We are pleased to announce that the 2025 Malcolm Tredinnick Memorial Prize has been awarded to Tim Schilling!
Tim embodies the values that define the Django community: generosity, respect, thoughtfulness, and a deep commitment to supporting others. He is a tireless community leader who creates spaces where newcomers thrive ❤️ exactly in the spirit of our prize and Malcolm Tredinnick’s work.
About Tim
As a co-founder of Djangonaut Space, Tim has encouraged countless people to take their first steps as contributors. With the overall program but also specific initiatives like co-writing sessions, Space Reviewers, Cosmic Contributors. Many community members trace their involvement in Django back to Tim’s encouragement and support.
Beyond Djangonaut Space, Tim serves on the Django Steering Council, is one of the founders of Django Commons, and is an active member of DEFNA, supporting DjangoCon US. He is known for thoughtful feedback, amplifying others’ work, and encouraging people to step forward for leadership roles.
Quotes
Here is some of what people said about Tim’s involvement with the community:
Tim exemplifies all the values the Django community is known for. He is incredibly supportive of newcomers, respectful, and generous. Always ready to give constructive feedback and lend a hand where needed, be it through a pull review or the many Django-related forums he participates in, Tim is a natural leader, someone that the community looks up to.
– Felipe Villegas
Every time he spots a chance to help, he doesn’t need to think twice. He’s a welcoming person not only with newcomers, as in Djangonaut Space, but also with maintainers through Django Commons. Tim is also very creative, finding different ways to contribute. For example, inside the Djangonaut Space community, the “Space Reviewers” team was formed to host a live stream to help people become reviewers by sharing the process and also actually reviewing a ticket that needs some attention. The Django community is much more than blessed to have Tim, who exemplifies dedication, respect, and support for others.
– Raffaella
Tim just has this way of making sure newcomers feel welcome and get the support they need. He doesn’t just talk about community building - he actually does the work to make it happen.
– Abe Hanoka
Tim is a thoughtful and caring community leader. He engages with newcomers in a warm and welcoming manner. In his roles as the admin for Djangonaut Space, the admin of Django Commons, and a member of the Steering Council, he strategically identifies the gaps in the community, collaborates with other members to develop an action plan, and follows through with the execution. He’s doing some of the hardest work out there. Not only is Tim nurturing newcomers, he’s also growing the community by bridging the gap between newcomers and experienced open source contributors. Tim’s actions speak louder than words.
– Lilian
Other nominees
Other nominations for this year included:
- Adam Hill and Sangeeta Jadoonanan
- Anna Makarudze
- Baptiste Mispelon
- Bhuvnesh Sharma
- Carlton Gibson
- David Smith
- Ester Beltrami
- Jake Howard
- Lilian
- Mike Edmunds
- Mike Edwards
- Noah Maina
- Raymond Penners
- Simon Charette
- Will Vincent
Malcolm would be very proud of the legacy he has fostered in our community. Each year we receive many nominations, and it is always hard to pick the winner. If your nominee didn’t make it this year, you can always nominate them again next year!
Congratulations Tim on the well-deserved honor!