In the modern era, there are many ways to honor and encourage people who are doing good work for humanity. For instance, there are various awards that can be won in a variety of fields including writing contests, activist awards, and science prizes. These awards help individuals and organizations get the recognition they deserve while also motivating people to pursue their dreams and make an impactful change.
One such prize is the sidney prize, which is given out to writers who address social issues through their writing. It is sponsored by Overland magazine and the Neilma Sidney Foundation. The judges, Laura Elvery, Paige Clark, and Michael Winkler, selected a shortlist of eight pieces from over 400 submissions, and then chose the winner from this pool. They have done a phenomenal job and demonstrated their commitment to the integrity of the blind-judging process.
The sidney prize is a great way to celebrate the achievements of young writers and journalists who are addressing social issues through their writing. Unlike other literary awards, the sidney prize is not limited to short stories and novels, and can also be awarded to works of nonfiction. This means that writers can get the recognition they deserve without having to wait for years for their work to be published.
The prize is named after a Dartmouth College professor, Sidney Cox, who was known for his ability to motivate students towards realizing their dreams and aspirations. He was a well-known author and lecturer and worked tirelessly to connect art, the media, and literature with science. Throughout his career, he was able to accomplish numerous goals and was an inspiration for countless young individuals.
Aimed at recognizing undergraduate writing that adheres to the high standards of originality and integrity that Sidney set for his teaching style and book, Indirections for Those Who Want to Write, the prize is open to students in all majors. It can be awarded for articles in magazines, newspapers, and online. The articles must focus on a topic that is relevant to general audiences, while also showing an attempt at academic excellence.
Sidney was always willing to challenge accepted dogma, although he was cautious by nature. He would often ask his students to defend their ideas with evidence, and he was particularly skeptical of those who made grandiose claims. He believed that scientists should be able to stand up against the crowd and prove their findings through solid experimental evidence.
In addition to the traditional scientific fields, the sidney prize has been awarded to essays that address social issues. For example, the New York Times columnist David Brooks gave a sidney prize to Amanda Hess for her piece on online sexism. He also gave a sidney to Matt Labash for his sympathetic profile of Marion Barry, the former Washington D.C. mayor and crack-smoker.
Another popular award is the Sidney prize for journalism. This is a monthly award that recognizes journalistic work that has a strong narrative drive and a social impact. The winner of the Sidney prize is announced on the second Wednesday of every month. Nominations are due by the end of the previous month.