A sidney prize is an award given to a person or group for work that helps promote the causes of peace and social justice. The prizes are typically awarded in a variety of different areas such as journalism or literature. Many of these awards are sponsored by universities or private companies and they are given out based on submissions of work. These works are usually reviewed by a panel of judges who determine the winner. Often the winning entry is published in a journal or other literary publication. Some of these awards are given to students who have written papers that are considered to be outstanding in their field.
The Sydney prize is a monthly award that honors outstanding investigative journalism that exposes social and economic injustice. The prize is named in honor of the late Sidney Hillman, who served as president of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America and was a longtime advocate for progressive industrial democracy. The prize is awarded by the Sydney Hillman Foundation, which continues his legacy of illuminating critical issues facing working people and pursuing equitable solutions to help them.
This year, the 2024 Neilma Sidney prize was awarded to a story by Nazanin Boniadi that examines the lives of a couple in their new home where they have to learn to live with ghosts. The winner received $5000 in prize money, while the two runners-up were each rewarded with $750. The prize is presented by Overland magazine and the Malcolm Robertson Foundation.
In a world that is increasingly short on attention spans, the Sidney prize is a reminder that longform writing still has its merits. The New York Times columnist David Brooks frequently names the work of writers whose articles he feels deserve a Sidney. Examples include Hilton Als writing for the New Yorker and Ed Yong writing for The Atlantic.
Founded in 1897, the Sidney prize is one of the oldest and most prestigious awards at Dartmouth. The Committee selects an undergraduate essay or paper that is thought-provoking and well-written. The Committee consists of members from Hanover who read and consider the manuscripts submitted. The Committee is independent and free from outside influences, such as faculty advisors or department heads. The Committee tries to ensure that the selection process is free of bias and politics.
The Sidney Prize Committee has been able to raise over $1500 towards the endowment goal. However, additional contributions are needed in order to establish the fund on a permanent basis. The Committee has sent letters out to its original list of friends and is welcoming contributions from others who may not have been included. Contributions can be made to 1 Occom Ridge, Hanover, NH 03750.
The Sidney DeVere Brown Prize and the Mikiso Hane Prize are offered to undergraduate students who submit exceptional original papers. The essays must be written while the student is an undergraduate and the papers must have been completed within the past two years of the author’s studies. The essays will be reviewed by scholars in the relevant fields. Winners are announced in the fall.