The Sydney Prize recognizes outstanding journalism published during a given month. While other awards can recognize individual or team efforts, this prize honors those whose writing best represented an entire publication. The American Journalism and Literary (AJL) committee evaluates submissions and selects an honorarium and seal to place on author work, along with special mention in AJL online magazine. This award was created in memory of Professor Sidney Cox, an English department faculty member for many years. It is administered by a committee composed of faculty, alumni and students led by Robert Frost ’96 and A. B. Guthrie; Budd Schulberg ’36 serves both honorary chairman and active chair.

The Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize is open to writers who have written up to 3,500 word stories with travel as their theme, funded by Malcolm Robertson Foundation. Annie Zhang won 2023’s prize with her work “Who Rattles the Night?”, set on unceded Wangal land. Out of eight entries submitted for consideration she triumphed over two runners-up; Madeleine Rebbechi for “A Map of the Underneath”, and Sheila Ngoc Pham with “Whack-a-Mole”.

In 1968, the Edelstein Prize, then known as the Dexter Prize, was established through the generosity of Sidney Edelstein – an expert on dye history and dye processes who founded Dexter Chemical Corporation and received SHOT’s Leonardo da Vinci Award in 1988. Donated in his memory by Ruth Edelstein Barish and her family to commemorate his commitment to scholarship in history of technology scholarship – with an award of $3,500 and plaque.

Named for an 18th-century Southern poet, this prize recognizes scholars or educators who have demonstrated outstanding scholarship in studying 19th-century Southern literature, culture or folklife and/or have made major contributions to disseminate knowledge about Southern American culture and literature to the general public. Ron Rash – John Parris Distinguished Professor of Appalachian Cultural Studies at Western Carolina University as well as renowned novelist poet short story writer has won this prestigious prize.

This award recognizes an English book published during the year that deals with British, French or Commonwealth history and bears Sir Venour V Nathan’s memory; funds were donated to the Society in his name. A committee appointed by Council selects books according to subject expertise gathered through members of Historical Studies editorial board as well as other experts.

This prize recognizes young academics who have shown exceptional leadership in furthering the mission and goals of Phi Beta Kappa, or shown uncommon initiative or creativity in their conduct of their work. It is presented at Phi Beta Kappa Society’s Triennial Council Meeting.