The Different Types of Sidney Prize
There are many people around the world doing incredible things to make life better, but they don’t always get the recognition they deserve. This is why there are so many different types of sidney prize that can be awarded in fields like writing or activism; they serve to honor those who have made significant contributions while encouraging others to pursue their passions and make an impact.
The Hillman Sydney Prize is given to writers and journalists who are able to highlight issues of social concern in their work, addressing the need for a global community that values humanity and provides access to resources that will allow all to live life to the fullest. Judges look for discernment in selecting stories worth telling, resourcefulness when reporting on those stories and courage in presenting them. They also reward those who are able to tell these stories in a way that is compelling and accessible to the average reader.
This award was named in honor of the eminent physicist and author, who dedicated his life to connecting art, media, and literature to science. This is SHOT’s highest honour, and a $10,000 cash prize is awarded to the winner annually. It is announced at the Society’s Triennial Council Meeting and the winning entry will be featured in SHOT’s Key Reporter, General Newsletter and on the website.
In addition to the cash and merchandise prizes, contestants will have the chance to win a bragging rights trophy. The heaviest fish caught and registered by each sponsor will be awarded a Sydney Prize trophy that can be hung in the fisherman’s clubhouse for the year. The trophy is designed by New York artist Edward Sorel.
The prize was founded in 2009 to commemorate the legacy of Dartmouth College professor Sidney Cox, who believed that it was important for students to explore their feelings and ideas through language. The award is granted to an undergraduate student whose essay most closely adheres to the high standards of originality and integrity that Cox set for his own writing and teaching style. The essay must also address an issue that is of interest to the general public and must show some attempt at academic excellence.
The Overland Neilma Sidney Prize is open to all Australian and New Zealand residents who are Overland magazine subscribers, and submissions are free. To receive winner announcements, Calls for Entries, Sidney’s Picks and invitations, take out a subscription here. The winners will be notified by email, and their essays will appear on the Overland website. Winners will also be invited to attend the ceremony and receive their prize. Subscribers are eligible to enter one piece per competition, and each work may be entered into two or more categories. The competition is open to fiction, non-fiction and poetry submissions. Each work must be the author’s own, unpublished work and can be no more than 3000 words in length. In the case of poetry, a maximum of three poems can be submitted.