The sidney prize is one of the many annual literary prizes awarded by the university. The award is given to students for their written work on a selected topic. Prizes are awarded to students based on the quality of their writing and their academic achievement. Each year, a committee reviews submissions and selects the winner. The winning student receives a cash prize and is honored at a ceremony. The committee is composed of a group of alumni, with Robert Frost ’96 serving as honorary chair and Budd Schulberg ’36 acting as active chairman.
The award has been given every year since it was established in 1988. It was founded in memory of Sidney Hook, a distinguished American philosopher who earned national distinction for scholarship, undergraduate teaching, and service to liberal arts education. Each year, a prize of $100 is awarded to the best piece of undergraduate writing submitted in competition for the award. The work must deal with a theme that is central to the understanding of English literature and language. Submissions should be made under a pseudonym.
In addition to its numerous literary and research awards, the University of Sydney offers a wide range of academic prizes for students and alumni. These include the prestigious Eureka Prizes, which are hosted by Australia’s leading scientific institutions. Students who have won the Eureka Prize are often able to advance their careers by working with their host institutes on various projects. The Overland Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize, for example, is a writing contest that awards the best short fiction story themed around travel.
Sidney is famous for its impact on Britain’s culture, politics, religion and business as well as its military, political and scientific achievements. It has produced religious leaders, poets and playwrights, politicians, the founder of a major chemical company, the first premiership football club chairman, best-selling authors, soldiers, alchemists and spies. Its graduates have also gone on to become actors, film directors and opera singers.
One of the country’s most prestigious journalism awards, the Hillman Foundation sidney prize is awarded monthly to journalists who pursue investigative reporting in the public interest. The foundation was established in 1946 to honor Sidney Hillman, president of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America union (a predecessor to Unite Here and Workers United, SEIU). The foundation’s board is dominated by workers and includes left-leaning celebrity Danny Glover.
The Project on Private Law at Harvard University’s Project on International Private Law gives the Sidney J. Blattler Memorial Prize to the top student paper on a topic related to private law. The prize is named after Professor Blattler, a prominent figure in the field of private law. The essay must be original and demonstrate excellent legal writing and analytical skills. Participation in the prize is optional, and students may submit a paper written either as part of a course or as an independent study. Students who are interested in the prize should consult their faculty advisor.