the miami herald silver knight awards is a highly regarded student awards programs. the purpose of this awards program is to recognize outstanding individuals & leaders who have maintained good grades and have applied their knowledge and talents to contribute service to their schools and communities. the silver knight awards program was instituted at the miami herald in 1959 by john s. knight, past publisher of the miami herald, founder and editor emeritus of knight-ridder newspapers and 1968 pulitzer prize winner.