Deadline: November 8, 2013
Grinnell College is seeking nominations for the 2014 Grinnell Prize. The award program — which annually presents winners with a prize of $100,000 — honors young innovators under the age of 40 who have demonstrated leadership in their fields and who show creativity, commitment and extraordinary accomplishment in effecting positive social change.
The program directly reflects Grinnell’s historic mission to educate men and women “who are prepared in life and work to use their knowledge and their abilities to serve the common good.” This year’s selection committee will pick two winners to receive an award of $100,000, half awarded to the individual and half to an organization committed to the winner’s area of social change, for a total of $200,000 in prize monies.
Nominations are open to nationals of any country across the world. The program hopes to attract nominations across a wide range of fields, including science, medicine, the environment, humanities, business, economics, education, law, public policy, social services, religion and ethics, as well as projects that cross these boundaries.
Eligibility
Nominees must:
- Not have turned 40 by January 1, 2014;
- Have an exceptional record of substantive, innovative contributions within their chosen field that have enabled them to become a force for social justice;
- Through their actions, embody the Grinnell College ideal of using their knowledge and their abilities to serve the common good;
- Demonstrate the essence of Grinnell College’s broad liberal arts education through critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and free inquiry;
- Not be widely known outside their immediate community or field;
- Be nominated by a third party;
- If chosen as a winner and along with their chosen organization, be verified and validated by Grinnell College;
- Participate in an on-campus symposium and awards ceremony, and explore other opportunities to engage with the Grinnell and wider community;
- Have sufficient English fluency to facilitate participation and community engagement; and
- Be able to provide in English any supplemental information required as part of the selection process.
2014 Prize Criteria
- Up to three $100,000 prizes will be presented to individuals under the age of 40 who demonstrate leadership in their fields and who show creativity, commitment, and extraordinary accomplishment in effecting positive social change. Half of the monetary prize will be given to the recipient and half will be contributed to an organization designated by the winner.
- Nominees may be nationals of any country; no affiliation to Grinnell College is required. The program encourages a global and diverse pool of candidates.
- The record of the individual’s achievement to date will be key to the selection committee’s appraisal; promise for ongoing advancement of his/her work will also be considered.
For more information, click here.