The Sidney Prize honours those who have distinguished themselves by their scholarship, teaching and leadership in the cause of liberal arts education. The winner receives a cash award and national recognition at the Phi Beta Kappa Society Triennial Council Meeting. Nominations will be solicited a year and a half prior to the meeting in The Key Reporter and the General Newsletter.

This award celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Sidney Hook, a renowned American philosopher and Phi Beta Kappa member. The prize is named in memory of Sidney Hook’s dedication to high ideals and his loyalty to a liberal arts education, and honors students who demonstrate the same commitment to their field.

Each year, the New York Times columnist David Brooks selects the best long-form essays of the previous year. Many of his selections – including Hilton Als writing for The New Yorker and Ed Yong writing for The Atlantic – have won the Sidney Prize.

Since 2022, the Society for the History of Technology (SHOT) has honored one book each year with the Sidney Edelstein Prize – the most prestigious prize in its 50-year history. Professor Edward Jones-Imhotep, a member of the Department of History in the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies, is only the second faculty member at a Canadian university to win this prestigious book prize.

The Association of Jewish Libraries is pleased to announce the call for manuscripts for the Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award, a competition for the best unpublished children’s literature with a strong Jewish theme. The manuscript award is intended to encourage new writers of this genre and help launch their careers in the field. It is named in memory of Sydney Taylor, whose All-of-a-Kind Family books established her as an author.

In addition to the general scholarships and prizes available to all students, there are some that history students can specifically apply for. These include the Donald Chase Prize, the Mikiso Hane Prize and the Sidney Thomas Prize. The first is awarded to the honours student who has a superior record in fourth year and whose essay on any topic of Canadian history has been judged as outstanding. The latter is dedicated to the memory of Professor Sidney Thomas, who taught in the department for more than twenty years and edited two benchmark publications on art history.

Finally, the Sidney Taylor Award is given by the Association of Jewish Libraries to honour a new children’s writer in the tradition of Sydney Taylor. This competition is designed to recognize and reward the highest quality of manuscript work submitted in this genre, with a particular emphasis on books that appeal to the broadest possible audience of readers. The Association hopes that this competition, with its large cash prize and nationwide publicity, will foster the growth of an important and vital literary form. The winning manuscript will be published by Follett Publishing Company and the author will receive a cash prize of $750.