Jayme Deerwester

USA TODAY

In the song My Shot, a young Alexander Hamilton brags about winning a scholarship to King's College (now Columbia University), but it was Wesleyan University that gave us Hamilton the musical.

Both creator Lin-Manuel Miranda (2002) and director Tommy Kail (1999) graduated from the school in Middletown, Conn., and their alma mater is recognizing their influence with a full four-year scholarship named for their brainchild.

One lucky member of the Class of 2021 will be able to brag that he or she won the Wesleyan University Hamilton Prize for Creativity. But first, they will have to amaze and astonish the committee by submitting a work of fiction, poetry, lyrics, play, script or other creative writing. Miranda and Kail will serve as honorary chairs of the judging committee, consisting of alumni and faculty.

“I’m truly honored and excited that Wesleyan has created this prize,” Miranda said in a press release issued by the school. “Wesleyan nurtures creativity and encourages students to make connections across disciplines. I got my shot at Broadway thanks to the start I had as an artist in this environment, and I hope this prize will help other young writers to get their start.”

'Hamilton' has huge night with 11 Tony Awards

He wrote his first Tony-winning musical, In the Heights, while at Wesleyan.

“Learning to tell a compelling story that will engage an audience is the hardest task for any writer," said Kail, "and I’m delighted that Wesleyan is recognizing and encouraging young people to persevere as writers.”

Wesleyan's announcement came on the same day that Miranda and Kail will receive the National Archives Foundation's Records of Achievement Award and three days after Hamilton won 11 Tony Awards.