It’s not fully clear which “Adams” you’re asking about, but there is a likely fit that matches “Adams who was awarded nyt.” The phrase most often points to John Luther Adams , a contemporary American composer who was the subject of a New York Times arts piece when he received the William Schuman Award , a prestigious lifetime achievement honor for an American composer. The Times ran a short article titled along the lines of “John Luther Adams Wins a Lifetime Achievement Award,” noting he had been given the 50,000‑dollar William Schuman Award recognizing his career output and influence.

If you meant something different (for example, Eric Adams and a New York–related civic award, or an Adams working at the New York Times who was promoted or honored internally), tell me any extra detail you remember (music, politics, journalism, book prize, etc.), and I can narrow it further.