, Clyde Edgerton, Al Young, Tom Wolfe, and Gillian Welch. This year's honoree is Dorothy Allison, author of the award winning books, Bastard Out of Carolina, Cavedweller, Two or Three Things I know for Sure, Skin, and Trash.