Today, Jan. 22, 2015, The George W. Hunt, S.J., Prize for Excellence in Journalism, Arts & Letters officially begins accepting and reviewing applications. The prize is co-sponsored by America: The National Catholic Review, and The St. Thomas More Chapel and Center at Yale University, and is made possible through the generosity of Fay Vincent Jr., former Commissioner of Baseball and a longtime friend to Fr. George Hunt.
This $25,000 prize will be awarded annually to an individual 45 years of age or younger in recognition of his or her literary work. The recipient will also have the opportunity to deliver a lecture at the Thomas E. Golden, Jr. Center of the St. Thomas More Chapel at Yale, which will be published as a cover story in America.
Some topical areas to be considered include Catholicism and Civic Life, modern American fiction, U.S. Sports, Jazz/Classical Music, and American film and poetry, among others. An author will be primarily judged on their rigor and discipline of thought; the honesty and sympathy displayed in addressing the subject of their work; as well as their originality, intelligence, elegance and promise for further achievement.
The purpose of The Hunt Prize is to not only honor the memory of the late Father George Hunt, S.J., the longest tenured Editor in Chief of America (1984-1998), but also to promote scholarship and learning; support a new generation of journalists, authors and scholars; and to foster the intellectual formation of young Catholic writers.
Applications may be submitted until 11:59 p.m. (EST) on March 31, 2015. In order for an individual’s nomination to be considered valid, they must complete a nomination questionnaire and information sheet, provide a biography, a curriculum vitae, a copy of their best piece of published work and a nomination statement signed by three writers who agree with the statement. For more detailed information regarding The Hunt Prize and to apply, please visit: huntprize.org
