| Year | Prize Amount |
| 1998 | $25,000 |
Charles Simic was born on May 9, 1938, in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, where he had a traumatic childhood during World War II. In 1954 he emigrated from Yugoslavia with his mother and brother to join his father in the United States. In 1966, he earned his bachelor’s degree from New York University while working at night to cover the costs of tuition.