A sidney prize is a unique way to honor people doing great things for humanity. Whether they are writers, activists or scientists, these awards allow them to be recognized for their efforts while inspiring others to pursue their dreams. There are many ways to win a sidney prize, but each has its own requirements and criteria. To find the one that’s right for you, it’s important to understand what they are all about.
Sydney Prize is a unique program that honours journalists and writers who address social issues in their writing. It has been around since 1950 and has honored the work of such luminaries as New York Times columnist David Brooks, who recently bestowed one on Amanda Hess for her piece on online sexism and William Zinser for his piece on student hypersensitivity that leads to mental health problems and prevents them from adapting to real-life situations.
The award is named in honor of the American philosopher and Phi Beta Kappa member, Sidney Hook. It recognizes national distinction by a scholar in each of three endeavors — scholarship, undergraduate teaching, and leadership in the cause of liberal arts education. Nominations are accepted every three years in the fall and early winter for the award, which is announced at the Society’s Triennial Council Meeting.
Several other sidney prizes are available to young writers, including the Neilma Sydney Short Story Prize. This contest is open to writers worldwide and offers a cash prize of $5,000 as well as publication in Overland magazine and online. It is supported by the Malcolm Robertson Foundation and is the only prize of its kind in North America.
Another prestigious sidney prize is the Frederick Douglass Book Prize, which is given annually to a historian for a work of significance in the study of American slavery and its legacy in the world today. Past winners include Dr. Clare Jackson, who wrote her acclaimed book about royalist ideas in late-seventeenth century Scotland while working on a Junior Research Fellowship at Sidney and now is Senior Tutor and Walter Grant Scott Fellow at Trinity Hall.
Finally, the Sidney Hook Memorial Award is awarded in memory of a distinguished Princeton professor and Phi Beta Kappa member. It is presented at the Society’s National Convention to a Phi Beta Kappa member who has made a distinguished contribution to the advancement of liberal arts education through scholarship, undergraduate teaching, or service in the defense of academic freedom and the integrity of scholarship.
Aside from these prizes, there are also a number of other sidney awards that can be awarded to people in various fields. Some of these awards are based on community service, while others are geared towards encouraging women in engineering. The latter is particularly important, as there are not enough female engineers in the field. As a result, the sidney prize scholarship has been established to encourage more women to enter this field and become successful in their careers.