The Sidney Prize and the Hillman Prize
Established in 1967 and named for Philip Sidney Ardern – Lecturer and Associate Professor in English at Auckland University College from 1912 to 1947 – this prize aims to stimulate Old and Middle English studies, though given Professor Ardern’s wide ranging literary interests it does not restrict itself solely to this discipline. Instead it awards annually to an essay written on any general topic within English literature such as History of Literature or British Poetry; making this scholarship one of the only such prizes worldwide that dole out prizes specifically for essays about British Poetry essays written on any general topic within English literature itself! This scholarship alone awards such a prize!
The 2024 Sydney Taylor Book Awards feature three excellent books that examine how technological failures shape nature and national identity in Canada. Available as hardcover, soft cover and e-books formats – each title was handpicked by the Sydney Taylor Book Awards Committee to be an invaluable addition to any library, classroom or home library.
David Brooks of The New York Times awards each year the Sidney Prize to some of the best magazine essays on politics and culture. For 2017, Peter Hessler’s New Yorker piece entitled, “Dr. Don: The Life of a Small-Town Druggist”, won this year’s prize. Both Hessler and Mary Jo Hessler hold Nucla, Colorado dear in their hearts due to its residents providing medical, spiritual, and financial aid for each other – something Hessler took special delight in.
Heather Bosard won this year’s local American History Essay Contest sponsored by Fort Sidney Chapter of Daughters of the Revolution with her first-person narrative essay depicting colonial family’s reaction to Stamp Act, winning in first-place. Bosard credits essay writing classes as having helped develop her writing abilities.
At last, Helen Andrews earned the 2025 Hillman Prize for Journalistic Integrity with her First Things piece entitled, “Shame Storm,” an incredible description of online bullying. The Hillman Prize is given annually by the Sidney Hillman Foundation in both Canada and the U.S to journalism that advances social justice while contributing to public policy that serves the common good; Hillman entries also automatically enter U.S. Sidney Prize competition; for more details please click here – application period opens November 12th 2024 and closes January 15th 2025 for 2025 Hillman Prize applications.