Awards are given to honor a person, entity, or thing's outstanding skills, achievements, or contributions. There are many types of awards in all kinds of industries and categories. They can be recognized locally, nationally, or internationally, as well as within a private group of individuals. Awards typically come in the forms of trophies, plaques, medals, ribbons, certificates, and money; an award can also be intangible, like a title of honor. Awards are often presented during an event or ceremony.
Some awards are not officially recognized or recorded by any major entity. Examples include a workplace's employee of the month award or a school's academic achievement award. Other types of awards are widely known, like those in the entertainment industry. These awards are usually presented during a publicized ceremony or event, the names of which are often eponymous with the award––for example, Grammy Awards are awarded to musical artists during the annual Grammy Awards ceremony (also called the Grammys.) Major awards are available in nearly every field.
Awards in the entertainment fields fall into the categories of film, acting, music, and more. These awards are usually presented in an eponymous ceremony.
- Academy Award (also known as an Oscar)
- Emmy Award
- Golden Globe Award
- MTV Video Music Award
- Grammy Award
- Billboard Music Award
- American Music Award
- Tony Award
- BAFTA Award
Journalism and literary awards are given to acknowledge excellence in writing and reporting.
- Frost Medal
- Newbery Medal
- Nobel Prize in Literature
- Bastiat Prize
- Peabody Award
- Pulitzer Prize
- Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
- George Polk Award
Science and mathematics awards are typically given to those who make a new discovery or reach a new achievement in their respective fields.
Humanitarian and military awards are given to honor the bravery and courage of those who perform heroic acts or act in the public interest. Due to the inherent danger of many heroic and courageous acts, especially of those during war, these types of awards are sometimes awarded posthumously to honor the sacrifice that a person made.
- Medal of Honor
- Bob Hope Humanitarian Award
- Civil Courage Prize
- Carnegie Medal
- Purple Heart
- Ivan Allen Jr. Prize for Social Courage
- MacArthur Fellows Program
- Prudential Spirit of Community Award
- Courage to Care Award
- Defense Distinguished Service Medal
