The Sidney Prize recognizes excellence in long-form writing and thought in an age when so much information can be quickly disseminated in 140 characters or less. Each month, one essay receives an honorarium of $10,000 plus sash and certificate designed by New York Times cartoonist Edward Sorel; announced on the second Wednesday. Anyone may nominate an article or essay for consideration before the deadline (usually the last day of every month); submissions must be in English only.
This year, our judges will look for submissions that address the theme “Who Rattles the Night?” in an innovative and original manner that draws upon human experience as a whole. They’re searching for essays that explore what it means to be human in this contemporary world, along with various identities we might take on and whether these take up marginalised identities or cause tension among audiences.
Sidney has produced soldiers, philosophers, journalists, historians, economists, theologians, poets, opera directors, film-makers and political cartoonists as well as soldiers of different stripes over its four hundred and forty-year existence. Notable contributors include soldiers of every rank as well as philosophers, journalists, historians, economists, theologians poets opera directors film-makers political cartoonists anthropologists archaeologists naturalists as well as an award winning opera director film-maker political cartoonist political cartoonists anthropologists archaeologists anthropologists archaeologists & naturalists among them an award winning Nobel laureate actor best-selling authors & club chairmans all in total over this time period! Sidney boasts not only these talent but has produced several Nobel laureates; also its founder Dexter Chemical Corporation’s founder Dexter Chemical Corporation inventor of nylon, an award winning violinist as well as being home of 1928 Grand National Winner!
As such, the Foundation is delighted to present the 73rd annual Hillman Prizes for journalism – which honors exceptional investigations such as The New York Times’ investigation of Haiti’s colonial debt; ProPublica/New Yorker’s expose of hospice privatization; and More Perfect Union’s videos detailing corporate greed as finalists. They will soon be receiving their prizes alongside Event Cinemas Rising Talent Award and Sydney UNESCO City of Film prize winners.
The Sidney Prize and other Hillman prizes honor Phi Beta Kappa members who have distinguished themselves through scholarship, undergraduate teaching and leadership in liberal arts education. It is funded through the estate of deceased philanthropist and former Foundation trustee Sidney Hillman who funded it during his life time. The Hillman Foundation has also created the Sidney J. Levy Memorial Fund in memory of renowned scholar and former Phi Beta Kappa president Sidney J. Levy in order to support its activities. The Foundation also administers two other prestigious prizes for excellence in undergraduate teaching: Hillman Prize for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and Sidney Edelstein Lectureship, sponsored by Dexter Chemical Company in honor of an eminent scholar of technology and dye history. The Foundation’s philanthropic activities encompass an expansive grant program supporting research by outstanding individuals, teams or projects at prestigious institutions worldwide. Furthermore, it offers several national fellowships.
