Mankind has constantly sought to acknowledge its achievements in ways that can outlast its glory. While poems and stories have sometimes been written telling their stories and histories, the written word and the message can get lost over centuries and across the translation of one language to another. Trophies, on the other hand, are permanent reminders of someone’s achievements and honors. This guide covers the different forms a trophy or award can take.
Medals
One of the most well-recognized forms of trophies and awards would be the medal. These items usually have two components: a circular disc, often made of metal, and a colored ribbon, sometimes long enough to serve double duty as a necklace to easily wear the medal, as anyone can see from watching the medal ceremony of the Olympic Games. Medals have been used in many fields to symbolize all sorts of commendations.
Diploma/Certifications
While some may balk at how a single sheet of paper can hold meaning, many people toil through the school system and higher education for its sake. Diplomas are awards that confirm that a person has done the work necessary to back up their education and training. Many different educational institutions and job training facilities conclude their regimen for enrollees with an award ceremony to present each successful enrollee with their diploma.
Challenge Coins
Think of these modest-sized tokens as a handheld version of a medal that is perfect for displaying on a wall or shrine, or you could take the military approach and keep it handy in your pocket for the moment you attend a gathering, and people start boasting about their achievements; the owner of the coin symbolizing the rarest and most esteemed accomplishment gets a free round of drinks.
Challenge coins were initially one of the little quirks of military service and esprit de corps. Still, the civilian market has since latched onto the idea as a way for company leaders to award valued employees.
Resin Trophy
This is just a notch in quality above a participation trophy and often shows up in sports competitions with a resin figurine mounted atop the trophy and equipped with whatever gear and attire is appropriate to the sport associated with the trophy. The figurine is made of petroleum products; thus, the price for even one of these can fluctuate based on the cost of oil.
Plaques
These sorts of awards are designed for hanging from a wall and will often feature iconography and some sort of engraving against a wooden base. Examples of these sorts of plaques include:
- A football team photo with the team name, year of success, and even the motto of the team or school it belongs to is engraved beneath the photo.
- A group photo of a company’s sales team with an engraving explaining the team’s achievements.
- Photos of a military squad in BDUs and dress uniform, bearing an engraving of the squad’s name and the names and nicknames of all its members.
A Laurel Wreath
The first Olympic Games of Ancient Greece did not bother presenting winning contestants with medals. Instead, they honored the first-place contestant with a wreath woven from laurels. The expression “resting on one’s laurels” comes from this tradition and describes someone who appears content with the progress they made in the past and may be unwilling to push themselves further.
Chalices
A chalice is a metal drinking vessel and has long been associated with commending individuals in various sporting activities; the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup would technically count as a chalice as it has been used to drink from in the past. Chalices intended to be awarded to a competitive athlete are often made of silver and are most common among equestrian, nautical, and automotive competitions.
People can be honored and awarded for their achievements in several ways. While some of these awards are intended solely for display, such as diplomas, plaques, and trophies, others can be carried on the winner’s person, like a challenge coin, laurel wreath, or medal. No matter the award’s form, you can tell that its owner did something remarkable to possess it.
