Awarded annually in memory of Sidney Louis Wagman ’51 to an outstanding student who has demonstrated loyalty to high ideals. Preference is given to those whose writing is imaginative and original in character. The recipient of the prize receives a monetary award and an engraved certificate. The fund was established by his parents and the Wagman Foundation.
The 2024 Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize celebrates original short fiction themed loosely around ‘travel’. This annual competition offers a first prize of $5,000, with two runners-up receiving $750 each. The winner will be published by Overland and the two runners-up will have their work featured online. Submissions are open to writers globally and the competition is free to enter.
This year’s judges include Patrick Lenton, Alice Bishop and Sara Saleh. The winners will be announced on August 30. The Neilma Sidney prize is open to new and current Overland subscribers, who can also take out a subscription at a special subscriber rate in order to submit their work for consideration. Entrants must complete a short form, answering questions such as ‘Does your entry explore a voice or experience that is marginalised or vulnerable?’ and ‘Do you identify as being part of this community or experience?’
The yearly prize was founded by the family and friends of the late Dr. Sidney Hillman, a noted physician and public servant, in order to honor his commitment to excellence in medical care. Awarded to a graduating senior in recognition of their achievements, the award carries with it the promise of a distinguished career and service to the community.
Throughout the country, there are a number of different organizations that provide financial support for young scholars in the field of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. One of the most prestigious of these is the Sidney Awards Program. This organization awards scholarships each year to graduating seniors from high school, college and university level programs. The scholarships are intended to help students in a variety of ways, including covering the costs of their education, research or professional development.
Each month the Sidney Awards Foundation awards a journalism prize to an outstanding piece that was published during the previous month. Nominations are due by the end of the month. Nominees can be for their own work or someone else’s, and the piece can be online or in a printed publication.
The winner of the Sidney Award is selected based on the work’s ability to reveal and challenge social injustice and promote human dignity. In the past, winners have included pieces about financial fraud at a bank, an investigation into the plight of immigrants and the dangers that children face when they are exposed to racial hatred. The foundation has also awarded a prize to a writer for his essay on the death of a journalist who was murdered in the line of duty. The Sidney Awards are financed by the Alfred E. Sloan Foundation and the philanthropy of its board members, who are mostly left-leaning labor leaders.