Awesome Awards
posted by Jon Cruz on June 7th, 2009
NEW YORK, N.Y. — Juli Tarsney pointed me today to an article by Steven Heller about trophy design. The article, entitled “And the Trophy for the Most Generic Trophy Goes To…,” was published on The Moment, a fashion and design blog run by the New York Times. You can access the article by clicking here.
Tarsney reminded me that it’s been some time since I did an article on the community’s favorite debate awards. So, I turn it to you: which tournament(s) feature your favorite awards? Why?
Popularity: 1% [?]
no more tag found, sorry
Posted from: 98.14.255.196
June 8th, 2009 21:31
I’m proud of both the individual and the traveling awards we present annually at the New York City Invitational. (That having been said, I owe a thousand apologies to Jake Nebel; the repair of his trophies has taken ages!)
Next year, we are introducing sweepstakes awards. More on those kinds of awards later.
Harvard’s shiny silverware has always been impressive. Bronx Science is endowing a new traveling trophy in Lincoln-Douglas debate to match the very large traveling trophy in policy debate. (The old LD trophy came to us in pieces, and is considerably smaller.) But, again, more on that later.
The iconic Emory key is very neat. I also think the Glenbrooks has suitably massive trophies for the champions. (Speaking of massive, ALL of the Iowa Round Robin hawks are epic.) St. Mark’s has classiest plaques in the country.
Greenhill’s burned-wood plaques may be the nicest double-octas awards that I’ve seen. Many tournaments get cheap on the first elimination round, but Greenhill’s awards are high-quality throughout.
All of that having been said, MBA’s bells and eagles may be my favorites…with one exception.
Hands down the neatest award I’ve seen in debate…Bump’s traveling soup can. A Hendrick Hudson tradition!
While some downplay the importance of physical awards, I have always felt that physical manifestations of competitive accomplishments are important. This is true not only for the individual debaters, for the team; as a director of a debate program at an urban public high school, I have found trophy displays to be a valuable means of both recruiting new students and encouraging administrative support.
Posted from: 24.164.187.207
June 8th, 2009 21:44
I have always admired the Meadow’s Belt.
Sick award.
Posted from: 75.134.128.205
June 8th, 2009 22:14
The Iowa round robin Hawks are by far the most impressive.
Posted from: 67.165.63.35
June 8th, 2009 22:15
There is no match for the TMS Belt.
Posted from: 76.89.245.80
June 8th, 2009 22:29
Apple Valley’s apples were my favorite.
Posted from: 173.28.2.92
June 9th, 2009 00:09
I like me some apples.
Posted from: 69.74.169.2
June 9th, 2009 08:34
Jon: If you add more awards, we’re going to need a bigger boat.
Posted from: 209.98.146.245
June 9th, 2009 10:41
I am most fond of the trophies that are distinctive to a particular tournament, tradition, or school: the apples, the George Washington busts (Iowa Caucus), the Iowa hawks, the Emory keys …
In the “cute trophy” category, I loved the spartan bobbleheads from Lincoln East (Nebraska):
http://theawardsplaceonline.com/awards/Bobbleheads/BHtrojan_sm.jpg
On a more practical note, trophies that are fragile or big/unwieldy can be a challenge to transport … the ideal trophy for a circuit tournament would be distinctively associated with the tournament, not easily breakable, and compact … the AV apples and Emory keys come close.
Posted from: 205.221.2.142
June 9th, 2009 12:30
Is that a “Jaws” reference?
Posted from: 167.206.203.14
June 9th, 2009 14:31
I believe it was. Menick is also clearly the shark in any debate-related Jaws scenario.
Posted from: 173.28.2.92
June 9th, 2009 18:03
Who’s “Quint”?
Posted from: 128.54.55.194
June 9th, 2009 20:13
I think everyone is forgetting one of the most awesome trophies of the season: Glenbrooks.
nuff said
Posted from: 173.28.2.92
June 9th, 2009 22:30
Glenbrooks awards are big wood boxes. I mean, I like them. They’re nice. But they’re just big wood boxes. With little Oscar statues on top.
Now the VALLEY DEBATE AWARDS are incredible. Especially the Giant War Mallets they give to first speaker in each event.
Posted from: 75.173.177.212
June 9th, 2009 23:23
Very nice, Dave.
Posted from: 76.89.245.80
June 9th, 2009 23:40
I’ve got a few of those gavels. Glad i never had to try to fly with them.
Posted from: 98.201.178.59
June 10th, 2009 01:48
i will never forget the ships from the dulles viking rampage
Posted from: 98.199.206.212
June 11th, 2009 21:09
seconded
that thing was awesome