Awards Piece Giving Congratulations Paper Give Companies People

In the United States, there are many types of awards. Some of the most simple awards are just a "certificate," or a piece of paper that states which award was won, by whom, and when. Sometimes an organization will give someone a "framed certificate," where the piece of paper is put underneath a piece of glass or plastic and has wood around the edges, so that it is ready to hang on a wall.

Other awards are much more "elaborate" (fancy and impressive). Companies and universities sometimes have "plaques" for their awards. A plaque is a flat piece of metal, wood, glass, or stone where a person's name and the date are written each time someone wins an award. Plaques are most common when the same award is given every year, and they are usually hung where many people can see them.

Many sports-related awards are "trophies," or large objects made of metal that sit on a table or shelf. A trophy often has a small "sculpture" (three-dimensional art made from metal) of an athlete for that sport, but other trophies might just be a very large cup or plate. Often the name of the award recipient is "engraved" (cut into metal) on the trophy.

Finally, some awards are things that people can wear, such as a gold watch. Many companies used to give their "long-time" (having done something for many years) employees a gold watch on their 20th or 25th anniversary of working for the company. The watch might have the award recipient's name engraved on it, too.