Activity Awards

Jeff and I at Perri's graduation.

Graduation, whether from college, high school, middle school, elementary school or even kindergarten, represents a milestone in a young person's life. An accomplishment has been reached, a chapter in childhood has ended, with a new beginning on the horizon.  Family and friends celebrate the graduate and honor their achievements, many times showering them with cards, gifts, parties and other celebrations.

Graduations also mark the end of a school year and can signify a change in leadership.  Teachers and other administrators leave for a variety of reasons, including moving to a new location or profession, choosing to at stay home with family, or retiring.

How do you celebrate graduation? Today's blog will give you some ideas of meaningful awards for graduates and others at the end of the school year.

Lamp of Learning Trophies make great graduation awards for young students.

Kindergarten: Many schools will "graduate" kindergarteners to attend full-day elementary school. Some schools give small academic trophies to kindergarteners for graduating.  My older daughter attended a private kindergarten and the kids dressed in caps and gowns and had a small procession; it was quite adorable!  One school we have worked with for many years gives this Lamp of Learning trophy to their kindergarten grads.

Elementary & Middle School: We don't see many awards or engraved gifts for elementary or middle school students who are graduating to the next school up.  Families may give their students a balloon or a card for being promoted to elementary or middle school, but gifts are usually inexpensive and low-key. However, the end of school does result in many middle school achievements being recognized, especially for sports teams and competitive activities or clubs.

High School:  High school graduation is a big deal. Students are now officially adults with many life changes ahead. Graduates may choose to move out on their own, heading to college, military service, or employment,   The most common graduation gift is money; but other gifts include personal items, such as jewelry, framed artwork, or a traditional engraved pen.  Flowers are often given at the graduation ceremony.

This engraved pen makes a traditional graduation gift.

Schools often award excellence at graduation.  Some awards include Student of the Year in different academic subjects, Valedictorians, Perfect Attendance, and Scholarship awards, to name a few. Most often academic school plaques or scholastic medals are given for these types of accomplishments.

College:  Graduation from university represents a milestone of school completion. Graduates now enter the "real world" and it's time to get a job!  Again, as a graduation gift, cash is king and most grads need money after being poor students for years on end. Other meaningful gifts include jewelry, watches, and other personal items.

Retirement:  Graduation ceremonies or End-of-Year school assemblies are the perfect opportunity to acknowledge and thank retiring teachers and other staff.  We create many beautiful awards for these events. The most popular retirement gifts include engraved clocks, plaques and etched vases. Get more ideas at my past blog on Retirement Awards.

No matter the age, all graduates deserve kudos for the achievement. Enjoy the celebration and congrats Class of 2017!

Cheers,
Jessica

*Editor's note: This post was originally published on June 5, 2015.  It was updated for content.

Celebrate Oscar Sunday!

Check out our Pinterest page for even more ideas!

Are you a fan of the big screen, watching every nominated film?  If so, you won't want to miss the 89^th Annual Academy Awards , also knows as the Oscars!  This star-studded event takes place in Los Angeles on Sunday February 26 at 7pm Eastern, 4pm Pacific Time.

Why should movie stars have all the fun?  Consider hosting an Oscars Party with your family and friends and make it a celebration with the stars in your life!

Party Ideas

1.  Invitations:  If you have the time, make your own invitations with a red carpet or old Hollywood theme.  If you want to purchase premade invitations, many party stores offer options, as well as Etsy.  If you want to email your invites, evite has some cute and easy choices as well - click here to view.

2.  Attire:  Since the Oscars are THE fashion event of the year, host your own catwalk by having your guests dress in finery.  OR have everyone be a critic with the worst fashion faux-pas!  Have your guests vote on their favorites!

3.  Décor:  At the door, roll out the Red Carpet for your guests; they will feel like stars when they enter your party!  Consider having a camera on hand to snap pictures for your own paparazzi, or a Dolby Theater photo booth with lots of props, such as boas and top hats, for social sharing.

Red roses with gold vases along with small candles are the perfect decorations for an Oscar Party.

For other decorating ideas, consider red flowers in gold vases, gold accent pieces such as runners, trays and napkins, and ample candlelight.  Small golden-tone votives set the feel of old Hollywood charm in a festive atmosphere. Old filmstrip reels make great props too.

4.  Drinks:  Get inspired by the silver screen and feature delicious cocktails from famous movies.  The most notable are Vodka Martinis from James Bond movies, White Russians from The Big Lebowski, and Cosmopolitans from Sex and the City.

Depending on the drink you choose, dress it up with ultra cool glasses.  Barware with sparkling gold accents look festive for a glam night.  Crate and Barrel have some great options - the Gala Double Old-Fashioned and the Mingle Bar Glass.  So pretty!

5.  Games:  Consider hosting a pool, where guests pick the winners and contribute a small amount of money, which is then awarded to the winner.  Or create "Oscar Bingo" with fun things to look for throughout the show.

One of our most popular trophies, perfect for an Oscar Party!

6.  Trophies:  Did you know that the famous Oscar Statuette is made in Chicago by one of our suppliers, RS Owens?  Even though this iconic trophy is trademarked and cannot be duplicated, we offer many similar looking Achievement Trophies  for our customers, the most popular of which is the Large Male Achievement Trophy.

As seen in People Magazine, our Small Male Achievement Trophy makes an affordable accessory for your Oscar party and will impress all of your friends.  Host a contest and give it to your winner or use as a decoration to make your party even more festive!  Or put two back to back on your table for the perfect centerpiece.

For even more ideas, check out our pinterest page Oscar Party Ideas. In closing, I'd like to thank the Academy for giving me an excuse to throw a party!

Editor's Note: This post was originally published on February 10th, 2015.  It has been updated for content.

Cheers,
Jessica

Looking for something fun to spice up your Halloween bash?  Consider hosting a contest, complete with prizes!  There are all sorts of entertaining Halloween-themed games and activities to do with both kids and adults. Check out the 4 contest ideas blow with corresponding Halloween trophies for the winners.

Halloween Trophies add hype to your spooky event!

1.  Costume Contest - This is a no-brainer.  Everyone wears a costume to a Halloween party, so have your guests vote for their favorites!  This can be done at a kids' party, adult bash, or at the office.  My favorite award for 'Best Costume' is our Flying Witch Halloween Trophy.

2.  Pumpkin Carving Contest - Your guests bring a pumpkin to the party and take home a carved jack-o-lantern.  Put a big pot of soup on the stove, turn on some football, and it's the perfect fall activity!  At our family pumpkin carving competition, we had a 'Kids Choice' prize and an 'Adults Choice' winner.  For awards, I like our Halloween Rising Star Trophy or Jack-O-Lantern Halloween Column Trophy, as they both have carved and can be personalized specifically for your event.

3. Office Cube Decorating Contest - Why leave all the fun to the kids?  Get in the holiday spirit by hosting an office decorating competition.  You can choose a theme (or not) and then bring your spooky vision to life in your cubicle!  Once the office is decorated, host trick-or-treating for employees’ families to show it off.  One thing to double check with management is what decorations are allowed, such as lights or candles. This type of event is the highlight of the year for many businesses!  Don't forget prizes for the best decoration such as a Color Halloween Plaque to display in the office or a gift card to a neighboring coffee shop.

A great game for gremlins of all ages is the Spooky Touch Boxes!

4.  Spooky Touch Box - This is a fun game for a classroom party.  An adult creates a box with a hole, large enough for a hand to fit through, but small enough so you can’t see inside.  Within the box is a creepy item to feel.  I usually do 4-6 touch boxes for a party.  Each child takes a turn reaching their hand into each box, touching what is inside.  Whoever guesses the most correct items in the boxes wins!

Some ideas of things to put in the boxes are peeled grapes (for eyeballs), cold spaghetti (for brains), pumpkin guts (more brains), banana peel (for tongue), dried apricot (for ear).  My friend put an antler in one of the boxes for her daughter's party and that really stumped the kids.  Since the kids will get plenty of candy while trick-or-treating, I would suggest a non-edible prize.  A Halloween themed pencil, glow stick, glow necklace, creepy ring or Halloween medal are all good, inexpensive prizes for the winner.

I hope this gives you some fun ideas for your party and check out our large selection of Halloween Trophies here!  Only 2 1/2 weeks until Halloween - hope yours is safe and fun!

Editor's Note:  This post was originally published in October 2012, and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

Cheers,
Jessica

If you’re planning an event this summer, play outdoor games to get people talking, interacting, and off their phones! One of my favorites is Corn Hole, also known as Bean Bag Toss. This game is for all ages and easy to play.

Cornhole makes a great game for birthday parties, company picnics, family reunions, and tailgates. I even saw a game set up at an outdoor restaurant!

Equipment Needed:

This awesome board was painted with love! The bean bags go through the center of the sunflower.

Corn Hole does require equipment to play. The game has two boards with a hole in the middle, with the object to toss the bean bag into the hole. You can play one-on-one or have teams of two. If the bean bag lands on the board, it’s a point, if it goes in the hole, its three points. Teams take turns going back and forth.

For a guide to how to play, check out Hayneedle.com’s guide to Cornhole.

Cornhole boards:

You can buy a cornhole game as a set, or make your own. To buy, there are many different styles and finishes. Or you can purchase an unfinished set and paint it yourself! This would just require some creativity and would be a fun project to do with your kids.

To build your own bean-bag toss game, check out this DIY network site.

Cornhole Awards

Create a cornhole tournament and give personalized awards! We offer a number of fun, inexpensive awards for your winners. Our most popular options include:

Customer Dwayne added felt "bean bags" to his corn hole trophy. So clever!

Corn Hole Game Trophy – exclusive to Trophies2Go, you won’t find this award anywhere else. It looks just like a cornhole board. One customer even made little felt bean bags on this trophy, making it the hit of the event!

3D Motion Xtreme CornHole Trophy  – this popular little award is a great inexpensive choice for your winning team. It includes your personalized etching on the base.

Cornhole Champion Award Belt – for a larger event with a bigger budget, consider this high quality leather championship belt. This is an impressive award for your tournament winner!

Make it a summer to remember by hosting a fun event with your office, family or friends! Bean bag toss is the perfect way to get people connecting and making memories together!

Cheers!
Jessica

In this fast-paced, high tech time, it's refreshing to see a clock in a home or office.

Summer is wedding season and it's always a challenge to find a meaningful gift for the bride and groom.  Of course you can always choose an item from their registry, but sometimes you want to give something different, more sentimental with uniqueness and personalization, that they will cherish for years to come.  Personalized Clocks make the perfect gift of time for newlyweds, along with couples celebrating anniversaries.

Why a Clock is the Perfect Gift

When everyone has the time on their phone, computer, tablet, and Apple Watch, why would anyone want an old school clock?

The answer to why a clock is a great gift lies in that very question. A traditional clock, once a staple in every kitchen, living room, and office, is now a rare sight in many homes. It’s presence on a feature wall or mantle is notable, distinct, and often a focal or conversation point.

What makes our clocks special is they are both functional and beautiful.  Custom clock engraving makes the clock especially personal and a reminder of their special day.  The clock becomes a symbol of enduring love, an heirloom to be admired for a lifetime.

This stunning crystal clock makes a lovely display piece.

Our personalized clocks are masterfully crafted and precision engraved, sure to delight the couple.  In a wide range of styles, there's a personalized clock in every price range.  Below are some of our most popular options for a customized wedding or anniversary gift.

1.  Our Gears and Cogs Personalized Clock is one of our best sellers, large, impressive and diverse enough to fit almost any home.  With a modern design, skeleton face, and silver accents, this is a great choice for a young couple.

2.  The Transparent Crystal Clock with Gears is a beautiful crystal showpiece sure to impress your couple.  Again with the skeleton face, your personalized engraving is delicately etched directly onto the front of the clock.

3.  For a couple who loves reading or academics, our popular Personalized Rosewood Book Clock is a great choice. With traditional styling, it looks terrific displayed on a bookshelf with a library.

4.  Extremely affordable, the Silver Glass Personalized Alarm Clock is probably our best-selling clock.  Under $25, with clean lines and elegant styling, you would never know what a great value it is!  Just like every clock we offer, it includes personalized engraving for free.

Our personalized clocks also make great favors for weddings as well.  When I married years ago, I gave my bridal party each a small personalized clock to put on their nightstand or dresser to thank them for participating in our special day!

Enjoy the festivities and a summer of love!

Cheers,

Jessica