School Merit Awards: A Guide to Properly Recognizing Your Students

Every spring, elementary and high schools across Quebec celebrate their students' achievements with a merit gala or an end-of-year ceremony. For a student, receiving a trophy or a medal engraved with their name is a keepsake they will treasure for years. Here is how to prepare awards that truly delight. Start by defining your categories. Academic achievement is essential, but also think about effort, perseverance, community involvement, sportsmanship, leadership, the arts and outstanding improvement. The more varied your categories, the more students feel recognized, and that is often what makes a ceremony moving. Next, choose the right format for each award. Medals with ribbons work very well for elementary students and participation honours. Trophies are a natural fit for the major end-of-year awards. Engraved plaques are ideal for more prestigious distinctions. A great idea: a perpetual plaque displayed in the school lobby, where a new nameplate with the winner's name is added every year. Pay close attention to the engraving text. Include the student's full name, the award title, the school year and the name of the school. Have the spelling of names verified by the administration or the school office, paying attention to accents and hyphens. An engraved mistake is hard to forgive on gala day. Add the school logo and colours for a consistent presentation. Plan your calendar. Winners' names are sometimes known late in the year. To avoid a last-minute rush, order the trophies and medals in advance, then have the nameplates engraved as soon as the names are confirmed. Allow a comfortable lead time, ideally a few weeks before the ceremony. Finally, keep an eye on your budget. Ordering in quantity and standardizing models helps control costs without sacrificing quality. At Mr Trophée, we offer the best price guaranteed in Canada, laser engraving and colour printing, with pickup at our Léry workshop or delivery. Are you organizing a merit gala for your school in Châteauguay, on the South Shore or elsewhere in Quebec? Contact us with your list of categories and we will help you create awards worthy of your students.