Student Awards Banquet Ideas & Links

The earlier you get started, the better. The more lead time you have, the easier it will be for parents to find sitters and organize schedules. Make sure everyone involved in managing your banquet is on the same page. Work together to create a schedule for each person’s responsibilities (e.g., what day items need to be ordered, when the guest speaker will arrive, etc.).

• Find printable party planners here.
• More party planners here.

Better yet, involve the students. Get your students involved in planning their own sports banquet awards! This is a great way to include them and make them feel more invested. Ask for specific feedback on what they’d like to see at the event and how they’d like it structured. If teachers are available, ask them to share their students’ achievements. They can also nominate their student for an award.

People are more likely to come out for an event if they know how much fun it will be, which is why flyers work so well. Give them something to look forward to! Flyers can include the menu, guest speaker(s), and entertainment. If you’re hosting a talent show or dance party after your banquet, make sure to highlight those.

• Find free flyer templates here.

A great way to get your banquet space ready for an award ceremony is with banners. Posters and signage go a long way in getting the point across. Hang up banners in the front of the room. These can be customized with inspiring messages, photos, or names & titles of deserving students.

Find free banner templates here.
Find banner and sign templates here.

You want to do everything in your power to ensure that people know about your event–especially if it’s open to the public. Social media is a great way to draw awareness and promote engagement.

Post updates on your Facebook event page, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat-the list goes on! Try creating a hashtag (e.g., #HNGCSportsAwardsBanquet) that people can use to tweet about the event. Use online tools to create custom graphics and share them on social media.

Find free social media post templates here.
Use this free tool to create graphics here.

Create a program that incorporates both traditional and modern awards with some creativity. For example, the MVP could receive a trophy from the previous year’s winner, while everyone gets lapel pins or plaques.
Awards can come in all shapes and sizes, so don’t feel limited to the traditional glass trophy or silver mug. Chenille patches for letterman jackets also make great awards.

If it’s a smaller event, you shouldn’t need to spend much money on gifts. But if your budget allows for a few extras, go for it! It will make the evening even more fun and memorable.

https://in.pinterest.com/pin/2181499807720066/feedback/?invite_code=8b7de20005cf42679f812a24f44f888b&sender_id=498140546192136137 are an inexpensive option that works well at any large-scale occasion–like end-of-season awards banquets. Put all the gifts in a bag, and let students pick theirs up on the way out.

If you don’t want to use gift bags, hand out small, inexpensive items like custom pillows, towels, or stickers instead! They’re cute, fun, and easy for everyone to take home.

To make it more interactive, consider adding a few raffle-style giveaways. Let students fill out a ballot with their contact information at the beginning of the night and then pull names during dinner. Keep things interesting by giving away one big item (like a tablet) and smaller accessories (like headphones).

• Find gift bag ideas here.
• Find raffle basket ideas here.

When students are at their most comfortable, they’ll have a blast. Try adding some interactive activities that allow them to mingle and get to know one another better.

For example, you could play trivia games, asking students about big moments, and small, from the past year.

At dinner, have students write down some fun facts about themselves on a slip of paper. Keep them anonymous and then gather them all into a bowl or bag. The crowd will have a blast guessing which facts match up with their classmates.

For a break from eating and chatting, put together a photo booth where students take pictures in front of a themed background. Give students props to pose with, or print out fun signs for everyone to hold! The pictures are great keepsakes.

Ending the night on a sweet note is always a good idea. Before presenting the awards, pass out mini bags of candy or cookies as party favors.

• Find game ideas here.
• Find sports trivia ideas here.

Awards certificates are a great way to recognize students for their achievements. This is true both at the banquet and throughout the year! It’s also nice to have these on hand if you need something to give out in a pinch, or if parents come looking for a copy for their records. Contact us to talk about the custom certificates we can create for your students.