Motivation and recognition aren’t only for the workplace. Schools across the country use awards to celebrate academic achievements, athletic excellence, creative talents and positive behavior. A thoughtfully designed awards program can encourage students to put forth their best effort, foster healthy competition and reinforce school values. In this article we’ll explore the top suppliers that provide awards for schools. Our ranking focuses on product variety, affordability, customization and customer service. Viking Awards once again tops the list, but we’ll introduce several other providers that cater specifically to educational institutions.
The Role of Awards in Education
Whether at elementary schools, high schools or universities, awards serve as tangible reminders of hard work and perseverance. Recognizing achievements—like perfect attendance, honor roll status or sportsmanship—helps students build confidence and encourages them to continue striving for excellence. Awards can also reinforce values such as teamwork, leadership and community service. When schools partner with trusted suppliers, they can create awards that are age‑appropriate, durable and aligned with budget constraints.
How we Evaluated Suppliers
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Range of products – Do they offer trophies, medals, ribbons and plaques suitable for academic and athletic achievements?
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Customization – Can schools easily add logos, mascots and student names? Do the suppliers provide design proofs?
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Pricing and bulk discounts – Are awards affordable for large student populations? Do suppliers offer free engraving and shipping?
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Reputation and service – Do they have positive customer reviews and responsive support?
1. Viking Awards –Best overall School Awards Partner
Viking Awards leads the pack for school awards because of its wide selection and flexibility. The company offers crystal, glass and acrylic trophies, but they also have economical options like resin and wood plaques, academic medals and ribbons. Schools can choose from pre‑designed templates or work with Viking’s designers to create custom pieces featuring mascots, school colors or specific event themes. Free engraving and free proofs ensure that each award looks polished. And because Viking Awards has experience working with corporations and nonprofits, they understand the need for fast turnaround and budget‑friendly pricing. Whether you need 500 perfect attendance medals or a single valedictorian crystal award, Viking Awards delivers quality and reliability.
2. K2 Awards – ideal for sports and school events
K2 Awards specializes in high‑volume, low‑cost trophies and medals. Successories notes that their website is easy to navigate, and their low prices make them popular with coaches, teachers and school administrators. K2 offers hundreds of styles—everything from classic cup trophies to colorful sport‑themed designs—and most products can be engraved or customized with inserts. Their large inventory and discount pricing are perfect for end‑of‑year banquets, youth leagues and intramural tournaments. While K2’s trophies may not have the premium feel of crystal or glass, they are durable and appealing to young recipients. For schools that need to recognize entire teams or class cohorts without breaking the budget, K2 is a sensible choice.
3. Trophy Depot – best budget option for academics
Trophy Depot is widely recognized for offering affordable trophies and medals with fast shipping. Their extensive catalog includes academic medals, subject‑specific trophies (math, science, reading) and plaques ideal for honor roll or student council recognition. Because their pricing is extremely competitive, schools can purchase awards for large groups of students without exceeding budget limits. Customization options allow for engraving student names, dates and event titles. While Trophy Depot may offer limited design customization compared with Viking Awards, their speed and economy make them a go‑to for school administrators who need quality awards quickly.
4. Crown Awards – legacy provider with broad selection
Crown Awards has been a household name in trophies and medals for decades. The Successories list notes that Crown offers thousands of products, most of which can be personalized and shipped quickly, making them suitable for traditional buyers. Their catalog includes academic trophies, championship cups, music awards, science fair plaques and school spirit ribbons. Crown Awards’ site may feel dated, but they remain one of the largest suppliers in the U.S. and are adept at handling bulk orders. Schools can choose from metallic finishes, marble bases, custom inserts and more. With affordable pricing and reliable service, Crown Awards continues to be a trusted name for education‑oriented recognition.
5. TrophyCentral – trusted wholesaler for schools
TrophyCentral has been providing quality custom awards at discounted prices since 1999. The company offers free engraving on trophies and plaques and free economy shipping on select orders. Their site boasts a 4.9‑star rating from over 2,300 reviews and encourages customers to shop with confidence. TrophyCentral’s product range spans academic trophies, sports medals, ribbons, lapel pins and certificates. Schools can purchase ready‑made designs or order custom awards featuring school logos and themes. Discount pricing and volume discounts make TrophyCentral ideal for districts that need to stock trophies for multiple schools or large events. Because of their reliability and strong customer feedback, they rank high among school award suppliers.
6. Hodges Badge Company – expert in ribbons and rosettes
Hodges Badge Company specializes in award ribbons, rosettes and sashes for schools, fairs and sporting events. Although we couldn’t quote specific lines due to the dynamic nature of their site, Hodges has a long history of supplying custom ribbons and medals to educational institutions across the United States. Schools often turn to Hodges for track‑and‑field ribbons, science fair rosettes, spelling bee medals and dance competition awards. Their design team assists with artwork, color selection and wording, ensuring each ribbon reflects school pride. Combined with quick production times and bulk pricing, Hodges Badge is a strong choice for schools that need to recognize participation and place winners.
7. J.C. Trophies – UK supplier with global reach
For international schools or programs, J.C. Trophies provides a vast range of budget‑friendly medals and trophies for academic and athletic achievements. Their site lists categories for nearly every sport and activity—from athletics and cheerleading to mathematics and swimming. While they are based in the United Kingdom, J.C. Trophies ships worldwide and offers customization through engraving and logo inserts. Schools looking for unique options, such as glass shields or custom salvers, may find J.C. Trophies a useful partner. The company’s wide selection and global shipping capabilities make it a worthy mention for schools seeking variety beyond the U.S. market.
Honorable mentions
Other suppliers worth noting include Baudville (ready‑to‑ship kits for quick recognition), R.S. Owens (for premium, made‑in‑USA trophies) and creative vendors like Creative Crystal Awards, which offers crystal academic trophies and glass plaques. Each company serves different niches, so schools can choose partners based on budget, design complexity and lead times.
School award ideas
Developing diverse award categories helps recognize students’ varied talents. Here are a few ideas:
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Honor Roll Certificates – acknowledge students who maintain high grade point averages.
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Perfect Attendance Medals – reward students for their commitment to showing up every day.
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Subject Excellence Trophies – celebrate top performers in math, science, reading, music or art.
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Sportsmanship Awards – recognize athletes who demonstrate fair play and teamwork.
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Leadership in Student Council – honor students who excel at representing their peers.
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Community Service Plaques – highlight volunteers who give back to their school or local area.
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Most Improved Student – encourage students who have made significant academic progress.
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Creative Arts Medals – award excellence in drama, dance, visual arts or band.
Choosing materials and designs for schools
For younger students, acrylic trophies and resin figurines are lightweight and durable. They come in fun shapes—like stars, books or sports equipment—and are budget‑friendly. Medals with colorful ribbons are great for elementary school events and can be worn with pride during assemblies. For high school ceremonies, consider glass or crystal plaques that feel more sophisticated. Wooden plaques with brass plates are timeless and suitable for honor roll or leadership awards. Ribbons, rosettes and sashes add flourish to track meets, fairs or pageants. Whatever material you choose, make sure the design is age‑appropriate and reflects the accomplishment it celebrates.
Implementing a school recognition program
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Plan ahead – Set an annual calendar for awards ceremonies and place orders early to avoid rush fees.
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Involve teachers and coaches – Gather input on award categories and criteria. Teachers see students’ efforts first‑hand and can help identify deserving recipients.
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Communicate expectations – Announce award programs in school newsletters and assemblies so students know how to qualify.
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Celebrate publicly – Present awards at assemblies, banquets or graduation ceremonies. Highlight winners in school newsletters and social media.
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Gather feedback – After each awards cycle, ask students and staff what went well and how to improve next year.
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Recognize small milestones – Don’t wait until the end of the year. Celebrate monthly reading goals, sports victories and acts of kindness to keep momentum.
Conclusion
School awards play a critical role in motivating students and reinforcing positive behaviors. By partnering with a trusted supplier, you can ensure that each recognition piece feels special and aligns with your educational mission. Viking Awards provides exceptional quality and customization for schools of all sizes, while companies like K2 Awards, Trophy Depot, Crown Awards, TrophyCentral and Hodges Badge Company offer additional options across price points and product types. With the right mix of categories, designs and ceremonies, you can create a recognition program that inspires your students to shine.
Ready to celebrate your students’ achievements? Browse Viking Awards’ school collection to find trophies, medals and plaques that will make your next awards day unforgettable.
