A sidney prize is a way to recognise people who have made a difference to humanity. These can be scientists, writers or activists and are a great way to reward them for their work while also encouraging others to follow in their footsteps. There are a number of different prizes available, from business awards to science awards, and they can be awarded on a national or state basis.
The SS Sydney Hook Memorial Award, named after philosopher and columnist Sidney Hook, honours a scholar who demonstrates “national distinction in scholarship and undergraduate teaching.” Past winners have included Ta-Nehisi Coates and New York Times columnist David Brooks. The Neilma Sydney Short Story Prize is a popular sidney prize and this year Yeena Kirkbright won for her piece titled Camperdown Grief Junk, which was published in Overland. The next competition will be held in 2022.
Nazanin Boniadi was awarded the 2015 Sidney Peace Prize for her work as a journalist and activist fighting for human rights and freedom in Iran. The prize, which includes a US$50,000 grant, will be formally presented to her later this year. The City of Sydney mayor Clover Moore said that the prize was a fitting tribute to someone who has spent her life fighting for justice.
Other sidney prizes can be based on specific fields, such as linguistics or engineering, and can be decided by a panel of judges. The SS Sydney Hook Memorial Award was established in 1991 and is a Phi Beta Kappa honor that recognizes “national distinction in scholarship, undergraduate teaching and leadership in the cause of liberal arts education.”
The S. Sidney Hook Award is given in memory of the distinguished American philosopher and Phi Beta Kappa member S. Sidney Hook (1902-1989). The award is presented to a single scholar who has achieved “national distinction in at least one of the following endeavors: Scholarship, undergraduate teaching and leadership in the cause of a liberal arts education.”
Clare Jackson, whose book on royalist ideas in late-seventeenth century Scotland won the 2014 Sidney Prize for Historical Writing, is the 2022 winner of the Neilma Sydney Short Story prize. The judges would like to congratulate her and all of the shortlisted writers for their excellent entries. They are looking forward to the next competition in 2022.
