# The Nobel prizes are coming. What have you won? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 4, 2016, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nobel-prizes-are-coming-what-have-you-won/767634 "2016-10-04T14:56:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JacobSwan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@JacobSwan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JacobSwan)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nobel-prizes-are-coming-what-have-you-won/767634/1 "2016-10-04T14:56:39Z")
The physics prize winners were announced today and it gave me the idea for a thread. This board is full of talented and clever people. So what honours have people achieved? Or have a tenuous link to? Feel free to brag and big yourself up as long as it doesn’t unmask your true identity. I’ll start with a couple of tenuous ones. A project I was a key member of won a Cannes Lion, which is the advertising equivalent of an Oscar. As a European citizen I shared in the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize which was awarded to ‘the people of europe’. Neither of these are listed on my CV! ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nobel-prizes-are-coming-what-have-you-won/767634/2 "2016-10-04T15:36:22Z")
I won the First Prize in the Botany category in my 9th Grade Science Fair. I’m sure I’ve accomplished \*something \*in the 38 years since then. Pretty sure, anyway, ---
**Author:** ![Haunted\_Pasta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/94ad74/32.png) [@Haunted\_Pasta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Haunted_Pasta)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nobel-prizes-are-coming-what-have-you-won/767634/3 "2016-10-04T16:13:42Z")
Marching bands are usually organized by squads of four people. Well, at the end of one season in college, the band director named me as one of four members of the hypothetical Ideal Squad. I got a plaque, but it was a big news day or something, because the local media failed to report it. I don’t really like to brag, so I haven’t brought it up that much in the years since. Usually just when I’m trying to impress people, like the CEO or attractive women. You should see the stunned silence I get when I do, though. I can tell they’re totally in awe. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nobel-prizes-are-coming-what-have-you-won/767634/4 "2016-10-04T16:52:18Z")
> [@Haunted\_Pasta](#): > > Marching bands are usually organized by squads of four people. Well, at the end of one season in college, the band director named me as one of four members of the hypothetical Ideal Squad. Which instrument did you play? I’m an author, and I’ve won third prize in a now-defunct writer’s magazine contest, a Letter of Merit in the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators contest, and an Honorary Mention in this year’s Writer’s Digest Fiction Competition. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nobel-prizes-are-coming-what-have-you-won/767634/5 "2016-10-04T16:58:06Z")
I got a medal for Valor from my state’s Secretary of Corrections, presented to me in the State Senate chambers. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nobel-prizes-are-coming-what-have-you-won/767634/6 "2016-10-04T17:11:27Z")
I won second prize in a model car-building contest, back when I was about 16 or so. I got an award for 15 years of service with the company work for, around the time I actually had about 28 years of service. I (along with everyone else who ever posted anything on the Internet) was _Time_’s Person of the Year for 2006. Other than that, I got nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nobel-prizes-are-coming-what-have-you-won/767634/7 "2016-10-04T17:21:05Z")
I won the first place team and closest to the pin trophies in the company charity golf tournament. Also, received a framed certificate of excellence in fatherhood award from my kids. All are currently displayed on my desk. Viewing hours are whenever I’m here. ---
**Author:** ![Wargamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Wargamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wargamer)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nobel-prizes-are-coming-what-have-you-won/767634/8 "2016-10-04T17:32:24Z")
I’ve won several tournaments at the World Boardgaming Championships. [http://www.boardgamers.org/wbcindex.html](http://www.boardgamers.org/wbcindex.html) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nobel-prizes-are-coming-what-have-you-won/767634/9 "2016-10-04T17:52:59Z")
I’ve never done time. ---
**Author:** ![Sefton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Sefton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sefton)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nobel-prizes-are-coming-what-have-you-won/767634/10 "2016-10-04T17:57:00Z")
I just checked [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com), and my technical book is #1 in one category and #2 in another. It’s not making me any real money, but I’m proud nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nobel-prizes-are-coming-what-have-you-won/767634/11 "2016-10-04T19:37:01Z")
I made the Locus poll for first novel. Won the Boomerang Award for the best story published in _Aboriginal SF._ The magazine folded before I got my trophy. Nominated for the short-lived Fredric Brown Award for best humorous SF. Ultimately meaningless; they only tried it once and never named a winner. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nobel-prizes-are-coming-what-have-you-won/767634/12 "2016-10-04T19:43:21Z")
Best non-metro-market sports play-by-play broadcasting in Kansas. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nobel-prizes-are-coming-what-have-you-won/767634/13 "2016-10-04T20:25:36Z")
I have several (several!) “Best Mother Ever” certificates from the kids. Those are pretty sweet. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nobel-prizes-are-coming-what-have-you-won/767634/14 "2016-10-04T21:13:50Z")
I won a spelling bee in junior high. I received my Award of Arms and three other awards for bardic performance in the SCA. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nobel-prizes-are-coming-what-have-you-won/767634/15 "2016-10-05T01:11:27Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I got a medal for Valor from my state’s Secretary of Corrections, presented to me in the State Senate chambers. And well you should have! I’m proud to know (via Internet) a guy who would try to save a drowning child, even though it meant putting your own life in jeopardy. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nobel-prizes-are-coming-what-have-you-won/767634/16 "2016-10-05T01:12:51Z")
The thing I am proudest of is having given an invited 50 minute address (that’s not an hour address, but not nothing either) at a quadrennial meeting of the International Mathematical Union. I also held a named profressorship, the only one in my department. Aside from that I’m pretty proud of my approximately 100 published papers and three books. I have an Erdos number of 2. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nobel-prizes-are-coming-what-have-you-won/767634/17 "2016-10-05T01:21:49Z")
Back in 1976, while I was stationed at Camp Humphries in South Korea, I entered and won a “Soldier of the Month” Contest. It was at the behest of my group leader, who wanted \*someone \*from our unit competing. It consisted of an interview by a board, on subjects pertaining to the military. I hadn’t intended to study too hard, but when one asshole, a Frank Burns in training if there ever was one, asked me “Who put you up for this?” I studied like crazy. I also practised with two other gals in my barracks who’d done it, and they coached me on things like “don’t wave your hands around so much” I ended up winning, beating sixteen guys(I was the only woman competing) One of the two guys who came in second was the jerk who’d derided me for entering. I got a three day pass, a plaque, and a $25 dollar savings bond. I’ve kept the last two as souvenirs all this time. ---
**Author:** ![Itself](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d07c76/32.png) [@Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nobel-prizes-are-coming-what-have-you-won/767634/18 "2016-10-05T01:27:52Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > The thing I am proudest of is having given an invited 50 minute address (that’s not an hour address, but not nothing either) at a quadrennial meeting of the International Mathematical Union. I also held a named profressorship, the only one in my department. Aside from that I’m pretty proud of my approximately 100 published papers and three books. I have an Erdos number of 2. Well, this thread just got as depressing as I expected it to be. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nobel-prizes-are-coming-what-have-you-won/767634/19 "2016-10-05T02:43:48Z")
Per Wikipedia: > [@](#): > > Only 7,097 (about 5% of mathematicians with a collaborative path) have an Erdos number of 2 or lower. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erds\_number](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erds_number) (Just noticed SDMB and/or Tapatalk doesn’t support that funky Hungarian diacritic on the “o”, but just google “Erdos wiki” and you’ll be there.) ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nobel-prizes-are-coming-what-have-you-won/767634/20 "2016-10-05T03:09:27Z")
Ummm…not much. I once took 1st place in a regional piano competition, but there weren’t many contestants. I also won 1st place at my college’s music-composing competition, but again, not many contestants. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nobel-prizes-are-coming-what-have-you-won/767634.md?page=2)