The Sidney Prize honors undergraduate writing that best meets the high standards set forth by Sidney Cox, an esteemed English teacher and author. It is open to students of any major and any form; examples might include an essay, poem or short story or even creative nonfiction such as an interview or scene from a play written during this academic year in conjunction with any Law School course seminar clinic or graduate degree program.
This year’s prize went to an Associated Press series “Prison to Plate.” Reporters Margie Mason and Robin McDowell documented how prison labor industry has quietly expanded alongside surging incarceration rates. Their piece advocated for reforms to protect workers, having significant ramifications on individuals whose stories were featured.
Overland’s 2021 Judith Wright Poetry Prize went to Ender Baskan’s poem, “are you ready?” which Overland describes as an outcry against precarity and professionalization among artists. Additionally, Gareth Morgan won Overland’s Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize with his story entitled “stones”.
As part of our prize page updates, we are currently updating various prize pages. Soon it will be possible to submit nominations for the Leonardo da Vindi Medal, Melvin Kranzberg Dissertation Fellowship, Joan Cahalin Robinson Prize, Samuel Eleazar and Rose Tartakowsky IEEE History Prize, Martha Trescott Prize and Race and Histories of Technologies Prize – plus we continue awarding Hillman Prizes for Journalism which honor journalism that seeks investigative reporting and deep storytelling in pursuit of social justice. We continue with awarding Hillman Prizes for Journalism which honor journalism that pursues investigative reporting and deep storytelling to advance social justice causes.
At a ceremony to be held in May, winners of the 2025 Hillman Prizes for Journalism will be recognized and celebrated. Their legacy continues the rich legacy of previous honorees like Murray Kempton’s coverage of labor issues in the South to Edward R. Murrow’s criticism of Joseph McCarthy during Red Scare days; from Julie K. Brown’s coverage of sex crimes and sweetheart deals to Ari Berman’s reporting on voter suppression – just to name a few!
Steven Fraser was awarded the Sol Stetin Award for Labor History. On May 13, Sidney Hillman Prizes for Journalism will also be distributed, while all U.S. Hillman Prize entries compete automatically for an SEIU Prize for Reporting Racial and Economic Justice.
The Harvard Animal Law and Policy Program awards, annually or biannually, up to two prizes to Harvard Law School students with outstanding papers in any area relating to animal law – such as wildlife conservation law, domestic/commercial animal law or food law. This award is funded through a gift from Venour V Nathan. Applicants must submit papers no longer than 5,000 words that address one or more topics listed below – either self-nominate themselves or be nominated by an instructor for consideration.