A Sidney Prize is a way of rewarding individuals who have made significant contributions to society. These awards can be granted for any number of reasons and often decide upon on a national scale; giving people who make positive impactful contributions the recognition and inspiration to continue doing so themselves.
Sidney prizes come in all forms and shapes; from business awards to academic achievements. Gender or ethnicity-specific sidney prizes also exist, giving all those interested the chance to receive one. Anyone considering applying should research both the application process and any deadlines carefully in order to avoid any potential problems that might arise during application submission.
The Neilma Sydney Short Story Prize is a literary award that honors an author for crafting an outstanding short story. The recipient receives $5,000 and will have their work featured both online and in Overland magazine, commemorating Dartmouth professor Sidney Cox who was known for his writing abilities and ability to motivate students. Established by Overland Foundation in 2022.
Young writers also have access to other Sidney Prizes that recognize social justice through writing. One such prize is the SS Sydney Prize, which honours journalists and authors who pursue it through their work. It pays homage to late scientist who championed liberal education principles while believing scientific findings should be shared widely with society. It recognizes discernment when selecting newsworthy subjects for reporting as well as resourcefulness and courage when covering stories relating to those subjects as well as skill in communicating those stories to readers.
A second Sidney Prize, the SS Sydney Hillman prize, recognizes scientists who work towards making their work more accessible to the general public. It was named in honour of an academic who advocated that results of scientific research should be made publicly accessible, thus encouraging free speech in academia. Recently it was presented to Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi for their contributions to Black Lives Matter movement that was launched after George Zimmerman was found not guilty in Trayvon Martin case and which promotes human rights and nonviolence.
The SS Sydney Hook Memorial Prize, named in honour of columnist Sidney Hook, recognises writers whose writing sheds light on issues that affect politics or culture through writing. Since 2004, The New York Times has bestowed this prize annually; past recipients include Amanda Hess for her article on online sexism and Ta-Nehisi Coates’ essay about student hypersensitivity as winners. This prize provides an incredible way of recognising young writers while encouraging them to continue producing high quality literature into the future.
