how to give an award presentation speech

• PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
• EDIT Edit this Article
• EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Happiness Hub Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
• Browse Articles
• Learn Something New
• Quizzes Hot
• Happiness Hub
• This Or That Game
• Train Your Brain
• Explore More
• Support wikiHow
• About wikiHow
• Log in / Sign up
• Education and Communications
• Presentations

How to Present an Award

Last Updated: May 7, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Patrick Muñoz and by wikiHow staff writer, Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA . Patrick is an internationally recognized Voice & Speech Coach, focusing on public speaking, vocal power, accent and dialects, accent reduction, voiceover, acting and speech therapy. He has worked with clients such as Penelope Cruz, Eva Longoria, and Roselyn Sanchez. He was voted LA's Favorite Voice and Dialect Coach by BACKSTAGE, is the voice and speech coach for Disney and Turner Classic Movies, and is a member of Voice and Speech Trainers Association. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 111,361 times.

Giving out an award is a huge honor, so you likely want to do a great job. When you’re presenting an award, it’s important to keep the focus on the winner rather than yourself. Start your award speech by introducing the award and what it’s for. Then, announce the winner and why they won. Additionally, make sure that your information is accurate and concise.

Writing and Practicing Your Speech

• If the person knows about the award, talk to them directly to verify that you have correct information.
• If the award is a surprise, you can still talk to the person, but be vague about the reason. It may be helpful to talk to people who know them well, like a coworker, supervisor, classmate, teacher, or close relative.

• For instance, don’t say things like, “I taught her everything she knows,” “This is a great day for me because I hired her,” or “I always knew he was going places.”

• This is especially true if the winner will have a chance to give an acceptance speech. You don’t want to eat into the time they have for their speech.

Variation: You might also film your speech so you can look for areas that you can tighten up or improve.

Introducing the Award

• For instance, you might cradle a statue or plaque between both of your hands.
• If the award is an unframed certificate, you might carry it on open palms or keep it in a folder to protect it until you hand it out.

• You might say, “Every year we honor an employee who went above and beyond for our clients. This award celebrates the sacrifices and dedication of one employee who exemplified our company values over the past year.”

Variation: If you're presenting the award because of your position or credentials, briefly introduce yourself and your position to establish your credibility. This boosts the prominence of the award.

• Say, “This has been our most successful year as a company, and it’s because of the hard work and dedication of our entire team. Each of you deserves credit for helping us get to this point, but one employee’s achievements stand out from the rest.”

Announcing the Winner

• You could say, “The first time I met this person it was on a video conference. They’d traveled across the world for a business trip, but a client needed to meet that day. Instead of rescheduling, this person stayed up late into the night so they could attend the client meeting over Skype.”
• If you’re going for a funny story, you might say, “What we do around here is serious work, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have fun. The person who’s receiving this award knows how to make people laugh. When we were going through our audit last quarter, they put a smile on everyone’s face by putting rubber ducks in the fountain outside our office. It was a small gesture, but it helped us get through a difficult week.”

• Say, “This award goes to a person who lives our values. They put clients first and never hesitate to help a coworker in need. This year they made 30% of our sales and completed half of our customer service calls. On top of that, they’re the only employee in the history of the company to ever receive a business opportunity grant. Please applaud for the winner of the VIP Award, Ms. Alison Dean.”

Tip: Ideally, the audience should slowly realize who’s name you’re about to call.

• You might say, “Today we’re here to honor Diego Lopez for his efforts to build a new community center. Mr. Lopez organized fundraisers, energized the community, and overcame obstacles to bring hope to his neighborhood. Thanks to his efforts, 75 students are currently enrolled in after-school programs at the center, and a new program for the elderly is set to open next week.”

• You might tell them, “Congratulations on this well-deserved accomplishment.”

Community Q&A

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zd2xNTuQWxQ
• ↑ https://saylordotorg.github.io/text_business-communication-for-success/s19-07-presenting-or-accepting-an-awa.html
• ↑ https://bizfluent.com/how-2122740-present-award.html
• ↑ http://www.publicspeakingexpert.co.uk/awardspeeches.html
• ↑ https://www.toastmasters.org/resources/public-speaking-tips/presenting-awards

About This Article

• Send fan mail to authors

Did this article help you?

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Watch Articles

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info

Don’t miss out! Sign up for

wikiHow’s newsletter

How to Give an Award Presentation Speech (Example Included!)

Getty Images

Congratulations! Chances are that if you're reading this article, you have been named an award recipient for an accomplishment or are involved with bestowing an award to others. Either way, in the work context, you should aim for a professional yet enjoyable speech.

People often focus on whatever the person getting the award is going to say about it. Less mentioned is the speech given beforehand by the award presenter. However, this is also a very important and prestigious job. 

After all, the presenter is tasked with setting the mood of the event, giving context to the honor being awarded and introducing them in an engaging way. Writing and delivering a killer presentation speech takes time, thought, and preparation. It's no small feat!

Feeling nervous about it? Here's how to write and deliver a speech presenting an award—or receiving one.

How to write an award presentation speech

When writing your speech, try to strike a balance between covering the necessary information—like the details of the award and the accomplishments of the person being honored—and keeping your audience interested. 

Break down the components of the speech in an outline at first to make sure you hit everything you want to say. 

1. Begin with a captivating opener

This is an opportunity to put some personal flair into your speech. Know your audience. Start with a joke or a funny anecdote, if it's appropriate. If not, you might start with a personal memory or connection to the person being awarded. The opening of a presentation award speech is your moment to set the tone and grab the audience's attention.

2. Give some background

Give some context to the award you're presenting. How much or how little is up to you, your organization and the setting, but it's important to ground the speech in why the event is happening. Did someone specific fund this award? When and for what reason? What does it represent? What kind of qualities does it recognize in the person who receives it? 

If you have a personal connection to the award or the person receiving it, you may mention it here. Are you a past winner of this same award? Is the person receiving it one of your employees or close friends? You can use this as an opportunity to transition into introducing the person and their work. 

4. Talk about the awardee's work

Next, introduce the work or qualifications of the person being awarded. Talk about the work that stood out to the organization or committee presenting this honor to them. How does their work relate or contribute to the wider cause? 

You could mention other awards they have won in the past or a memory or anecdote about the person being honored if you have a personal connection with them. You may also have a bio of theirs to read, if they specified how they wanted to be introduced. 

Either way, put a good portion of your time and thought into this part of your speech. Your job is to present this award to this specific person, so put intention and energy into representing them and their accomplishments well. Though they may have a long and prestigious resume , try to keep it relatively short. Hit the highlights and the most relevant information to the occasion.

5. Keep it on the short side

You have a good bit of information to cover in order to give a heartfelt, personalized speech, but try your best to keep it fairly brief. You don't want to overshadow the person getting the award by taking too much time away from their acceptance speech or lose your audience halfway through. 

Practice your speech, and time yourself when you do. This will ensure you're keeping things concise and including everything you wanted to say. Decide whether you're going to memorize your speech or if you're going to have notecards or a written copy. Practice however you're going to deliver it to make sure you've got it down.

Presenting an award: Speech template

Now let's put all these tips into practice. To start, here's a template of an award presentation speech that is pretty standard and can be used in many different types of recognizations.

[Good morning/evening/night] folks, 

It is with great pleasure that I join you here today to present the [title of award] on behalf of [your company]. This is the [number] year this award has been presented, and it remains one of the highest honors in this field, recognizing the person in our community whose work has had a truly outstanding [type of outcome or impact the award winner's work caused]. 

As a committee member, I can tell you that the nominees this year were some of the most [qualities of the nominees] people I've had the pleasure of knowing. However, one person stood out for their remarkable career in this field. 

They have made an inestimable contribution to our community over their [time the award winner works for the company] of work in our [your work field], working to [their goals, passion/goals or what they work for]. They have gone on to become an example in [what this person does in their field + achievements].

I have had the absolute honor of working closely with this person throughout their career, and I cannot be happier to see them honored here tonight. Without further ado, the [title of award] goes to [name of the winner]. Please join me in welcoming them to the stage. 

Presenting an award: Speech example

Want to see the template come to life? This example of an award presentation speech shows you how to fill in the blanks and serves as a guide for writing your own.

Good evening folks, 

It is with great pleasure that I join you here today to present the Outstanding Achievement Award for Social Service on behalf of The Zyx Company. This is the 25th year this award has been presented, and it remains one of the highest honors in this field, recognizing the person in our community whose work has had a truly outstanding impact in the lives of many. 

As a committee member, I can tell you that the nominees this year were some of the most incredible, hardworking and compassionate people I've had the pleasure of knowing. However, one person stood out for their remarkable career in this field. 

They have made an inestimable contribution to our community over their 20 years of work in our public school systems, working to improve the lives of our students and future leaders. They have gone on to become an example in social work and innovation in combating homelessness and worked tirelessly to obtain greater resources for people in marginalized communities.

I have had the absolute honor of working closely with this person throughout their career, and I cannot be happier to see them honored here tonight. Without further ado, the Outstanding Achievement Award for Social Service goes to Jill Smith. Please join me in welcoming them to the stage.

How do you give a speech after receiving an award?

What about if you're on the other side of the award presentation? Writing an award acceptance speech is also an art. Similarly, you want to plan ahead and make sure you hit certain points within your speech. 

Receiving an award is an incredible honor and can be exciting or overwhelming, so you want to do the preparation beforehand in order to say what you want to say. 

"Thank the Academy" and others 

You want to be sure to thank the people involved in giving you this award. This list includes the organization or committee presenting it to you and the presenter, as well as anyone who you feel helped to get you where you are today. We've all seen heartfelt, lengthy thank you lists delivered over Academy Awards and Emmys. 

This is a common factor in awards speeches for a reason. No one achieves their success without help from people who believe in them. Identify who you want to shout out during your speech, and if you need to, make a physical list so you don't leave anyone out. 

Share a bit about your work 

Share a bit of your work and why you're proud of it. Are there any lessons your road to this award has taught you? What aspect of what you do are you most excited to share with the world, and why do you think it's important?

Make a statement

If you feel compelled to do so, use the platform you have during your acceptance speech to make a statement about a larger social or political issue pertaining to your work. Is there a cause you're particularly passionate about? What do you want to say and promote through this moment?

Watch the time

There might be time constraints on your speech as well. Either way, try not to make it too lengthy. Have a plan, rehearse and be ready to say what you planned to say. 

Final thoughts

Whether you're presenting an award or receiving one, preparation is essential in order to deliver a thoughtful speech. Make sure you do your research, know what you want to say and practice ahead of time so that, when the day comes, you're ready to go. 

Awards ceremonies can be exciting and moving events, and often it's the speeches that make or break them. Take on this responsibility with excitement, and put time and thought into your presentation.

Why women love us:

• Daily articles on career topics
• Jobs at companies dedicated to hiring more women
• Advice and support from an authentic community
• Events that help you level up in your career
• Free membership, always

• Public Speaking Tips >>

What Should I Say To Present An Award?

This is one in a series of posts that uses my ready made speech templates to help you get a start on this type of speech or presentation.

In this one we will look at “Presenting An Award’ – whether this is an internal business award or part of a greater recognition in the business community.

As always, the first step in your preparation is to understand why your audience is there and why it is you making the presentation or speech.

You may not need to adjust what you plant to say but it is always important to understand the “why” before you begin to prepare your speech or presentation.

To start with, we need to acknowledge that all of us are often more interested in ourselves than others so you will need to make the presentation match the needs of your audience (as well as the recipient) to maintain interest in your speech.

For me, I prefer to prepare it as two speeches – one is the actual announcement, the other is the “support” speech which is structured to enable it to be adjusted for any required length of time.

Here is a template I use to help me write this type of speech.

• “Today marks the announcement of…..”
• “ Firstly I would like to share with you a little of the history of this award and how the winner is determined. …….”
• “It is now my privilege (or honour) to announce ……”
• “ Please join with me in congratulating …..”

Taking this one section at a time, section 1 simply needs the name of the award to be inserted. The value of starting this way is that it gives the audience time to focus on you and the occasion.

Section 2 is where you can adjust your time to the time allocated for your part of the presentation. The content of this section should be structured as you would for any speech – tell them what you are going to tell them ( ” Firstly I would like to share with you a little of the history of this award and how the winner is determined”); tell them the information keeping it relevant to the audience; then conclude and lead in to section 3.

Section 3 then becomes a direct announcement of the award name and the recipient name. Make sure you pause before you say each of these.

Section 4 is your opportunity to complete your presentation and exit the stage.

A word of warning about using “but”, “however” or “because”. My experience shows that an audience remembers what you say after these words not what is important ly said before them. e.g. I am pleased to be announcing this award BECAUSE it has taken such a long time to finalise it. You could still express this sentiment by saying I am pleased to be announcing this award AS it has taken such a long time to finalise it.

Always keep in mind that the most important part you are presenting is the award (or making the announcement), not the history of the award or how it is determined. By being prepared and having a structured presentation you run less risk of being side tracked during your presentation.

• Why Award Concepts
• Make the Switch

800-659-7801

Award Presentations and Recognition Speeches: A How-To Guide

• Charlie Boddicker
• June 20, 2023

How do you get the most out of your employee recognition program? It’s important to consider not only what kind of gifts you award but also  how  you award them. Studies have shown that public recognition events like banquets or ceremonies can enhance the effectiveness  of your award program.

Awards granted in a public setting can feel more meaningful to the recipient. Additionally, when people witness others being recognized, they often share the feeling of being seen and valued, even if they are not receiving an award themselves. Because of this, public recognition events help magnify the recognition given, and they foster a positive culture of recognition throughout the organization.

Employees are at their happiest and most productive when they feel that their personal expertise and contributions are noted and valued. Because of this, recognition events should highlight each awardee’s individual personality and accomplishments. This means that recognition should be specific, relevant, and sincere. When recognition is tailored to the individual, it will be perceived as coming from a place of genuine appreciation. This is crucial when it comes to  boosting morale and engagement . If employees do not perceive the sentiment behind an award as genuine, then the award program will not be as effective.

While it is acceptable to standardize awards ceremonies for the sake of efficiency and professionalism, it is also important to give them a human touch. During a recognition event, managers should draw attention to an awardee’s specific accomplishments. They can highlight the awardee’s particular duties and skills or reference challenges that they have helped the business overcome. Many employees, especially in public service industries , are motivated by the positive impact they have on others, whether that be patients, students, or customers, and this is something that ought to be recognized and celebrated. Managers can show that they care about their employees as people by recounting a fun anecdote or by referencing their interests and hobbies outside of work.

To sum up, employee recognition events are an important tool when it comes to increasing motivation, productivity, and retention. They can foster a welcoming and respectful working culture by showing employees that their work is seen and appreciated. To make the most of these events, managers should celebrate their employees’ individuality and display an open and honest appreciation of their hard work.

Check out our post, “Award Presentation Worksheet,” for a handy worksheet that can help get the ball rolling on your next presentation!

O’Flaherty, S., Sanders, M.T., & Whillans, A. (2021) ‘Research: A Little Recognition Can Provide a Big Morale Boost’, The Harvard Business Review . Available at: https://hbr.org/2021/03/research-a-little-recognition-can-provide-a-big-morale-boost

Gallup (2022) ‘Unleashing the Human Element at Work: Transforming Workplaces Through Recognition’, Gallup . Available at:  Gallup-Workhuman-Transforming-Workplaces-Through-Recognition-Report.pdf

Gibson, K.R., O’Leary, K., Weintraub, J.R. (2020) ‘The Little Things that Make Employees Feel Appreciated’, Harvard Business Review . Available at: https://hbr.org/2020/01/the-little-things-that-make-employees-feel-appreciated

Mann, A. & Dvorak, N. (2016) ‘Employee Recognition: Low Cost, High Impact’, Gallup . Available at: Employee Recognition: Low Cost, High Impact (gallup.com)

800-659-7801 sales

© 2024 Award Concepts, Inc All rights reserved.

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Site Credits

Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

23 Award Speech: And the Winner is…

People in leadership have the privilege of recognizing the achievement of others by giving them awards.  This is an important moment, and you want to help make it special. In this chapter, I will teach you the five-step process on how to give an award, I will share with you practical things to think about in terms of setup and execution, and finally, I will share with you ways to elevate this speech to a professional level.

Ceremonial Speaking Wheel

All ceremonial speeches should include the trio –narration, magnification, and identification.

Identification

You are not talking to an audience; you are sharing with an audience. You are celebrating with them and collectively celebrating shared values and shared appreciation for their accomplishments. Saying “we” are here to honor the recipient and reminding the audience of shared values helps the audience to be a part of the process.

The use of story helps the audience to be drawn in and want to listen. The narration can be about the organization, how the award was formed, or about the person receiving the award. It is better to tell a story of a complex problem they solved instead of saying “they are a good problem solver.”

Magnification

Take a trait of the individual and magnify it. I’m not talking about superfluous embellishment; I’m talking about honest elaboration. If they discovered an accounting mistake, talk about the difficulty of noticing such a mistake, and talk about the financial impact on the group because the correction was made. In short, find heroism in events where others might not notice. Magnification means finding the extraordinary which is often hidden:  loyalty, work ethic, going the extra mile, and standing up under adversity. Let us truly see the person’s accomplishments with a bright spotlight, not just a little candlelight.

Now you know of the key elements that should be in your speech, let’s talk about the specific five-step structure of an award speech.

Five-Step Award Process

Greet the audience.

Welcome the audience to the event. Thank them for attending and address any special guests or sponsors.

Describe the Award

Open your speech with a greeting and then describe the award. Tell about the organization that is giving the award and why this award was created. Who founded this award? What’s the story behind the award? What makes this award unique?  Describe the criteria for selecting a winner. Who decides? What are the criteria?

Tell Why They Deserved the Award

Describe the attributes of the person who will be receiving the award.  If possible, tell a story about the person. The more details, the better. People who come to awards ceremonies like to be inspired and they like to feel included. The more you can make everyone feel like they are part of something special, the better your speech will be. This is the most important part of the award. Make the recipient feel special by telling stories of their achievements and calling out specific highlights of their achievements.

If there are multiple recipients for the same award, for example, awards for everyone who completed upper-level training, you can highlight the task they had to do to receive the recognition. You can tell a story about one part of the training that will be familiar to those who completed it.

Present the Award

Announce the person’s name who will be receiving the award.  Consider writing yourself a note on how to pronounce the name.  Find out in advance their preferred name and if you should use an honorific. As they approach to claim the award, be sure that they know where they are supposed to stand. If you didn’t tell them before the presentation, you should indicate in some way where they should go and what they should do. Do they stand beside you or somewhere else? Will there be a handshake? Do they hold the award? Do they grab the award and go or do they stay while you talk about them? This is their moment, and you don’t want to make them feel awkward because they don’t know what they are supposed to do.

Present the award to them with a handshake and a smile. Be sure to pause so the photographers can take a picture.

Wish Them Well

While they are still upfront, give a statement that wishes them well. This is done most effectively when it is connected to the theme of the award. If it is a sales award, make reference to sales, if it is a teaching award, make reference to teaching, if it is an academic award, make reference to how they will use their academics.

Practical Mechanics

You have your speech written and you are setting up the room where you will give the award. It is time to think of some very practical things like the location of the award, the location of the handshake, and the location of the photographer.

Location of the Award

Where are you going to set the award?  If there are multiple awards, you will likely need to set up a table and have someone help pass out the awards.  Before the event, you should have someone pretend to get an award to help you figure out any potential issues.

Location of the Handshake

Where are you going to do the handshake? When they come up and receive the award, are you going to shake their hand and give them the award or will another distinguished leader give the award and the handshake? If you are standing behind the podium, it is hard to shake hands and get a good photo, so it will be important that you step in front of the podium or off to the side for the handshake.

Location of the Photographer

Where are you going to have the photographer stand? In high-profile awards, there may be a professional photographer who requires a special setup. Always be mindful of where they will be located and make sure they don’t block the view from the other guests. In addition, most people will have family, friends, colleagues in the audience who will want a picture. Make sure you have an aisle clear, so photo takers have a clear view. Write yourself a note to pause and let the pictures be taken.

Handshake Matters

• Shake with the right hand.
• Hand the award with the left hand.
• The award or certificate goes on top.
• Pause, smile, and face the camera.

Handshake tips.  When people get nervous, their hands may get sweaty. Keep a tissue in your pocket to wipe your hand on just in case. When you go in to shake someone’s hand open your hand wide and go in for the web of skin between the thumb and pointer finger. A typical handshake is two to three pumps, but an award handshake is typically two pumps and a long pause while pictures are being taken.

Taking it to the Next Level

To elevate the quality of your speech, add advanced language devices sometimes called colorful language. Let’s talk about the three main types that can make you sound like a speech professional–Theme, alliteration, and parallel construction.

More on using colorful language in a speech. 

Alliteration: Repeat the same sound three times

• Jake is polished, practical, and professional
• LaShay’s got grit and goes after things that impact

Parallel Construction: Repeat the same phrase at least three times.

• Passionate about students…
• Passionate about learning…
• Passionate about teaching…

Theme: Pick a theme that fits the person and the award

• Accounting is his life.
• He can multiply his impact.
• The bottom line is…
• When you look at his character, it all adds up.

Remember, your award speech is not about you– it is about the recipient and people who care about them. It is about creating a celebratory atmosphere where the audience and the recipient can feel good.  Doing the work it takes to write the speech well will make a big difference. The joy you will feel from making someone else feel special will be its own reward.

Key Takeaways

Remember this!

• The more details about why the person deserves this award the better.
• Include identification, narration, and magnification.
• Practice your handshake and how to hand the award to the recipient.
• Tell them what the award is, tell them why they deserve the award, give them the award, wish them well.

Media Attributions

• Award trophy © Giorgio Trovato is licensed under a CC BY (Attribution) license
• Colorful language wheel © Lynn Meade is licensed under a CC0 (Creative Commons Zero) license
• Award Chart © Lynn Meade is licensed under a CC0 (Creative Commons Zero) license

Advanced Public Speaking Copyright © 2021 by Lynn Meade is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

Share This Book

Module 11: Speaking to Entertain and for Special Occasions

Award and acceptance speeches, learning objectives.

Define the characteristics of award speech.

Identify characteristics of an acceptance speech.

Presenting an Award

In an award speech, a speaker or emcee introduces an award and the winner. The introduction is meant to build excitement, and often the winner is not known until just before the award is to be presented.

Introduce yourself and thank the group or organization asking you to speak. Then name the award and explain briefly about the award you are presenting. Be sure to include the scope of the award, be it local, regional, national, or international.

Next explain what the winner accomplished to win this award. Did they write a paper or did they lead for a cause? Did they grow the largest pumpkin, finish first in a marathon, or bring community groups together to fight for justice? Your job is to present the facts and summarize the story behind their story.

Lastly, if there are other people in attendance who were competing with the winner, make sure to acknowledge them in the time you were allotted. Be sure to finish with the actual award presentation to the person or team, raising your voice and starting the applause after inviting them to receive their award.

Accepting an Award

An acceptance speech often follows an award speech and is given by the winner of the award.

An acceptance speech, like any other speech, should be prepared in advance. Thanking the givers of your award is your first order of business. State how much and why you are grateful for this honor, and if possible, name the people in the organization individually.

Then thank and give credit to those who helped you achieve the award including family, friends, mentors, and others who supported you in this endeavor. Include their names, their roles, and how their combined efforts made it possible for you to receive this honor. If you can’t name all the individuals, name the groups as time will allow.

Briefly share what the honor of the award means to you, and be generous with your praise and your gratitude toward your colleagues and the organizations involved. Smile and carefully look for directions on leaving the stage.

To Watch: Berta Cáceres, Goldman Prize acceptance speech

Environmental and indigenous-rights activist Berta Cáceres, co-founder of the Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH), won the Goldman Prize for grassroots environmental activism is 2015 after organizing the Lenca people of Honduras to force the world’s largest dam builder to pull out of the Agua Zarca Dam project on the Río Gualcarque. Tragically, Cáceres was assassinated the following year.

You can view the transcript for “Berta Caceres acceptance speech, 2015 Goldman Prize ceremony” here (opens in new window) .

What to watch for:

In the case of winning an award for a social cause (in this case, environmental activism), it is common to focus on the severity of the problem at hand—that is, to shift the focus from yourself to the problem you are fighting against. Note how Cáceres begins by framing the cause within the belief system and worldview of the Lenca people. She then explains the mission of the organization she helped to found. Next she turns to her call to action: “¡Despertemos¡ ¡Despertemos Humanidad¡ Ya no hay tiempo.” (Let us wake up! Let us wake up, humanity! We’re out of time.) The ending of her speech reminds us that gratitude and humility are the most important elements of an acceptance speech. If thanks aren’t in line with the gravity of the topic, a dedication can serve a similar purpose: “Dedico este premio a todas las rebeldías, a mi madre, al Pueblo Lenca, a Río Blanco y a las y los mártires por la defensa de los bienes naturales.” (I dedicate this award to all the rebels, to my mother, to the Lenca People, to the Río Blanco, and to all the martyrs who gave their lives in the struggle to defend our natural resources.)

• Berta Caceres acceptance speech, 2015 Goldman Prize ceremony. Provided by : Goldman Environmental Prize. Located at : https://youtu.be/AR1kwx8b0ms . License : Other . License Terms : Standard YouTube License
• Award and Acceptance Speeches. Authored by : Patricia Atkinson with Lumen Learning. License : CC BY: Attribution

• Partners: Bloggers
• Partners: Podasters
• Partners: Virtual Event Hosts
• Partners: Toastmasters Clubs
• Partners: Bookstores & Live Venues
• Partners: Sponsors
• Digital Press Kit
• What people are saying …
• Interior Art
• Acknowledgements
• Other Books by Carma
• Featured Speakers
• The Public Speaking Superhero’s Journey
• Individual Speaker Coaching
• Public Speaking Super Powers for Live Video
• Persuasive Speaking with Confidence
• Developing Your Leadership Skills
• Video Marketing Super Pack
• Wedding Speech Templates
• Creating Your Ideal Audience Avatar
• Public Speaking Superhero’s Journey
• Training & Mastermind Program
• Boost Your Self-Confidence 7-Day Challenge
• Speaking Palooza! 2019
• Recommended Reading
• For Book Clubs
•         - ORDER NOW!
•                 - Partners: Bloggers
•                 - Partners: Podasters
•                 - Partners: Virtual Event Hosts
•                 - Partners: Toastmasters Clubs
•                 - Partners: Bookstores & Live Venues
•                 - Partners: Sponsors
•         - Digital Press Kit
•         - What people are saying …
•                 - Cover Art
•                 - Interior Art
•         - Acknowledgements
•         - Other Books by Carma
•         - Contact
•         - Excerpt
•         - The Public Speaking Superhero’s Journey
•         - Speaker
•         - Individual Speaker Coaching
•         - Public Speaking Super Powers for Live Video
•                 - Persuasive Speaking with Confidence
•                 - Developing Your Leadership Skills
•                 - Video Marketing Super Pack
•                 - Wedding Speech Templates
•                 - Creating Your Ideal Audience Avatar
•                 - Public Speaking Superhero’s Journey
•                 - Training & Mastermind Program
•         - Boost Your Self-Confidence 7-Day Challenge
•         - Speaking Palooza! 2019
•         - Podcast
•         - Recommended Reading
•         - For Book Clubs

Types of Speeches: Presenting an Award

At some point in your life, you’ll probably have the opportunity to formally reward someone for a job well done. When you do this in front of others it increases the perceived value of the honor.

If you decide to become a professional speaker or use speaking as an integral part of your marketing strategy, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the various types of speeches you might be asked to give. In this series of posts, I’ll give you the basics of a variety of types of presentations you can prepare. At the end of this post, I’ve listed previous articles in this series.

When presenting an honor or award, you need to accomplish two things:

1. Highlight the award Make sure that the recipient, as well as the audience, understands the importance of the award. What does it stand for? How does someone earn it? What are the traditions associated with this honor?

2. Highlight how the person earned the award Now that you’ve built up the award, you need to build up the person receiving it. What did this person do to deserve the award? How did they meet the criteria better than anyone else who was up for the award?

There are ways to make this sort of presentation more effective.

Tips for effectively presenting an award

Tell a story People are more engaged with stories. So highlight the award and the honoree in the form of a story.

Introductions first Call on the awardee last … nothing is more awkward than having to stand there and wait while you do your presentation. Tell your story first, then, when you are ready to hand over the award, call the awardee up to the lectern.

Mind your Ps and Qs Make sure that you know how to pronounce the name of the award and the person receiving it. Also, make sure your facts are correct. Nothing will spoil the honor more than mispronouncing someone’s name or announcing information that is totally wrong.

Be humble You may have been on the selecting committee, but this presentation is about the person being honored … not you. The presentation should be mostly about how wonderful the honoree is and why they are so deserving of this honor.

Demonstrate the award’s worth Hold the award as if it were a treasure. Make eye contact with the recipient, smile warmly and hand over the award with reverence.

Resources for effectively presenting an award

• Toastmasters International : Presenting an Award
• Flat World Knowledge: Presenting or Accepting an Award
• Buzzle: Presenting an Award Speech
• eHow: How to Present an Award
• Certificate Street: How to Present an Award Certificate with Style

Did you miss these?

Here are the previous posts in this “Type of Speeches” series:

• The Keynote Address
• The Training Session
• The Motivational Speech
• The Entertaining Speech
• The Demonstration
• The Information Dump
• The Inspirational Speech
• The Q & A
• The Persuasive Speech
• The Impromptu Speech
• The Acceptance Speech
• The Commencement Speech
• The Interpretive Reading

The next post in this series is Accepting an Award .

Did you like this post? Please share!

About the author

Carma Spence, is author of Public Speaking Super Powers. She is fiercely committed to guiding women to Owning their Superpowers and turning their knowledge and interests into a profitable business. She is masterful at helping her clients see what is possible for them and supporting them on the journey from where they are to where they want to be, releasing the Mind Goblins of self-doubt, self-sabotage and second-guessing that keep them stuck.

With 20+ years experience in marketing communications and public relations, natural intuitive skills and certification in using some of the most effective transformational coaching tools available, Carma’s mission and commitment is to unleash the inner power every woman entrepreneur possesses so they can boldly go out into the world, transforming the fabric of people’s lives in meaningful and positive ways.

You can find her on Facebook , Twitter , Google+ and LinkedIn . Her website is CarmaSpence.com .

My Speech Class

Public Speaking Tips & Speech Topics

Award Presentation Speech

Jim Peterson has over 20 years experience on speech writing. He wrote over 300 free speech topic ideas and how-to guides for any kind of public speaking and speech writing assignments at My Speech Class.

Presentation Speech Topics For Award Ceremonies

Presentation speech template including eleven speech topics for presenting an award, prize or gift to a happy recipient leading to a brief photo opportunity in the end. Bear in mind that you have to be short and sweet epitomizing. Each of the public speaking speech topics take two or three sentences maximally. The layout in this tutorial helps an enchanted public speaker to set up a good and aesthetically ceremonial award presentation.

• The first remark you have to make is a commenting to the occasion. Refer why you are here together, refresh their memories a bit by stipulating why this is such a special day. Enforce the power of the delightful purpose of this meeting, and the happy recipient.
• Explain in your presentation speech what the award represents. Be brief, since the audience has read the invitation and publicity material. Describe these underlying elemental public speaking power factors:

• Describe the organization you are representing. Tell why you are privileged to present. Make your speech personal, offer personal thoughts, experiences and feelings.
• Praise the recipient. Present outstanding contributions, achievements or records that are relevant. Adapt them to the goals and meaning of the ceremonial special occasion .

Explain why the contributions are outstanding or unique. What offers did it take the winner? Refer to special qualifications and to similarities with other recipients.

Again: keep it short – 3 minutes for your award speech will do most of the time. Although it even can be somewhat shorter.

• Mention the reasons for choosing her or him as recipient. Link the contributions to the meaning of the honor.
• Make a concluding characterization by telling a compelling story or anecdote in the presentation speech text.
• Ask if the receiver will come forward and declare her or him the winner.
• Link the previous speech topics to what the prize gift stands for. Tip: read the inscription out loud and show the golden medal, the engraved plaque, the recognition trophy cup, or the certificate words.
• At the end of your address congratulate her or him.
• Hand over the award, prize, diploma, certificate or gift card.
• Shake hands with the person or group being honored. Schedule a brief photo opportunity and smile to the camera! After the ceremony you could allow a small interview to invited journalists.

Finally, of course give the winner the opportunity to speak after your award presentation speech address. And start clapping your hands to express your honest approval after she or he has completed the thank you phrases.

Keep smiling all the time.

Epideictic Speech [Topics and Examples]

Birthday Speech [From Celebrant or For a Guest]

Leave a Comment

I accept the Privacy Policy

Reach out to us for sponsorship opportunities

Vivamus integer non suscipit taciti mus etiam at primis tempor sagittis euismod libero facilisi.

© 2024 My Speech Class

• Online Store For Executive Gifts & Awards

• Clear Acrylic Awards
• Color Acrylic Awards
• Custom Acrylic Awards
• Jade Acrylic Awards
• Boardroom Coasters
• Barware & Drinkware
• Trays and Bowls
• Crystal & Glass Clocks
• Metal Clocks
• Waterford Clocks
• Wood Clocks
• Color Printed Glass

Crystal Awards

• Glass Awards
• Plates and Trays
• Gavels and Keys
• Nameplates, Card Cases & Holders
• Paperweights & Bookends
• Pens and Accessories
• Crystal and Glass Plaques

Perpetual Plaques

• Photo Plaques
• Standard Plaques
• Star, Gavel & Eagle Plaques
• Crystal Trophies & Pieces
• Figurine Trophies
• Pewter Trophy Cups & Presentation Pieces
• Gifts For Grads
• Gifts For Baby
• Gifts For Weddings
• Rembrandt Charms
• Home & Bar
• Picture Frames
• Why Choose Us?
• Testimonials
• Order Tracking
• Custom Orders? Questions?

A Few Tips For An Award Presentation Speech

In many cases, you will need to prepare short remarks before you present your award plaques or trophies. The remarks need to introduce the recipients, show how much you value them and help to set the tone for the event.

So, before you present any personalized trophies and awards, here are a few tips for your remarks.

• Double check all of the details – Make sure you know how to pronounce any names correctly and be sure you have the correct titles. Too many remarks are ruined by mispronouncing someone’s name or by getting basic facts wrong. It only takes a few minutes to confirm the facts, but it is extremely important.
• Introduce yourself – Don’t assume the audience knows who you are. Briefly state who you are and why you are there.
• Introduce the recipient or recipient – Discuss what they do for your organization and provide background information if possible, such as how long they have been there.
• Add in a joke or two – These work best in the introduction. Your audience will most likely want to smile and laugh, so give them an opportunity to do so. A light comment in the introduction often works very well.
• Introduce the award – Why are you presenting this award? Is it an annual award? Is it for someone who is retiring? Is it named in honor of anyone?
• Tell us why the recipient is receiving this award – What makes the recipient so special? A personal story about the recipient always works well here. Can you describe how you have seen the recipient impact your organization, help fellow employees, assist customers or do something special?
• Keep it short – You need to build up and introduce the award recipient, but don’t go on too long. The event needs to remain focused on the award recipients.

Be sure to save time to rehearse

When you have your remarks all set, be sure to practice them or at least read over them a few times. You want to be confident and comfortable when it is your time to speak.

In addition, it’s always good to get feedback on your remarks beforehand from a trusted colleague, if possible.

And remember, whenever you are looking for recognition award ideas or if you have questions about any trophies and plaques, be sure to contact our sales professionals .

Executive Awards

Related Posts

Where Do Engraved Awards Come From?

The Lasting Impact of Engraved Trophies from Our Childhood Sports Days

Considering the Reward-Loyalty Feedback Loop in more than Corporate Settings

Top Sales Award Categories to Make Your Gift Ceremonies More Exciting

Impress Your New Hires with Welcome Gifts

The History of Trophies

A Perpetual Plaque is a Little Piece of History

Tips for Planning For Special Events in 2021

How Do People Create Glass Objects?

Work Is Faster than Ever, But Are We Supporting the Team’s Well-Being

• Top Navigation

Engraved Crystal Recognition Awards are Meaningful Gifts

When you present Engraved Crystal Recognition Awards to deserving recipients, you are giving them something special. These crystal awards look spectacular by themselves, and we offer you a wide range of shapes, sizes and even colors. And when these unique awards are engraved to your specifications, they become even more special for each recipient. In addition, when light shines through these personalized corporate gifts, these awards look even more impressive. The recipients of these awards will be proud to display them in their homes or in their offices, and they will know just how much you value their important contributions.

Personalized Retirement Gifts

Engraved Gifts for Special Occasions and Holidays

Awards for Top Sales

Engraved Crystal Recognition Awards

Engraved Acrylic Achievement Awards

Engraved Acrylic Awards

Unique Corporate Gifts

Trophies and Plaques

Recognition Award Ideas

Personalized Trophies And Awards

Personalized Pens No Minimum

Personalized Corporate Gifts

Personalized Clocks

Monogrammed Luggage Tags

Luxury Corporate Gifts

Large Perpetual Plaques

Glass Trophy Awards

Glass Trophies And Awards

Engraved Plaques

Engraved Pens

Engraved Name Plate

Engraved Glass Gifts

Engraved Crystal Clock

Employee Of The Month Perpetual Plaque

Employee Award Ideas

Desk Card Holder

Custom Engraved Keychains

Corporate Gifts For Employees

Corporate Gifts

Business Card Holder For Desk

Crystal Plaque

Award Plaques

Art Glass Awards

Acrylic Trophies

Acrylic Plaques

Engraved Awards For Medical School Graduates

Engraved Awards For Medical Fellows

Engraved Waterford Crystal Clocks For Retiring Board Of Directors

Engraved Presentation Trays For Retiring Board Member

Board Of Directors Retirement Clocks

Hand Engraved Facsimile Signatures On Sterling Silver Retirement Tray

• Find a Club
• Start a Club
• Toggle Search
• / Resources
• / Public Speaking Tips
• / Presenting Awards

Presenting Awards

• Tell a story about the significance of the award.
• Pronounce names of the recipients correctly.
• Provide background on the recipient.
• Hold the award respectfully and hand it to the recipient as if it were a treasure.
• Wait to invite the recipient to the lectern until you formally introduce them.
• Stand so the audience can see the recipient and the award clearly.

Helpful Resources

It's a special occasion.

Tips for delivering special speeches.

Cheers to New Beginnings!

How to make your toasts meaningful, memorable, and short.

Quick Links

Tips for success.

Enjoy helpful resources that will aid you in improving your communication and help you build leadership skills.

Hybrid Meeting Tips

Learn how to run a successful hybrid meeting.

A Roaring Replay!

Did you miss any or all of the milestone celebration? Experience this dazzling event On Demand.

Connect With Us

Follow us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for exciting updates, inspiration, and more.

Award Ceremony Speech

Award ceremony speech generator.

Ceremonies, events, speech. What do these three words have in common? They are almost always associated with important milestones for someone or a group of people. An award ceremony is almost always associated with a speech. Like any other event that may happen whether formal or informal. It would always be associated with making speeches. 

11+ Award Ceremony Speech Examples

1. award ceremony speech template.

Size: 78 KB

2. Award Ceremony Presentation Speech

Size: 288 KB

3. Global Chemical Leasing Award Ceremony Speech

4. Sample Award Ceremony Speech

Size: 364 KB

5. Teacher Award Ceremony Speech

Size: 231 KB

6. Award Ceremony Speech at College

Size: 119 KB

7. Presentation Speech at Public Award Ceremony

Size: 118 KB

8.  Population Award Ceremony Speech

Size: 328 KB

9. Award Ceremony Speech Example

Size: 77 KB

10. Career Award Ceremony Speech

Size: 76 KB

11. Formal Award Ceremony Speech

Size: 551 KB

12. Award Ceremony Speech in PDF

Size: 81 KB

Definition of Ceremonies

A ceremony or ceremonies is a series of formal acts or occasions. They are usually a traditional or a religious occasion. An important event that is celebrated. A ritual or a convention. A set of traditional activities performed during traditional or religious events.

Definition of Events

An event is anything or something that happens. It is usually something very important or sometimes very unusual. An activity that is planned for something very special. A celebration . It often involves a lot of individuals with the same purpose.

Definition of Speech

A speech is a type of communication wherein two or more people share their output, their opinion and their ideas. It may be through a formal discussion like public speaking or an informal discussion like a simple discussion inside a classroom. In addition to that, a speech is also a way for individuals to share the same dialect, a method of communication. A public discourse .

Definition of Award

An award is anything that can be given like money, a medal, a prize. It is something bestowed upon someone who has won something like an event. To give something very valuable to an individual or a group of individuals for doing a good job, like a reward.

Importance of Award Ceremony

The importance of an award ceremony is to acknowledge an individual’s contribution in anything they have done. It also boosts their self esteem and shows everyone their worth. An award ceremony is important because it celebrates the hard work and dedication the person has done and the individual feels the respect and the appreciation from the people who have made the ceremony in honor of them.

Importance of Award Speech

The use and importance of an award speech is to acknowledge the person who did a great job at a field they excelled in. It is also to let others recognize the person and to boost their reputation.

Importance of Speech

Ever asked yourself why is speech so important ? The reason for this is because it allows people to form a connection with those who share the same interest as them. Speech is also a motivation for change. If people were to stop making speeches or stop talking altogether, the world would be nothing but a silent, and sad place. Making speeches can be scary sometimes but it is still an important form of communication.

Tips for Writing an Award Speech

Ever thought of writing an award speech or any type of ceremonial speech for fun or simply because you were told to do so? If you answered yes to both questions, you’re in luck. An award speech is just like any other type of speech you may have written or heard about, there are guidelines to follow and there are tips to be familiar with. Regardless of what you heard about composing an award speech can be tricky, it really is not. All you need to do is to be familiar with the following tips.

• Start at the beginning: You may have heard or read some articles about writing a good speech, you must start at the beginning. Well, it is true. If you want to write a good speech, you must start by thinking about the type of speech you are going to be composing. Since there are a lot of types, be specific. Once you have thought about it, let’s move to the next tip.
• Write the necessary details: Ask yourself, what are the necessary details required for the award speech? The necessary details are the name or the names of the individuals who are accepting the award. What is the name of the award that they are given? Who is going to be the one to present the award to them? These are just a few of the necessary details. You may add more if you want, as long as they are still part of your speech.
• Make a copy of your work: Make a draft of your speech and make a final copy. Begin with your draft. This is where you are going to polishing your work before you reach your final copy. Don’t be embarrassed at making a draft for your speech, it is also useful as this can help you rearrange your thoughts.
• Revision is key: Finalizing your work before passing it. Check to see if you have placed all the necessary details. Check your spelling and grammar as well. Also do not make your speech too long nor too short. The reason for this will be explained in the next part of the article.

Tips for Presenting an Award Speech for Students and Teachers

Now that you have finished your work, it’s time for some tips for presenting your speech. It is common for people presenting to get overcome by stage fright. But that can be avoided, so listed below are some tips to help you present your award speech.

• Practice before you present
• Breathe in and out
• Be familiar with your work
• Make eye contact

Why is it necessary to be familiar with your essay?

The reason for this is because you are not going to be bringing your full copy in front of the stage. You may lose the interest of your listeners and making eye contact with them is also important. Avoid bringing your copy with you, practice and be familiar with your work. If you must bring a copy, it is best to use index cards and write the most important information.

What should I say if I have no idea of the names of the awardees?

If you are not able to get the names of the awardees, ask them beforehand. The reason for this is to avoid embarrassment and confusion for you and the people involved.

Do I need to make a thank you speech in addition to the award speech?

You may use a little of the thank you speech in a way that you are thanking everyone present. But your main focus is the award speech.

There you have it, some tips on writing an award speech, some tips to present your speech. By being familiar with the tips and adding some tricks of your own, you are going to ace composing that speech. Good luck!

Text prompt

• Instructive
• Professional

Create an award ceremony speech for a distinguished alumni

Help me write an award ceremony speech for a young innovator

5 Tips to Give the Perfect Award Acceptance Speech

• James Haynes
• September 19, 2022

Table of Contents

Introduction.

Congratulations! You’ve won an award. Maybe you’ve been selected for the prestigious  National Speakers Association’s Speaker Hall of Fame . Maybe you’ve been named volunteer of the year for your local service club. Whatever you’ve won, now you may be wondering: how do I give an award acceptance speech? what kind of a speech am I supposed to give? Where can I find award acceptance speech examples ? How do I make sure my speech is memorable in a good way?

Maybe you’ve never given a speech before, and after toiling for years far from the spotlight, being put on stage is a nerve-wracking prospect for you. One of the best ways to minimize those nerves is to do your homework beforehand so you know exactly where you’re going with your talk, and reading this article is a great start! (For more on managing  nerves when you speak, check out this episode of The Speaker Lab podcast .)

Even if you’re a seasoned speaker, the structure and format of an award acceptance speech may not be what you are used to. To master the shortened format and time limits you may have, you’ll need to structure your speech in a more specialized way. For more on how to do so, read on.

Find Out Exactly How Much You Could Make As a Paid Speaker

Use The Official Speaker Fee Calculator to tell you what you should charge for your first (or next) speaking gig — virtual or in-person! 

Determine the goal of your speech

First of all, what is the goal of your acceptance speech? The starting point for most, if not all, acceptance speeches, should be a humble “thank you” for whatever they have received. It may also be appropriate to highlight particular experiences or individuals who helped you to get where you are. But this can be overdone; fake modesty and a long list of thank-yous to people the audience doesn’t know can cause your audience to tune out just as much as a braggy or even vindictive diatribe. How do you strike the balance?

One way to start could be watching others’ acceptance speeches, and ideally not just speeches from the Academy Awards. Award acceptance speech examples can be found on Youtube, Vimeo, and other video-sharing sites. Learn from others but don’t mimic – You’ve probably watched a lot of speakers before haven’t you? You know the things they do that work. It’s easy to want to just duplicate what you saw them do since you know it works. But don’t do that. Learn from why it worked and how you can incorporate a similar (but not copied) methodology into your own talks.

Structuring your speech

Another tip: figure out from the event organizer what the time restrictions are for your talk. You don’t want to plan a 20-minute overture when the event organizers expect you to speak for just a minute or two! This will also set the tone for your talk.

Remember that your speech is supposed to be  shorter  than your typical speech. You shouldn’t have that much to write out. Once you’ve determined a few people you’d like to thank, maybe a story you’d like to tell, and determined the overall goal or vibe of your talk, you should start structuring your speech.

Perhaps you could begin by breaking down your speech into a few sections. For example, you could structure the speech as follows: Introduction, thanking a few specific people, telling a story or an anecdote, and conclusion. This should all take no more than 3-5 minutes. And it will  fly by .

Consider telling stories

Want to tell a story in your acceptance speech? It’s a good idea. Humans relate to stories. We connect to stories. Funny stories. Sad stories. Inspirational stories. We love stories. So tell them. Lots of them. Stories will keep your audience engaged and are also easier for you to memorize.

There’s nothing wrong with telling a 3rd person story or using some case study or example. But especially for an award you’re receiving, telling a story that you lived and experienced generally makes the story better for you and the audience. For the audience, they can oftentimes find themselves in your story. For you as the speaker, it’s much easier (and more powerful) to tell a story that you lived versus one you read in a book.

What kind of story to tell

In an award acceptance speech, any such story should be short and sweet. One way to keep an eye on the length is to try timing yourself telling the story out loud. As Harriet Turk discusses in our  podcast on creating your talk , “If you practice out loud, you learn a whole lot more about what the story hits on and what parts need to be told.” Turk goes on to say that sometimes we find that we try to tell a story the way we wrote it, but authoring a story is much different than presenting a story. A story that reads well in a book may not work as well on stage.

Some examples of stories or anecdotes that you could do well to include would be about a setback you overcame in your role, or how someone helped you in a particularly meaningful way. If that person who helped you is one of those you want to thank, it would serve as an incredibly powerful testament to their character to include such a story. Of course, if something about that story is sensitive, it would be prudent to notify them in advance that you plan to tell that story. Even if not, it could be polite to give them a heads-up, particularly if they will be in the audience for your acceptance speech.

Using humor: advantages and pitfalls

You might wonder whether or not humor is appropriate in an award acceptance speech. Generally, humor is not a bad thing to include if you want to liven up your talk. However, keep in mind that you are being spotlighted as an individual accomplishing something in an award acceptance speech, and harsh joking about other people, in particular, may reflect poorly on your deserving the award. Negative jokes about the organizer, your collaborators, or others in the audience are no-nos.

On that point, as we cover in our 100 speaking tips article,  you don’t need to be crude or inappropriate just for a laugh. It’s not worth it. If you deliver a killer keynote and are flawless throughout, but you make one inappropriate remark, nobody will remember anything else you said. There’s nothing wrong with using humor or making a strong point on something, but don’t do it at the expense of crossing the line and turning people off.

On the other hand, a dash of humor, such as light self-deprecation, can be perfectly good at keeping your speech from sounding sanctimonious or stuffy. When you tell a joke or deliver a punchline, give the audience time to laugh. Sometimes speakers like to rush to the next point, but don’t do that. You need to give the audience a chance to respond to what you just said (in this case to laugh), but also if you rush on to the next thought while the room is still laughing, nobody will hear what you’re saying.

Practice makes perfect

You’re not going to have a Powerpoint. You’re probably not going to have any visual aids. So how are you going to stay focused and find cues for your award acceptance speech?

Consider writing your speech out and timing yourself to ensure you don’t go way over any time allotments you might have. And if you don’t have time limits, consider your audience – they will almost certainly tune out after 15+ minutes of seemingly-endless acknowledgments…

Remember: Professional speakers don’t just make stuff up. They don’t write a few thoughts on a notecard and then shoot from the hip for an entire presentation. They take the time to write and carefully craft their material.

As Harriet Turk discusses in our  podcast on creating your talk , bullet points can be one way to succinctly outline a talk in a way that you can rely on, even when you’re on stage and nervous. “Bullets are easy because they trigger what it is that you’re really wanting to do,” she said, “Whereas if you write it out and then you memorize it, you could have stage fright , or you’ve practiced it so much that you get to a point that you’re nervous and you forget.”

Although you shouldn’t just be reading from a page the whole time, writing out specific names of people you want to thank can help keep you from forgetting anybody.

When you’re on stage

So you’ve written, practiced, and are headed to your acceptance speech venue to give your killer talk. What should you remember when you’re standing on the stage?

As we outline in our 100 speaking tips piece,  remember that on stage, you can be an amplified version of yourself. The bigger the venue, the bigger you need to be on stage. The way you would communicate to a group of 10 people is very different than how you would need to communicate to a room of 10,000. Both should be an authentic version of you, but simply amplified to the setting. The bottom line is don’t try to be something you’re not on stage. Be you.

Keep it slow and steady. When you are talking really fast, it becomes difficult for the audience to follow. It’s hard to keep up and process. Plus the faster you talk, the harder it is to understand what you’re saying. So slow down and enunciate. Give the audience the chance to keep up with where you’re going.

Don’t be afraid of the silence. Silence, to a speaker, can feel deafening but it can be powerful. Silence shows confidence that you’re in control of the talk and the room and you’re continuing to guide them towards a common purpose. When you make a strong point, don’t rush to the next line. Stop and let it hang there. The silence is your friend.

Get The #1 Marketing Tool To Book More Paid Speaking Gigs

This FREE tool helped one speaker book $36,000+ in speaking gigs before he had a website! Learn how you can use this tool to Get Booked & Paid to Speak™ on a consistent basis.

All in all, giving an award acceptance speech is a great opportunity to practice your speaking skills while simultaneously a big honor! Whether you’re an experienced speaker or haven’t given one for years, these tips and processes can help you conceive of, outline, and deliver an awesome acceptance speech.

If you found this piece helpful, we have a  great podcast with Grant Baldwin on how to create your talk.  He tells us how he prepares for talks, what makes a talk good versus another talk, and what types of structures you can use to organize your content. You can listen to this  podcast on creating a talk here . Want to read more about speaking tips? Take a look at our  100 tips for motivational speaking for any speaking engagement ! Happy speaking!

• Last Updated: May 7, 2024

Explore Related Resources

Learn How You Could Get Your First (Or Next) Paid Speaking Gig In 90 Days or Less

We receive thousands of applications every day, but we only work with the top 5% of speakers .

Book a call with our team to get started — you’ll learn why the vast majority of our students get a paid speaking gig within 90 days of finishing our program .

If you’re ready to control your schedule, grow your income, and make an impact in the world – it’s time to take the first step. Book a FREE consulting call and let’s get you Booked and Paid to Speak ® .

About The Speaker Lab

We teach speakers how to consistently get booked and paid to speak.  Since 2015, we’ve helped thousands of speakers find clarity, confidence, and a clear path to make an impact.

Get Started

Let's connect.

[email protected]

Copyright ©2023 The Speaker Lab. All rights reserved.

Rice Speechwriting

Mastering award acceptance speeches: winning tips, winning tips for award acceptance speeches.

Winning an award is a great feeling, but it is only half the battle. The other half is delivering an acceptance speech that resonates with your audience and makes them feel connected to you. Crafting an inspiring speech requires careful thought and planning, as well as practice and rehearsal . In this blog, we will explore the key elements of an effective award acceptance speech, including storytelling, humor, and balance. We will also discuss practical tips for delivering your speech with confidence and managing stage presence. Lastly, we will touch upon common pitfalls to avoid while giving an acceptance speech. By the end of this blog, you will have all the tools you need to write and deliver a winning award acceptance speech that leaves a lasting impression on your audience.

Understanding the Importance of an Award Acceptance Speech

An award acceptance speech, whether at the Oscars or the Golden Globes, serves as a platform to express gratitude and humility. When crafted well, it leaves a positive impact on the audience and provides an opportunity to thank specific individuals. Keeping the speech concise and impactful is key, with elements of gratitude, congratulations, and humility. Standing behind the lectern, like Oprah does, can add gravitas to your words and enhance the overall impact of your speech.

The Impact of a Well-Delivered Speech (even if you’re not Oprah or giving on at the Oscars)

Crafting an impactful award acceptance speech goes beyond words; it’s about engaging the audience on a deeper level. Maintaining consistent eye contact establishes a connection, allowing the speaker to convey sincerity and confidence. Integrating storytelling into the speech captivates the audience, leaving a memorable impression and evoking emotions. Examining speech examples from events like the Oscars and the Golden Globes exemplifies the power of a well-delivered address. Adequate preparation and practice at the lectern are essential for a compelling delivery, as demonstrated by iconic figures such as Oprah Winfrey.

The Role of an Acceptance Speech in Building Your Image and Showing Gratitude

Crafting a compelling acceptance speech is more than just a formality; it plays a significant role in shaping one’s public image. An inspiring and impactful speech has the potential to enhance an individual’s reputation and add value to their persona. These speeches are not just routine events; they are celebrated and remembered, making them crucial opportunities for personal branding. Therefore, it is essential to devote ample time to the preparation and delivery of an acceptance speech, as it holds the power to leave a lasting impression on the audience and contribute to the overall public image.

Key Elements to Crafting an Inspiring Acceptance Speech

Crafting an inspiring acceptance speech involves understanding the purpose of the address, striking a balance between gratitude and inspiration, and managing stage presence. Using humor strategically can engage the audience, leaving them on a positive note. Incorporating storytelling and maintaining eye contact establishes a connection with the audience, creating a lasting impression. Additionally, considering the impact of the speech on one’s public image is crucial, as award acceptance speeches contribute significantly to an individual’s reputation, making them memorable in events like the Golden Globes and Oscars. Standing confidently at the lectern, akin to Oprah, can enhance the overall delivery, making the speech impactful and unforgettable.

Establishing the Purpose of Your Speech

Establishing the purpose of your speech is essential. It’s about expressing gratitude sincerely and inspiring others with humility. Acknowledging the support and contributions you’ve received sets the right tone for acceptance and gratitude, leaving a lasting impression. Crafting an award acceptance speech involves understanding the significance of conveying humility and gratitude. This purpose goes beyond winning awards; it’s about recognizing the impact of others in your journey.

Using Storytelling to Engage the Audience

Incorporating personal experiences can add relatability to an acceptance speech, engaging the audience on a deeper level. By infusing storytelling with emotions, an acceptance speech becomes more heartfelt and resonates with the listeners. Employing narrative techniques not only captivates the audience but also makes the speech memorable. A well-crafted acceptance speech often revolves around a personal story, drawing the audience into the speaker’s world. Engaging storytelling has the power to capture and hold the audience’s attention, leaving a lasting impression.

Balancing Humour and Seriousness

Balancing the light-hearted with the profound is key to crafting a compelling award acceptance speech. By infusing appropriate humor, you can create an uplifting atmosphere, engaging the audience and lightening the mood. On the other hand, integrating seriousness adds depth to the speech, making it impactful and resonant. The combination of humor and seriousness makes the speech dynamic, ensuring that it strikes the right balance between gravitas and lightheartedness. This balanced approach captivates the audience, leaving a lasting impression. When delivering your speech at events like the Golden Globes or Oscars, standing behind the lectern, you can take cues from renowned speakers like Oprah to master this art of balancing and keep your audience engaged throughout.

Practical Tips for Delivering an Award Acceptance Speech

Regular practice is crucial for delivering a powerful award acceptance speech. Managing stage presence and body language holds significant importance during the delivery. Additionally, practicing confident eye contact enhances the impact of the speech. Confidence and poise play a major role in effectively delivering an award acceptance speech. It requires substantial time for preparation to ensure a polished delivery. Incorporating personal anecdotes can make an acceptance speech relatable. Balancing humor and seriousness adds depth to the speech, creating a dynamic and impactful delivery. Engaging storytelling techniques can make the speech memorable and capture the audience’s attention.

Importance of Regular Practice

Regular practice plays a significant role in boosting confidence when delivering an acceptance speech. It ensures a polished and refined delivery, reducing the risk of nervousness. Consistent practice is essential for achieving an impactful speech delivery, refining the nuances of the speech. Through regular practice, speakers become better equipped to engage with the audience effectively. The thorough rehearsal of an acceptance speech leads to a more confident and compelling delivery, enhancing the overall impact of the speech. By dedicating time to regular practice, speakers can refine their skills and master the art of delivering an award acceptance speech seamlessly.

Managing Stage Presence and Body Language

A well-delivered award acceptance speech relies heavily on effective stage presence and body language. Mastering these elements enhances the impact of the speech and creates a commanding presence on stage. Confidence in speech delivery is reflected through poised body language, conveying gratitude and confidence to the audience. It’s important to convey genuine emotions through body language and maintain a strong presence at the lectern. The ability to effectively manage stage presence and body language is essential in delivering a memorable and impactful acceptance speech.

What to Avoid While Giving an Award Acceptance Speech?

To deliver an impactful award acceptance speech, avoid rambling and keep it concise. Instead of reading a long list, make eye contact with your audience. Thank event organizers, nominators, and those who supported you. End on a positive note to leave a lasting impression.

Overcoming Common Pitfalls in Award Acceptance Speeches

Overcoming common pitfalls in award acceptance speeches involves thorough preparation and genuine delivery. Practicing acceptance speech examples is essential for readiness, while ensuring that the speech remains heartfelt and not rehearsed. Additionally, incorporating humor, when suitable, can captivate the audience’s attention and create a memorable experience. Structuring the speech with a compelling opening further engages the audience, setting the tone for the rest of the speech. Drawing inspiration from award acceptance speeches on platforms like YouTube can provide valuable insights. By implementing these strategies, speakers can navigate common pitfalls and deliver impactful award acceptance speeches.

In conclusion, delivering an award acceptance speech is an opportunity to leave a lasting impression on your audience. It is important to understand the significance of this moment and how it can contribute to building your image. A well-delivered speech has the power to inspire and engage the audience through effective storytelling and a balance of humor and seriousness. To ensure a successful speech, regular practice is key, along with managing stage presence and body language. It is also important to avoid common pitfalls such as going off-script or being overly self-centered. By following these winning tips, you can deliver an award acceptance speech that leaves a lasting impact.

Short Award Acceptance Speech Examples: Inspiring Examples

Mastering thank you speech for award: winning techniques.

Popular Posts

How to write a retirement speech that wows: essential guide.

June 4, 2022

Inspiring Awards Ceremony Speech Examples

November 21, 2023

The Best Op Ed Format and Op Ed Examples: Hook, Teach, Ask (Part 2)

June 2, 2022

Mastering the Art of How to Give a Toast

Mastering rehearsal dinner toasts: dos and don’ts.

More From Forbes

A nobel laureate’s speech provides five lessons for any speaker.

• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to Linkedin

William Faulkner Receives The Nobel Prize From King Gustav Of Sweden, 1949. (Photo by: Universal ... [+] Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Today marks the birthdate of William Faulkner, the illustrious American novelist whose novels— The Sound and the Fury , Light in August , among them—and short stories earned him the 1949 Nobel Prize in Literature. His acceptance speech went on to become as celebrated as the body of writing that won him the award. The following analysis of that speech provides five essential lessons that any speaker or presenter can utilize today:

First Lesson: Theme

Every speech and every presentation must have a clearly stated overarching theme or objective. Faulkner’s was to encourage perseverance in challenging times. In his time, the challenge was a world living with the threat of the nuclear bomb during the Cold War; and so, his objective was: “It is [the writer’s] privilege to help man endure.”

Today’s business world is challenged by the rapid technological change driven by AI. A headline in last week’s Wall Street Journal read, “Tech Jobs Have Dried Up—and Aren’t Coming Back Soon.” For any company to survive in this difficult environment, their overall objective must be the same as Faulkner’s all those years ago: perseverance. And all their presentations must contain a clearly outlined plan of how they will compete and grow and to define their path to profitability.

Second Lesson: Structure

As Aristotle instructed more than two millennia ago, every story must have a beginning, middle, and end. Faulkner’s beginning was:

• An introduction: “using this moment as a pinnacle from which I might be listened to by the young men and women.”
• And then moved onto a middle that defined a problem: “There is only the question: When will I be blown up? Because of this, the young man or woman writing today has forgotten the problems of the human heart.”
• Then he concluded with a solution to the problem: “The poet’s, the writer’s, duty is to write about these things. It is his privilege to help man endure.”

Today’s presentations are defined by slide decks. But the decks are shuffled so much that only slide-to-slide logic remains without any apparent structure. Instead, after all the shuffling is done, add the step of taking a 35,000 view of the entire deck to ascertain that there is an overall structure with a clear beginning, middle, and end.

Google Play Store Warning—Do Not Install These Apps On Your Phone

Netflix’s best new movie has a near-perfect 97% critic score, ‘dancing with the stars’ week 2 scores—who went home in the double elimination, third lesson: antithesis.

This is a rhetorical technique in which there are two contrasting ideas in one sentence to create emphasis. The classic examples of antithesis are:

• Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address: “The world will little note nor long remember what we say here but it can never forget what they did here.”
• President John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address: “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you do for your country.”

Faulkner had three instances of antithesis in his speech:

• “This award was not made to me as a man, but to my work.”
• “The poet’s voice need not merely be the record of man, it can be one of the props, the pillars to help”
• “I believe that man will not merely endure he will prevail.”

Many business presenters try to identify their business model, product, service, or company by stating it in only the negative: “We are not …” In doing so, they not only omit the contrast, but they also fail to identify their subject. So, either use the complete antithesis, “While we are not…, we are …” Better still, purge any negativity in your message by saying, “We are…”

Fourth Lesson: Repetition

Repetition is reinforcement. Nowhere is repetition better implemented than in advertising slogans. Capital One’s “What’s in your wallet?” has become a conversational idiom. Faulkner repeated the primary words of his theme: “prevail” twice and “endure” four times.

Presenters all too often refer to their technology, product, or service as “it,” and to their company as “we.” Instead, use the actual name of your product or service and company and say them often. Brand your business as effectively as Capital One does.

Fifth Lesson: Brevity

In the words of Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style , “Vigorous writing is concise.” Faulkner did all the above in 552 words.

For generations, the anathema of public speaking is the speech that overstays its welcome, a factor that has only been exacerbated by the advent of social media and its accompanying shortened attention span. To avoid that curse, try this: rehearse your speech with a timer and whatever the outcome, shorten it by 10 to 20 percent.

Five lessons that worked for William Faulkner that can work for you.

• Editorial Standards
• Forbes Accolades

Join The Conversation

One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts. 

Forbes Community Guidelines

Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space.

In order to do so, please follow the posting rules in our site's  Terms of Service.   We've summarized some of those key rules below. Simply put, keep it civil.

Your post will be rejected if we notice that it seems to contain:

• False or intentionally out-of-context or misleading information
• Insults, profanity, incoherent, obscene or inflammatory language or threats of any kind
• Attacks on the identity of other commenters or the article's author
• Content that otherwise violates our site's  terms.

User accounts will be blocked if we notice or believe that users are engaged in:

• Continuous attempts to re-post comments that have been previously moderated/rejected
• Racist, sexist, homophobic or other discriminatory comments
• Attempts or tactics that put the site security at risk
• Actions that otherwise violate our site's  terms.

So, how can you be a power user?

• Stay on topic and share your insights
• Feel free to be clear and thoughtful to get your point across
• ‘Like’ or ‘Dislike’ to show your point of view.
• Protect your community.
• Use the report tool to alert us when someone breaks the rules.

Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Please read the full list of posting rules found in our site's  Terms of Service.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Elon Musk Hails Italy’s Leader at Awards Ceremony

Mr. Musk described Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as “authentic, honest and thoughtful.” She used her Atlantic Council spotlight to defend Western values.

By Jack Ewing and Emma Bubola

Elon Musk, the chief executive of Tesla, and Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister of Italy, were the stars of a black-tie dinner in New York on Monday that highlighted Mr. Musk’s increasing involvement in politics.

Ms. Meloni had chosen Mr. Musk to introduce her as she received a Global Citizen Award from the Atlantic Council, a Washington think tank that cited “her political and economic leadership of Italy, in the European Union” and of the Group of 7 nations “as well as her support of Ukraine in Russia’s war against it.”

The prime minister and the billionaire business leader have bonded over the years. They share concerns about artificial intelligence and declining birthrates in Western countries, which Mr. Musk has called an existential threat to civilization.

He described Ms. Meloni on Monday as “someone who is even more beautiful inside than outside” and “authentic, honest and thoughtful.”

“That can’t always be said about politicians,” Mr. Musk added, to laughter from the crowd of 700 at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in Manhattan.

After thanking Mr. Musk for his “precious genius,” Ms. Meloni delivered a passionate defense of Western values. While rejecting authoritarian nationalism, she said, “we should not be afraid to defend words like ‘nation’ and ‘patriotism.’”

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?  Log in .

Want all of The Times?  Subscribe .