The Singapore Prize is a national award to recognise the best in the arts. It is awarded in a number of categories. Each winner receives a prize valued at around $350 and a handcrafted trophy. As with most awards, there is a selection process and no award will be awarded without sufficient merit.
To be eligible, the candidate must have attained a Second Class Honours degree or higher in the last four years. He or she must also have a CAP of at least 4.0. The Board of Undergraduate Studies will review the award and determine if the candidate deserves to be awarded. If so, the award will be granted and the candidate will receive a certificate and a gold medallion. In some cases, the Board of Undergraduate Studies may apportion the award among candidates.
A number of prestigious awards are given in Singapore, and the list is continuously evolving. While some are annual, some are awarded once a year, and some are for a period of three years. They include trophies, badges, state decorations and cups. Some of these awards are for specific industries, while others are for individuals. This is a partial listing of some of the most notable.
The Singapore Literature Prize, which is organised by the National Book Development Council of Singapore, is a biennial award. It rewards the most outstanding published works by Singaporean authors. There are twelve categories to choose from. For the first time in its history, it has introduced three new categories: creative non-fiction, short story and poetry. At least half of this year’s nominees are new to the shortlist.
The judging panel for the SCCC Award consists of distinguished members from the cultural and artistic scene in Singapore. Professor Eddie Kuo Chen Yu leads the panel. The process begins with public nomination. After a shortlist of nominees is chosen, the panel of judges assesses each one based on the criteria of the award. Once the list is complete, the final recommendations will be handed to the SCCC Board of Directors for approval.
The MAP Awards, meanwhile, are given to individuals and teams based on their performance in major games. Those who won the gold medals at the World Cup, Olympics or Commonwealth Games have received the coveted award. Today, they were presented with their awards at a ceremony in Singapore.
Yong Pung How School of Law Prize is awarded to the top law student at Yong Pung How School of Law. The top graduating student from the school’s diploma in law and management program is recognized with the SAL Gold Medal, which includes an $800 cash prize. Those who are nominated in this category must have passed the LLB (Full-time) Examination in the fourth year.
EMPD’98 is an award from NTU’s Power Engineering Chapter. Five athletes were nominated in 1990, and all five won the award. Two of the “readers’ favorite” choices were shortlisted works of fiction and creative nonfiction.
In addition to the Singapore Prize, the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize is a bi-annual international award that recognizes key players in urban communities. It is sponsored by the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore, the Centre for Liveable Cities, the National Arts Council, the Singapore Economic Development Board and Intel Technology Sdn. Bhd.