The Sidney Prize and the Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize
The Sidney Prize recognizes work that demonstrates national distinction in scholarship, undergraduate teaching and leadership within liberal arts education. Established in 1991 and named for Sidney Hook (an esteemed American philosopher and Phi Beta Kappa member), this prize recognizes outstanding accomplishment in these areas of endeavor.
This annual prize recognizes an author whose book makes a substantial contribution to religion studies in its broadest context. Whether theoretical or historical in nature, its author must demonstrate both command of subject matter as well as methodology of scholarship in its treatment. Publishable quality copies must also be made readily available to general audiences.
Winners in each category are also presented with runners-up awards; with the winner receiving $1,000 and a mesmeric swirl award created and produced by Dinosaur Designs; runners-up receive $500 each. Winners are announced at the annual meeting of the Society in March.
Everything has become shorter these days: essays have given way to op-eds, blog posts and Twitter tweets as forms of literary communication. Though those short pieces can be powerful, sometimes we need a good long read in order to appreciate the big picture and address intractable problems in society. That is why the Sidney Prize exists – to recognize excellent longer form writing that is likely to change minds and improve society for good.
Overland’s Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize 2023 went to Annie Zhang’s story “Who Rattles the Night?,” about a woman living on unceded Wangal land who learns to cope with ghosts in her new home. Zhang was chosen from an eight-strong shortlist; Elisabeth Passmore for “Westernport Crossing” and Alan Sincic with “The Postcard From Nowheresville” were runners up.
Each year, the Sidney Peace Foundation recognizes a nominee who has advanced “peace with justice”, human rights and nonviolence. This year’s jury decided on Black Lives Matter (founded in the US by Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi following George Zimmerman’s acquittal for killing Trayvon Martin) for raising public awareness while inspiring societies worldwide to reconsider how they devalue black lives while reimagining equality and justice as it stands today.
The Sidney J. Levy Award honors one of the founding fathers of Consumer Culture Theory (CCT). The competition recognizes an article written on a dissertation-oriented dissertation published within a year prior. Applications should demonstrate how their article represents or incorporates the experiences or perspectives of marginalised communities or identities, and be willing to identify themselves as being from that community/identity. The winner will receive $1500 while one honorable mention will also be presented. Ruth Edelstein Barish and family have generously offered to host this prize competition to honor Sidney Edelstein (deceased). It will open to the public from 1-2 December 2019 with winners announced by 10 November 2020 – for more information click here.