Benjamin Prize

The Benjamin Prize was established as a Norwegian prize to counter racism in 2002. The prize is awarded in memory of Benjamin Hermansen, who at the age of 15 years, was murdered in Holmlia, Søndre Nordstrand in Oslo, Norway. The death was racially motivated.

The prize is awarded each year on 27 January in conjunction with the commemoration of the Holocaust. On this date Soviet forces liberated Nazi concentration camps in Auschwitz and Birkenau. The prize is awarded to a school that actively works against racism and discrimination.

The work for which the award is given is to be characterized by:
 * Anchoring: The school's work against racism and discrimination represent a long-term commitment.
 * Involvement: The school's work against racism and discrimination involves faculty and students at the school.
 * Highlighting: The school's work against racism and discrimination is visible both in the school and in the broader community.

The prize consists of 250,000 kroner, and a miniature bust of Benjamin Hermansen, created by Ivar Sjaastad. The original bust is placed at Holmlia.

The Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training awards the prize. The jury which determines the recipient consisted of Marit Hermansen (Benjamin’s mother) until her death in 2019. Since, it is representrd by members from the Antiracism Center, the Sami Parliament of Norway, Union of Education Norway, School Student Union of Norway, Parents Committee for Primary and Lower Secondary Education, and the Norwegian Center for Studies of Holocaust and Religious Minorities.

Winners

 * 2002 — Sunndal high school in Sunndalsøra
 * 2003 — Fjell school in Drammen
 * 2004 — Ila school in Trondheim
 * 2005 — Gommerud school in Bærum
 * 2006 — Mandal secondary school in Mandal
 * 2007 — Skotselv school in Øvre Eiker in Buskerud
 * 2008 — Sogn Upper Secondary School in Oslo
 * 2009 — Skullerud school in Oslo
 * 2010 — Hagaløkka school in Asker
 * 2011 — Karuss school in Kristiansand
 * 2012 — Greveskogen high school in Tønsberg
 * 2013 — Brandengen high school in Drammen
 * 2014 — Uranienborg skole in Oslo
 * 2015 — Sjøvegan high school in Salangen
 * 2016 – Løkenåsen skole in Lørenskog
 * 2017 — Høyland ungdomsskole in Sandnes
 * 2018 — Kuben Upper Secondary School in Oslo
 * 2019 — Alvimhaugen barneskole in Sarpsborg
 * 2020 — Glemmen videregående skole in Fredrikstad
 * 2021 – Sofienberg skole in Oslo