Award certificates are a popular way to express appreciation or recognize accomplishments. At Baudville, we frequently give certificates to winners of games or contests, and use award certificates in our formal recognition programs.

With June right around the corner, certificates are also a great way to give end of the school year appreciation to teachers, volunteers, school staff, and students. To create and present memorable award certificates, follow these five award certificate tips.

1. Say it with style. Include your award winner’s name, achievement, the date of the award occasion, and any other important information about the accomplishment.

2. Design is everything. Be creative! Choose an award certificate paper to match the award occasion — be it fun and colorful or elegant and serious. Present the award certificate in an award certificate folder for a nice presentation.

3. Have an authority endorse it. Ask the PTO President, school Principal, or school district Superintendent to sign the award certificate. You could also have the teacher’s coworkers or students sign it.

4. Present it properly. Don’t leave an award certificate with smeared ink in the teacher’s mailbox. Choose a quality certificate paper, place it in an award certificate folder or frame it, and then present it personally. Elegant presentation underscores your appreciation and your recipient’s importance.

5. Dignify the award occasion. Present the award certificate at a school function, staff meeting, or PTO event. If your presentation will be one-on-one, make it special by treating your award winner to lunch.

Priceless Pointer: Some people may feel uncertain or awkward creating award certificates if they’re not used to doing it. Make it easy for them by taking a few minutes — in a meeting or one-on-one — to help them gain familiarity with any software, award certificate paper, or certificate materials you have assembled for your program. And, be sure to give them a reward for taking on this new task!

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Cori is Baudville's in-house Recognitionista (she's officially a Certified Recognition Professional, too)  and a member of the Millennial generation. Get her employee recognition tips and special discounts by liking Baudville on Facebook.