End-of-Year Awards Aren’t Only For Kids

You’ve seen their faces when they receive physical recognition for the hard work they put in and the success they achieved. They beam from ear to ear, their eyes dance and they scan the room to make sure they know their family sees them. They’ll proudly display their award in their home and will dream of the next success. This happense at the end of every ministry year during your end-of-year ceremony. But are we talking only about the kids in your club? What about the adults?

Of course there is intrinsic reward with leading and discipling kids, and seeing them understand who Christ is in their lives. There’s value in serving a Holy God and others. But after a year of sharing the Gospel, teaching lessons, listening to verses, playing games and talking with parents, not to mention managing conflict and crying, being covered in goo or spaghetti or paint or what was that?!,  and chasing after kids to finish their handbooks … your volunteer leaders desire to be appreciated by you. This year, give them a thank you and an award. Serious or a silly, their childlikeness will come to their faces when they receive an award from you.

The ideas for awards are as endless as your imagination.

To start with the obvious, check out the Awana Store for some great ideas. The Victory Trophy, Workman Trophy, Award of Merit Medallion and Helper Pin are traditional awards. Consider writing a special message on a game pin, a relay baton or a beach ball for your Game Director. Have kids sign a T-shirt or Jersey for their club leader or fill a club bag, backpack or tote with Awana gifts or items specific to the recipient’s personal likes such as gift cards, tickets to events or movies and books. Check out the Gifts category for more inspiration.

Recently there was a conversation on the Awana Ministry Directors Facebook page about silly awards for adults. Julie Randy Allbaugh Meinen and Melissa Sabinski shared several ideas such as a microphone for someone who is “often heard singing,” or the Pear Award to spouses who are a great volunteer pair and a needle and thread to the volunteer “who keeps you in stitches.” For more of their ideas, see below.

The bottom line is that an award provides a physical reminder for an accomplishment long after success has been achieved. You don’t have to give an award to let someone know you appreciate them; there are many ways to give a person a lasting reminder of what they mean to you. But something tangible shows you spent time writing a special message or picking out the perfect thing for them. Just step back and look at that leader’s face when they are given an award for being a great listener. They’re glowing, aren’t they!? Doesn’t that warm your heart, too?

Ideas from Julie Randy Allbaugh Meinen and Melissa Sabinski:

Funniest leader, the most likely to ______?
Duct Tape Award — goes to the person who can fix anything. Give them a roll of duct tape.
Gem Award — For the volunteer who is a real gem. Find a fake gem (the bigger the better.)
Lollipop Award – For the team member who can’t be licked.
Eggs-cellent Volunteer — For the person who always does it well. Give them a dozen eggs.
Skeleton Award — For the person who worked themselves to the bone. Give them a small skeleton.
Pear Award – For the husband and wife team who are a great ‘pair’. Give them a plastic or real pear. Jake and Erin
Fresh Air Award — For the team member who always says it like it is. Give them a box of breath mints.
Life Saver Award — For the volunteer who saved you. Give them a roll of lifesavers.
Raise in Pay — For the leader who deserves a ‘raisin’ pay. Give them a small box of raisins.
Spark plug Award — For the person who gets everyone else moving. Give them a spark plug.
Well Done Award — For the team member who does a great job. Give them a burnt piece of toast.
Whisk Award — For the person who is un‘beat’able. Give them a kitchen whisk.
On the Ball Award — For the person who always gets it done. Give them a ball.
Shining Example Award — For that person who always shows your youth their best side. Give them a mirror.
Cheer Award — For the volunteer who always helps out with joy. Give them a box of Cheer laundry detergent.
A Million Thanks Award — For the person you can’t thank enough. Give them $1,000,000 in play money.
Needle and Thread Award — For the volunteer who keeps you in stitches. Give them a travel sewing kit.
Nuts About You Award — For the person you are nuts about. Give them a container of nuts.
Hat’s Off Award — For the team member who goes above and beyond. Give them a hat.
Rock Award — For that really dependable volunteer. Give them a rock.
T-Riffic Award — For the person who is terrific. Give them a bag of tea.
Smile Award — For the leader with the most encouraging smile. Give them a tube of toothpaste.
Most Flexible Award — Will go anywhere and do anything. Give them a rubber band.
Coffee mug — always shows up with a caffeinated beverage
Chattering teeth — most talkative
Chocolate coins — most thrifty spender
Microphone — often heard singing
Icebreaker mints — breaks the ice and makes the volunteers or kids feel welcome
Clock/watch — for running late
Butterfinger — for dropping things

If you have some great ideas for leader awards, share them on our Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest pages or in the comments of this blog.